Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
- When
- 1883
- Where
- Paris, France
- Episodes
- 4
The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was signed in Paris on 20 March 1883 by eleven countries. It established a Union for industrial property protection, creating a regime based on national treatment, priority rights, and common rules. The treaty remains in force, providing legal frameworks for patent and trademark protection across member states.
Episodes
- Signing of the Paris Convention
Eleven countries signed the convention in Paris on 20 March 1883, establishing the Union for industrial property protection.
- Establishment of National Treatment
Articles 2 and 3 mandated that nationals of member states receive equal protection in other Union countries.
- Creation of Priority Right
Article 4 established the Convention priority right, allowing applicants to preserve filing dates across borders.
- Provision for Temporary Protection
Article 11 required temporary protection for goods exhibited at official international exhibitions.
Background and detail
Background. Following a diplomatic conference in Paris in 1880, the convention was signed on 20 March 1883. It is recognized as one of the first intellectual property treaties. The agreement established a Union for the protection of industrial property, creating a framework for international cooperation in patent and trademark law.
Signing and Participants. The convention was signed by eleven countries: Belgium, Brazil, France, Guatemala, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, El Salvador, the Kingdom of Serbia, Spain, and Switzerland. These nations formed the initial membership of the Union, committing to the principles outlined in the treaty.
Legal Framework. The substantive provisions fall into three main categories: national treatment, priority right, and common rules. Articles 2 and 3 ensure that nationals and residents of member states enjoy the same advantages as their own nationals regarding industrial property protection in other Union countries.
Priority Right. Article 4 established the 'Convention priority right,' a cornerstone of the treaty. It allows applicants to use their first filing date in one contracting state as the effective date in another, provided subsequent applications are filed within 6 months for designs and trademarks, or 12 months for patents and utility models.
People involved
- Belgium · Signatory State
- Brazil · Signatory State
- France · Signatory State
- Guatemala · Signatory State
- Italy · Signatory State
- Netherlands · Signatory State
- Portugal · Signatory State
- El Salvador · Signatory State
- Kingdom of Serbia · Signatory State
- Spain · Signatory State
- Switzerland · Signatory State
Sources
- Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-24
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.