WIPO Welcomes Accession by Jamaica to Paris Convention

Geneva, September 24, 1999
Press Releases PR/1999/191

Jamaica's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Philip Paulwell, deposited on Friday his country's instrument of accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property which sets out basic international standards of protection for industrial property. The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, welcomed this act which he said "clearly demonstrates the Government of Jamaica's commitment to strengthening intellectual property protection in the country."

Jamaica's accession to the Paris Convention means that all WIPO member States in the Latin America and Caribbean region are now party to this important treaty. Jamaica is the 156th state to become a member of the Paris Convention.

The Paris Convention, together with the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, is a cornerstone of the international system of intellectual property protection. "The Paris Convention is a key component in developing an effective and robust system of intellectual property protection that will enable countries to harness the economic, social and cultural benefits that may be derived from national intellectual property assets", Dr. Idris said.

The Paris Convention, sets out basic standards of protection for industrial property in its widest sense, including inventions, marks, industrial designs, trade names, geographical indications and the repression of unfair competition.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations & Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

Tel: (+41 22) 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10
E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int