Our Scientific Work

Overview

For a broad view of how AIPPI's scientific work fits into its general aim, see the website of AIPPI International at www.aippi.org (Aims).

The most visible part of AIPPI's scientific work are its so-called "questions". AIPPI studies legal issues which are of interest to its members, usually with the ultimate goal to find potential for harmonizing IP law worldwide. The Programme Committee and the Reporter General set up the questions and the related questionnaires, which are then issued to the national groups. Questions are numbered, and the true insider will casually  refer to them as such, e.g. "Q192".

For an overview of what currently happens regarding questions within AIPPI Switzerland, see the Questions Overview.

For a list of past and current "Q's" on an international level, see www.aippi.org (Questions/Committees). The national reports as well as the overviews are a truly great source of invaluable information. If ever you need brief and reliable information about how the law and court practice might look like in a different country, all over the world, have a look!

The Role of AIPPI's National Groups

The national groups form Working Groups among their members. The Working Groups compile the available material within their jurisdiction, including the relevant law, the court practice, their practical experiences, and their suggestions for improvements of the current situation. The Working Groups then prepare a Report which is subsequently submitted to the Reporter General, where a truly international overview is prepared and redistributed to the national groups. An International Working Committee then drafts, supported by national delegates, a Resolution which shall be supplied to WIPO, WTO and national patent and trademark offices around the world.

AIPPI's specific advantage are the close relationships among practicioners and universities.
See our Paper on Working Guidelines.