The Berne Convention

June 21, 2008
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

Copyright protection on the international level began by about the middle of the nineteenth century on the basis of bilateral treaties.

A number of such treaties providing for mutual recognition of rights were concluded but they were neither comprehensive enough nor of a uniform pattern.

The need for a uniform system led to the formulation and adoption on September 9, 1886, of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

The Berne Convention is the oldest international treaty in the field of copyright.

It is open to all States. Instruments of accession or ratification are deposited with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)