INTA News

INTA Holds Briefing to Discuss New WIPO PROOF Service

Published: July 8, 2020

INTA members had an opportunity recently to learn about WIPO PROOF, the new World Intellectual Property Organization service for tracking intellectual property (IP) files and protecting them from misuse or misappropriation.

The June 17 session was moderated by Christine Repond (Novartis Pharma AG, Switzerland), chair of the Madrid Subcommittee of the Trademark Office Practice Committee. Mr. Patimo introduced WIPO PROOF to the team. WIPO PROOF, launched on May 27, is a new IP business service that provides a date-and-time-stamped digital fingerprint of any file, proving its existence at a specific point in time, and that the file has not be altered since that time.

WIPO PROOF could be considered a digital version of a notary.

Mr. Patimo said this new service complements WIPO’s existing IP systems by safeguarding digital intellectual assets that are otherwise easily exposed to misuse or misappropriation. These include trade secrets, large data sets from R&D, creative works, designs, or any other valuable documents not ready for or adapted to registration as a formal IP right. The service could be considered a digital version of a notary, he said.

He presented a live demo of the WIPO PROOF service, and explained the benefits of this fast, affordable, and highly confidential service.

Members inquired about the global reach of this new tool—which will be available in nine languages—and about its acceptance by a significant pool of stakeholders. The discussion also covered using the system as an individual, a company, or an IP practice.

Other topics were specific uses in the trademarks business sector, such as the proof of active use for the renewal process—particularly relevant in Asia—and the proof of active use for state-level trademarks in the United States, which do not require registration like federal-level trademarks.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.