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 SMEs and local communities in developing countries to collective marks to add value to their products and services.

Five countries are participating in the project: the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Tunisia.

The project supports entrepreneurs and local communities in participating countries in developing and registering collective marks. The new phase of the project focuses on strengthening the capacity of beneficiaries to effectively utilize their collective marks and sustain the benefits derived from them.

Producer profiles

photo of honeycomb — (Photo: iStock / Recebin)

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.

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.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, the project empowers Bali’s spa and handicraft SMEs through the “UnBALIvable” collective mark, celebrating local creativity and driving tourism.

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 II

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.