About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT)

The SCT was created in 1998 to serve as a forum to discuss issues, facilitate coordination and provide guidance on the progressive development of international law on trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications, including the harmonization of national laws and procedures.

Participation in the SCT is open to all member states of WIPO or the Paris Union for the Protection of Industrial Property as members. A special rule of procedure extends membership without the right to vote to the European Union. In addition, member states of the United Nations that are not members of WIPO or the Paris Union, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations accredited with observer status at WIPO may participate in the Committee in an observer capacity .

  • List of ad hoc accredited organisations to the SCTPDF, General Rules of Procedure of WIPO
Delegates at a meeting of the SCT
Delegates at a meeting of the SCT (Photo: WIPO). More SCT photos on Flickr.

Electronic Forum

The Electronic Forum was established in 1998 in order to accelerate the deliberations and discussions of the SCT. It enables the electronic distribution, and submission by e-mail of comments concerning, preliminary draft working documents and draft reports. The Electronic Forum is open to all States members of the SCT and all interested States, international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations which have observer status in the SCT.

Legal references

Treaties

WIPO-administered treaties relevant to the work of the SCT include:

Joint recommendations

These joint recommendations respond to trends and developments in international trademark law:

  • Protection of Well-Known Marks PDF, Joint Recommendation Concerning Provisions on the Protection of Well-Known Marks
  • Trademark Licenses PDF, Joint Recommendation Concerning Trademark Licenses
  • Protection of Marks, and Other Industrial Property Rights in Signs, on the Internet PDF, Joint Recommendation Concerning Provisions on the Protection of Marks, and Other Industrial Property Rights in Signs, on the Internet

National practices

WIPO’s database on ‘Temporary Protection for Designs Shown at International Exhibitions’ contains information – provided by members of the SCT – ranging from duration, nature, and benefits of temporary protection, through to the requirements for, and evidence to support, such protection.

WIPO's Geographical Indications Information Database provides access to:

  • information on national and regional systems that can provide a certain measure of protection to geographical indications, and
  • information on the use/misuse of geographical indications, country names and geographical terms on the internet and in the DNS.

Reference documents

  • Status Report on Protection Against Unfair Competition in WIPO Member States PDF, Summary of Replies to the Questionnaire on Trademark Law and Practice, Rev. 1
  • Trademark Law and Practice – Summary of replies to questionnaire PDF, Summary of Replies to the Questionnaire on Trademark Law and Practice, Rev. 1
  • Industrial Design Law and Practice – Summary of replies to questionnaire PDF, Summary of Replies to the Questionnaires (Parts I and II) on Industrial Design Law and Practice, Rev. 2
  • Representation of Non-Traditional Marks – Areas of Convergence PDF, Representation of Non-Traditional Marks -  Areas of Convergence
  • Trademark Opposition Procedures – Areas of Convergence PDF, Trademark Opposition Procedures – Areas of Convergence
  • Grounds for Refusal of all Types of Marks PDF, Grounds for Refusal of all Types of Marks
  • Technical and Procedural Aspects Relating to the Registration of Certification and Collective Marks PDF, Technical and Procedural Aspects Relating to the Registration of Certification and Collective Marks
  • The Protection of Country Names Against Registration and Use as Trademarks PDF, The Protection of Country Names Against Registration and Use as Trademarks