At present, IP stakeholders often must file assignment recordation requests separately with each IP office, using different filing systems and procedures. Since 2019, the IP industry has promoted the idea of a harmonized global process for handling IP assignments with the IP5 Offices and WIPO.
In response to industry stakeholders’ calls to simplify cross-border IP assignments and reduce administrative burdens for the global IP community, WIPO launched a new initiative. As a first step, an IT feasibility study was conducted from October 2025 to May 2026 to assess whether a global information system for assignments could meet business requirements proposed by the IP industry and supported by IP offices.
The IT feasibility study recommended that a new project be launched to develop a global information system for assignment recordation using a practical approach that serves both IP stakeholders and IP offices. The study found that assignment recordation processes are broadly similar across IP offices, although differences remain in language requirements, bibliographic and administrative data, formality procedures, and fee structures. The proposed system should therefore offer IP stakeholders a modern, streamlined workflow for preparing and filing assignment recordation requests across jurisdictions, while allowing IP offices to participate without changing their national or regional laws, regulations, or internal practices. This approach would improve the user experience, increase procedural efficiency, and provide a practical basis for future harmonization where appropriate.
In light of the study results, GIPAP is designed to offer a more coordinated and unified filing process while respecting each participating Office’s legal and procedural requirements, through a centralized filing system combined with decentralized decision-making for recordation.
GIPAP is designed to:
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Cover assignments of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and related services for all WIPO member states
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Provide a centralized repository for data and documents, supported by application programming interfaces (APIs) connected to participating Offices
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Support fully electronic transactions, including filing, notifications, e-signatures, and potentially fee payments
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Simplify the preparation of assignment filings through automated procedures, without requiring users to understand each participating office’s detailed requirements
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Improve tracking of assignment recordation progress and enable users to manage fragmented filing information through a centralized portal
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Operate under its own governance framework
Overall Assignment Filing Workflow
The current filing process for IP assignment recordation consists of six steps.
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An IP owner, or their legal representative acting as filer, can create an application to record an IP assignment across multiple jurisdictions by entering general information, common data required by Offices, and Office-specific data.
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Where input from local agents is required, they may review Office-specific data and documentation and add further data or documents to the draft application. Alternatively, local agents may provide all required input to the filer before the filing process begins and receive notification once the application is submitted to the relevant IP Office.
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Once the application is complete, GIPAP will automatically generate an individual application package for each Office, based on that Office’s requirements, for final review. The application may then be submitted to the Offices concerned with fee payment information. The Offices will verify the data and supporting documents, decide whether to update their records, and provide status information to GIPAP. Users, including IP owners, legal representatives, and local agents, will then be notified.
(click to enlarge the overall assignment filing workflow)
Governance Framework and Participating Offices
GIPAP will operate under a dedicated governance framework developed jointly with participating Offices and users during Phase 2. The International Bureau, in consultation with the GIPAP Consultative Group composed of participating Offices, will establish the governance provisions, which include operational procedures and technical requirements. A participating Office should be an authority responsible for recording assignments of patents, trademarks, or industrial designs.
During onboarding, each participating Office should submit its requirements to the International Bureau using the Participating Office Requirements Template (“PORT”) and update them as needed. These requirements will be incorporated into GIPAP so that users can easily prepare assignment recordation applications through the system’s step-by-step process.
Questions about the Global IP Assignment Platform?
Interested in learning more, participating in future discussions or how your organization can be involved?