Formed at the end of the 19th Century, WIPO is a specialized institution within the United Nations. Its official remit is to stimulate creativity and economic development by promoting an international system of intellectual property, notably by facilitating cooperation between member States. Its Head Office is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
The institution is founded on two historical conventions:
- The Paris Convention of March 20 1883 (industrial property)
- The Bern Convention of September 9 1886 (literary and artistic property).
In 1994 an Arbitration and Mediation Center was set up within WIPO to facilitate the extra-judicial (or alternative) resolution of litigation concerning intellectual property rights. Designated as an official ruling body by ICANN, WIPO is much in demand regarding questions of domain names.
Sources: domainesinfo.fr et wikipedia