Collective Marks as a Tool for Development

Collective marks are trademarks owned and used by members of a collective.

WIPO is carrying out a project that aims to empower entrepreneurs and SMEs in developing countries to use this intellectual property (IP) tool to add value to their products and services.

Four countries are participating in the project: Bolivia, Brazil, Tunisia, and the Philippines.

In each of these countries, the project team has selected a group of entrepreneurs as pilots. The project will help them develop and register a collective mark for their products. Participation in training and awareness-raising activities will help stakeholders better understand how to use this branding tool to market their products collectively.

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collective marks
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Using a collective mark enables producers in rural areas to add value to their local products by working together.

Awareness-raising

Video: How can collective marks be of use? 

Producer profiles

photo of honeycomb
(Photo: iStock / Recebin)

Bolivia

In Bolivia, the producers are grouped in 25 different organizations which are all part of an umbrella association called ARACH (Asociación Regional de Apicultores del Chaco Chuquisaqueño). They produce honey in the region of Chaco Chuquisaqueño.
(Photo: WIPO)

Brazil

In Brazil, the project is working with the association APAFE (Associação dos Produtores Agroextrativistas da Floresta Nacional de Tefé e Entorno), located in Tefé and Alvarães, in the Amazon region. Their main products are cassava flour and derived products, honey, and oils.
(Photo: iStock / Getty Images Plus)

The Philippines

In the Philippines, the selected group is comprised by producers, processors and traders of nut and other products of the Pili tree, in the Bicol Region, under the umbrella of the association Orgullo Kan Bicol (OKB).
(Photo: iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Tunisia

In the case of Tunisia, the project is working in the mountainous region of Ghardimaou, Jendouba, with a group of producers of honey, honey-derived products, essential oils, and other local products.

Timeline

1

Project launch

2

Product selection

3

Collective mark development

4

Registration and launching

5

Capacity building

6

Awareness raising

Project background

WIPO's Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) commissioned the project after Bolivia submitted a proposal. The proposal was initially presented to the 23rd session of the Committee (May 2019), and it was approved by the 24th session (November 2019).

The Committee is pursuing this project as part of its efforts to implement WIPO’s Development Agenda effectively.

Key documents:

(Image: E+/Domin_domin)

Development Agenda

The Collective Marks project contributes to the implementation of WIPO’s Development Agenda Recommendations, in particular number 1, 4 and 10.

Related links

Development Agenda (DA)

Reference

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