The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property or AIPPI, an acronym for Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle in French (formerly International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property), is a non-profit international organisation (NGO). Its members are intellectual property (IP) professionals, academics, owners of intellectual property and others interested in the subject. AIPPI was established in 1897. Overview The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, known as AIPPI, is the world’s leading non-profit association dedicated to the development and improvement of laws for the protection of intellectual property. It is a politically neutral, non-profit organisation, based in Switzerland with over 8000 members worldwide from 131 countries. AIPPI’s members are private practitioners and in-house lawyers, attorneys and agents, as well as judges, academics and government officials. AIPPI is organised into 68 National and 2 Regional Groups. Membership in AIPPI is obtained by joining one of these National or Regional Groups of AIPPI. In countries where no Group exists, individuals may be granted Independent Membership directly in AIPPI. Purpose The objective of AIPPI is to improve and promote the protection of intellectual property on both international and national levels. It pursues this objective by working for the development, expansion and improvement of international and regional treaties, agreements and national laws. By working to improve and harmonise IP protection at international meetings, mutual understanding across national borders is deepened. Where appropriate, AIPPI intervenes with submissions before major courts and legislative bodies to advocate for strengthened IP protection. Committees within AIPPI monitor current developments, long-range projects, and conduct AIPPI’s substantive work: the study of issues of topical concern in the IP world. Reports regarding these issues are developed and used in preparing draft Resolutions, which are then discussed at the annual World Congress, leading to a final Resolution which is adopted by the Executive Committee. Through AIPPI’s Resolutions and regular high-level contact with other NGOs and international and regional institutions, the Association has exerted a major influence on the development of international IP law. AIPPI’s representatives act as its ambassadors by liaising with important organisations and promoting mutual coordination and cooperation. History The origins of AIPPI, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, date back to 1897, shortly following the signature of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property in 1883. Although the two World Wars caused interruptions in AIPPI activities, the