Collective Marks as a Tool for Development
This Development Agenda project was approved by the WIPO Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP). It helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local communities to use collective marks to build a recognizable identity, strengthen their market presence and add value to their products and services.
Collective marks enable producer groups, associations, cooperatives, SMEs and local communities build a shared identity and reputation, distinguish their products and services in the market and strengthen their collective. competitiveness.
The emphasis is practical: turning a shared identity into a mark that can be registered, managed responsibly and used effectively in the marketplace.
Collective marks enable producer groups, associations, cooperatives, SMEs and local communities build a shared identity and reputation, distinguish their products and services in the market and strengthen their collective competitiveness.
The project provides practical support on developing, registering, managing and using collective marks, together with training and business guidance.
Country profiles
Bolivia
In Bolivia, the producers are grouped in 42 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.
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.
Indonesia
In Indonesia, the project empowers Bali’s spa and handicraft SMEs through the “UnBALIvable” collective mark, celebrating local creativity and driving tourism.
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).
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.
Outputs
Training program
The first output of the project is to develop a practical training materials on registration, management, and use of collective marks.
Toolkit and guide
Following that, the project focuses on creating a toolkit for managing and using the collective marks, covering regulations, compliance, governance, quality control, and consumer protection.
Business strategy
Thirdly, the project plans to formulate a development strategy to boost competitiveness of the collective mark holders in domestic and global markets.
Project background
WIPO's Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) commissioned the pilot 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). After the completion of the project, the beneficiary countries proposed a Phase II of the project at the 32nd session (May 2024) of the Committee, which was approved. This project started its iplementation in 2025.
The Committee is pursuing this project as part of its efforts to implement WIPO’s Development Agenda effectively.
Key documents
Phase I
Development Agenda
The Collective Marks project contributes to the implementation of WIPO’s Development Agenda Recommendations, in particular number 1, 4 and 10.