World Intellectual Property Organization

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), or Organisation Mondiale de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OMPI), is concerned with copyrights, patents and related matters, in a nutshell. Established in 1967 and finally active in 1970, it became an agency of the United Nations in 1974, headquartered in Geneva. There is still no unified rights system, allowing maximum confusion and infighting among UN members.

Beginning in 1982, the World Intellectual Property Organization was granted franking power by the Swiss post office and issued its own stamps. The are inscribed with the agency's name in French plus HELVETIA and TIMBRE DE SERVICE.  File:WIPO 40c.jpg|1982 40c value File:Switz WIPO 100c.jpg|1982 100c value 

It would be ironic if stamp fakers/counterfeiters made bogus topical stamps with WIPO's name on them; we shall see.

[[Category:W]]