The World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Explained : Who Are the Member States and How Are They Represented ?
The World Intellectual Property Organization today has 193 member states, which places it among the organizations with a truly universal vocation within the United Nations system. In practice, almost every country in the world takes part in WIPO's work, giving the decisions taken in Geneva global legitimacy and influence.
Who can become a member
Membership of WIPO is open to any state that is a member of one of the Unions administered by the Organization, as well as to any other state that meets one of the following conditions: it is a member of the United Nations or of one of its specialized agencies, or of the International Atomic Energy Agency; it is a party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice; or it has been invited by the WIPO General Assembly to accede to the Convention.
This openness explains the large number of members and their diversity: large and small states, developed and developing, from every region of the world. Romania is a WIPO member state and takes part in the work of the Assemblies through its official delegation.
How states are represented
Each member state takes part in the General Assembly and, where relevant, in the other assemblies and bodies corresponding to the treaties and Unions to which it is a party. Decisions are generally taken by consensus or by vote, with each state having a voice in the process. States often organize themselves into regional or interest groups, which helps to coordinate positions on the topics on the agenda.
In addition to member states, observers also take part in the meetings: intergovernmental organizations, international and national non-governmental organizations, and representatives of the business community and civil society. Observer status, granted by decision of the Assemblies, allows these entities to follow the debates and, under certain conditions, to take the floor, bringing complementary expertise and perspectives.
The role of civil society and of InfoCons
InfoCons is a member of WIPO and the only consumer protection organization in Romania accredited within this international forum. In this capacity, InfoCons takes part in meetings, consultations and working groups, helping to promote consumer interests in the global debates on intellectual property. The presence of consumer organizations matters, because decisions on patents, trademarks or copyright have concrete consequences for prices, access to products and the safety of citizens.
A global community around innovation
The fact that 193 states cooperate within WIPO reflects the universal recognition of the importance of intellectual property for economic, cultural and social development. Each series of Assembly meetings – including the current A/68 – brings this global community together to take decisions that shape how we innovate, create and consume. The active participation of all members, alongside observers such as InfoCons, ensures a balance between the interests of rights holders, those of states and those of consumers.
Intellectual property and the everyday consumer
Intellectual property is often perceived as a technical subject reserved for lawyers and large companies. In reality, it is present in the life of each of us, every single day. The trademark on a product tells us who made it and guarantees a certain standard of quality; patents make it possible for new medicines, technologies and innovative solutions to emerge; copyright rewards the work of those who create cultural and educational content. When these rights are infringed through counterfeiting or piracy, the first to suffer is often the consumer.
Counterfeit products mean not only economic losses for companies and public budgets, but also a real danger to people's health and safety. Counterfeit toys, cosmetics, car parts, medicines or electronics can endanger consumers' lives, precisely because they are made without respecting quality and safety standards. In an increasingly digital economy, where online commerce erases borders, these risks multiply, and the need for accurate, rapid information becomes essential.
That is precisely why InfoCons has developed a unique and innovative consumer protection app that allows people to check products before buying them, consult European safety alerts and report products suspected of counterfeiting or piracy. Through this digital tool, every consumer becomes an active partner in the shared effort to make the marketplace safer, more transparent and fairer.
InfoCons' participation in the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is part of this steady commitment: bringing the voice of Romanian and European consumers to the world's foremost intellectual property forum and turning global debates into concrete protection for citizens.
InfoCons, a voice for consumers in international forums
InfoCons is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO, the only consumer protection organization in Romania accredited within this international forum. This official recognition places Romania on the global map of organizations that contribute to the international dialogue in the field of intellectual property. Through its participation in WIPO meetings and working groups, InfoCons promotes consumer interests and supports policies that encourage innovation and the fight against counterfeiting.
At European level, InfoCons is an active member of the EUIPO Observatory – the European Union Intellectual Property Office – with an important role within the Civil Society Working Group. At national level, the organization has been part, since 2006, of the Working Group on Intellectual Property Matters, coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. This involvement on three levels – national, European and international – gives InfoCons a complete perspective on the counterfeiting phenomenon.
The organization's commitment translates into concrete actions: European projects dedicated to young people, large-scale awareness campaigns and an innovative app that puts information within reach of every consumer. All of these share a common denominator: the conviction that respect for intellectual property rights and consumer protection are two sides of the same coin.
In this context, the presence of InfoCons at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is a natural continuation of nearly two decades of work dedicated to defending consumer interests in the field of intellectual property.
From information to action: the role of the InfoCons app
InfoCons' objective is not only to provide access to information, but also to empower consumers through digital innovation. The InfoCons app – a unique, innovative application – gives them practical tools to identify risks and actively contribute to a safer and more transparent marketplace. Through a simple barcode or QR code scan, consumers can access relevant information about products, right in front of the shelf.
One of the key features is the alerts section, which makes it possible to verify whether a product is subject to official safety alerts issued at European level, for both food and non-food products. The app provides information on the product name, the country concerned, the level of risk, the country of origin, the date the alert was published and an image of the product. At the same time, through dedicated functionalities, citizens can report products or services that may infringe intellectual property rights through counterfeiting or piracy.
Available in 33 languages, the app helps to disseminate consumer protection and intellectual property awareness messages at European and international level. Its educational dimension promotes informed choices and a culture based on responsibility, transparency and originality.
The presence of InfoCons at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is a concrete demonstration of how digital innovation can support respect for intellectual property rights and protect consumers in Romania and around the world.
Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Department