About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

WIPOnet Project Enters Implementation Phase

Geneva, January 9, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/252

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will begin rolling out the WIPO Global Information Network (WIPONET) this month. To participate in the implementation of the network, WIPO finalized at the end of December 2000 separate contracts with two international companies, namely, International Business Machines (IBM) and the Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA).

Using a combination of the contractor's private network and the public Internet, and state-of-the-art technologies, WIPONET will establish a global intellectual property information network between and among all WIPO member states. In linking the intellectual property offices of WIPO member states, this flagship project will facilitate access to and exchange of information across the globe and enhance use of the intellectual property system to foster economic and cultural development in all these countries.

Capitalizing on information technologies to facilitate communication between the Organization and its stakeholders is a high priority for WIPO Director General Dr. Kamil Idris. WIPONET will ensure that all member states are able to have full and rapid access to WIPO's large store of intellectual property information while at the same time having better and easier access to each others' intellectual property information.

A key feature of WIPONET will be its ability to provide for secure end-to-end transmission of confidential intellectual property data. This attribute will ultimately generate significant efficiency gains for users of WIPO's international registration services for patents, trademarks, and designs.

The WIPONET project consists of two major components. The first is the establishment of a central facility, the WIPONET CENTER. The second is the deployment of network services at WIPO headquarters and the provision of Internet connectivity and computer equipment to approximately 156 intellectual property offices, in WIPO member states, which currently do not have Internet connectivity.

The WIPONET CENTER

The WIPONET CENTER will serve as a hub for the delivery of basic WIPONET services (e.g. secure e-mail and web-hosting) to all WIPO member states. Located within WIPO headquarters, the WIPONET CENTER will consist of a main computer facility fully supported by a smaller subsidiary and due to its fault-tolerant design, the WIPONET CENTER will ensure continuity in the provision of basic services even in the event of partial system failure. Expected to be completed by September 2001, the WIPONET CENTER services will be available to all the intellectual property offices already connected to the Internet (approximately 160 at present) as well as those to be connected during the coming two years.

Network Connectivity

Under this project, approximately 156 intellectual property offices that do not currently enjoy Internet connectivity will be provided by WIPO with the basic computer hardware, software, training and reliable Internet connectivity, known as the WIPONET KIT, to ensure their access to the Internet. These 156 intellectual property offices will also be able to take advantage of a WIPO sponsored allocation of 360 hours of dial-up Internet access per year and a comprehensive maintenance and helpdesk support, regular upgrades of software and virus scanning services, all to ensure the long term sustainability of the system. Some 65 intellectual property offices are planned in the first phase to receive the WIPONET KIT by the end of 2001, significantly enhancing the number of developing countries using WIPONET. The remaining 91 offices will receive the WIPONET KIT in the second phase in 2002 and this will mark the completion of the project.

WIPONET - Linking the International Intellectual Property Community

By ensuring that these 156 intellectual property offices are equipped with modern information technologies that improve access to and the flow of intellectual property information globally, WIPO would greatly enhance global cooperation in the field of intellectual property. This network will also help the Organization to more effectively respond to the demand by users of its international registration systems. The WIPONET Project will thus yield benefits to all stakeholders, including the private sector user community.

Budget

Under the WIPONET Project, all major implementation costs incurred will be covered by WIPO. A total of 19.6 million Swiss francs have been earmarked for the first phase deployment of the project in the financial period 2000-2001. It is anticipated that this figure will increase slightly in the second phase of the project in light of the continued deployment and need to meet recurring operating costs.

For further information, please contact the WIPONET Project Manager Mr. Colin Buffam at +4122-3388353 or colin.buffam@wipo.int.

https://www3.wipo.int/contact/en/area.jsp?area=publicinfo https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/ https://www.wipo.int/tools/en/disclaim.html https://www.wipo.int/en/web/privacy-policy/ https://www.wipo.int/en/web/accessibility/ https://www.wipo.int/tools/en/sitemap.html https://www3.wipo.int/newsletters/en/ https://www.wipo.int/en/web/podcasts/ https://www.wipo.int/news/en/