Who are WIPO and UPOV?
UPOV and WIPO are two Geneva-based agencies that promote hard-line intellectual property schemes worldwide. WIPO is part of the United Nations, but UPOV is not, even though it is administered through WIPO and has its office in the same building. WIPO’s mandate is to promote IPR in general, while UPOV’s is to promote plant variety protection or plant breeders’ rights specifically. In that sense, they share plenty in common, except that UPOV works for the benefit of the seed industry in particular. And since 70% of UPOV’s members are rich countries in the North, we know which seed industry. OAU, for its part, is actually not the OAU anymore. From a political association of all African states – the exception being Morocco – it is now trying to become something like the European Union. And has officially changed its name, as of this month, to the African Union.
