Logo of WIPO AMC, Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative Dispute Resolution

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center offers time- and cost-efficient alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, such as mediation, arbitration, expedited arbitration, and expert determination to enable private parties to settle their domestic or cross-border commercial disputes. The WIPO Center is international and specialized in IP and technology disputes. The WIPO Center is also the global leader in the provision of domain name dispute resolution services under the WIPO-designed UDRP.

WIPO ADR is specialized, flexible and confidential. Its consensual nature often results in a less adversarial process, allowing the parties to begin, continue, or enhance profitable business relationships with each other. If well managed, ADR can save time and money. Read more on ADR advantages.

WIPO ADR options have been used by large-sized companies, SMEs and startups across industries and sectors, artists and inventors, R&D centers, universities, producers and collecting societies. Read more on the WIPO case experience.

The WIPO Center provides recommended ADR contract clauses to facilitate party agreement to refer a dispute to WIPO ADR. The WIPO Center also makes available the WIPO Clause Generator.

The WIPO Center makes available procedural information and filing guidelines for WIPO Mediation, Arbitration and Expert Determination options. The WIPO Center also provides Good Offices services.

If you are involved in a domain name dispute, you can visit WIPO's domain name dispute resolution services website.

News

Email updates

WIPO ADR Highlights – News and practice pointers on WIPO's services for resolving IP disputes outside courts.
​​​​​​​Domain Name Decisions – Updates on domain name dispute decisions; and other WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center news. Daily.

Sign up All WIPO newsletters

WIPO ADR Stories

Read our WIPO ADR Stories to discover how ADR is used in practice.
IMAGE: gettyimages/PeopleImages

WIPO ADR Stories: Supporting IP and Copyright Offices through the WIPO ADR Co-administration Program

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO AMC) collaborates with Intellectual Property and Copyright Offices (IP Offices) worldwide to advance the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for IP and technology-related disputes. Initially focused on raising awareness and providing training, some of these partnerships have evolved to the development of online tools for case administration and dispute resolution, and the establishment of ADR services locally.

Paraguay: Mediation as a tool to combat piracy and counterfeiting of products

Counterfeiting and piracy are global threats that affect intellectual property (IP) rights holders, consumers and economies alike. In Paraguay, these illicit activities have posed a significant challenge, particularly for markets like luxury goods and pharmaceuticals. To address this problem, Paraguay's National Intellectual Property Office, (DINAPI) has adopted an innovative approach: mediation
IMAGE: GettyImages/DeanMitchell

How do SMEs Benefit From Mediation to Resolve Their IP Disputes?

SMEs account for 90% of all businesses worldwide and 70% of global employment. WIPO promotes the use of mediation among SMEs to reduce the impact of disputes in innovation and creative processes.

WIPO dispute resolution options

IMAGE: Getty Images/AbelMitjaVarela

Mediation

An informal consensual process in which the mediator assists the parties in reaching a settlement of their dispute, based on the parties' respective interests.
IMAGE: Getty Images

Arbitration and Expedited Arbitration

A procedure in which the parties submit their dispute to one or more arbitrators, for a binding and final decision (award).
IMAGE: Getty Images/MangoStar

Expert Determination

A procedure in which the parties submit a specific matter (e.g., technical question, valuation of IP assets, establishment of royalty rates) to one or more experts who make a determination on the matter.
IMAGE: Getty Images/StasPerov

Domain Name Disputes

Global online enforcement tools to reclaim a domain name that unfairly targets your trademark (known as cybersquatting).

WIPO ADR services for specific sectors

In addition to its ADR services for all types of IP and technology disputes, the WIPO Center also provides tailored dispute resolution in a number of specific IP sectors.
IMAGE: Getty Images/Peshkov

Information and Communication Technology

A significant part of WIPO ADR cases concern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) disputes. WIPO ADR services for the ICT industry also include tailored model submission agreements that parties may use to refer a dispute concerning the determination of fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms to WIPO ADR.

IMAGE: Getty Images/TodorTsvetkov

Research and Development

To optimize dispute resolution in the R&D and technology transfer sector, the WIPO Center collaborates with relevant stakeholders. This includes the development and dissemination of model R&D agreements, which recommend WIPO mediation and arbitration options.

IMAGE: Getty Images/XavierArnau

Copyright and Content

WIPO ADR procedures are regularly used by creators, collective management organizations (CMOs), and companies, to resolve copyright- and content-related disputes without the need for court litigation.

IMAGE: Getty Images/Sanjeri

Life Sciences

The WIPO Center provides dispute resolution advice and case administration services to facilitate contract negotiations between parties or to help parties resolve disputes in the area of life sciences.

WIPO Center services for Member States

The WIPO Center collaborates with Member States' IP Offices and Courts to promote ADR methods to prevent and resolve IP and technology disputes. This includes:
  • raising awareness of ADR for IP disputes;
  • assisting IP and Copyright Offices with ADR case administration (including co-administration, training of neutrals and online case administration tools); and
  • participation in the development of model R&D model agreements including ADR options.
The WIPO Center also assists country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) administrators with domain name dispute resolution.

Contact us

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (Geneva)

34, chemin des Colombettes
1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland

T +4122 338 8247
F +4122 740 3700
E arbiter.mail@wipo.int

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (Singapore)

Maxwell Chambers Suites
28 Maxwell Road #02-14
Singapore 069120

T +65 6225 2129
F +65 6225 3568
E arbiter.mail@wipo.int

LinkedIn

Follow the WIPO Center LinkedIn page.

Podcast

WIPOD Arbitration and Mediation Matters.

Domain name disputes

Other IP services