Fisheries Economics

7.2.1. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) and different forms

These are the rights provided to owners and creators of goods and services to enable them enjoy all benefits legally. It protects their business interests.

Today every country is having IPR laws. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is the global body that deals with IPRs. The concept of IPR has its roots in the Paris Convention for the protection of industrial property in 1883 and the “Berne convention for the protection of literary and artistic works” in 1886. These two treaties come under the purview of the WIPO.

The WIPO convention enlists the following activities which are dealt by IPRs:

· Industrial designs

· Scientific discoveries

· Protection against unfair competition

· Literary, artistic and scientific works

· Inventions in all fields of human endeavour

· Performances of performing artists, photograph and broadcasts.

· Trade marks, service marks and commercial names and designations.

· All other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields.