What is WIPO and what responsibility does Canada have under WIPO?
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO is an international body “dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest”. As a member state of the UN, Canada has joined WIPO. There two treaties which have been created by the organization: the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). As participants in the development of these treaties, Canada agrees to uphold the principles they contains. To so the Canadian government must amend the Copyright Act to align with the WIPO treaties.
