WIPO Academy - [DL] IP eLearning

This course covers the fundamental aspects of intellectual property (IP): copyright and related rights, trademarks, patents, geographical indications, and industrial designs. It also covers contemporary issues impacting the IP field such as: new plant varieties, unfair competition, enforcement of IP rights and emerging issues in IP.

The content and methodology of all “General Primer” courses are structured to complement self-directed learning. As such, participants are able to review course material at their own pace.

Curriculum

The DL-001 course is comprised of twelve modules designed to facilitate the sequential expansion and assimilation of general IP concepts:

• Module 1: Introduction
• Module 2: Overview of IP
• Module 3: Copyright
• Module 4: Related Rights
• Module 5: Trademarks
• Module 6: Geographical Indications
• Module 7: Industrial Designs
• Module 8: Patents
• Module 9: New Plant Varieties
• Module 10: Unfair Competition
• Module 11: Enforcement of IP Rights
• Module 12: Emerging Issues in IP - IP and Development

Final Exam and Certificate

There is no final exam or certificate at the end of this course.
Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout each module to assist participants with gauging their respective levels of knowledge and progress, as well as their ability to apply the concepts and facts presented within the course.

Eligibility

This course is open to all individuals seeking to obtain a general overview of the fundamentals of IP.

This course builds on the concepts presented in DL-001 - Intellectual Property Primer. It provides a more in-depth view of the fundamentals of IP law, and is considered as indispensable to pursue more advanced courses of study on specific areas of IP law.

Curriculum

The DL-101 course is comprised of the following modules and final exam:

Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout each module to assist participants with gauging their respective levels of knowledge and progress, as well as their ability to apply the concepts and facts presented within the course.

Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of IP.

Final Exam and Certificate

The final exam for this course is comprised of a series of multiple choice questions. A fixed amount of time is allocated for participants to complete and submit the exam on-line. Participants are contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-101 course.

Participants who pass the DL-101 final exam are awarded an electronic certificate of course completion.

Eligibility

This course is open to individuals who are/will be employed in the field of administration of intellectual property rights; those seeking general knowledge of IP; and those who generate various forms of IP and seek a deeper understanding of the effective management and protection of IPRs.

The e-tutorial is an interactive learning tool covering the foundations of patent documentation, patent search strategies, and patent analysis and its numerous uses.  It includes tutorials, scenarios, and exercises to allow learners to expand and test their knowledge.
 
The e-tutorial is designed for a range of learners, from beginner to advanced and is offered through self-directed study and includes tests that allow each participant to gauge their knowledge and understanding at various points in the tutorial.

The e-tutorial can be useful for individuals, or to support group training for users with competency levels ranging from basic to intermediate, including students and researchers, small and medium business entrepreneurs, and policy makers.  It will also complement onsite training given within the framework of the WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) program.
 
There is no final examination for this course.  Self-evaluation tools are strategically incorporated throughout the tutorial to help participants to gauge their level of knowledge and test their ability to apply concepts and key facts taught during the tutorial.
 
Participants can work through the tutorial at a pace that suits them. It is estimated that the tutorial can be reviewed in approximately eight hours.
 
It is recommended that participants take the DL-177 tutorial prior to taking the DL-318 Patent Information Search course.
 

Teachers, educators and curricula setters can enroll to access the curricula, methodology, and teaching content provided by the WIPO Academy. It is designed for individuals already playing a role in schools, training institutions, IP offices, ministries of education, teachers associations, regional and international educational bodies.

The Distance Learning (DL) Phase of the Program covers 4 themes addressing:

1. existing IP teaching challenges and opportunities in schools;
2. the main domains of IP under the General Course on IP (DL-101);
3. how to teach innovation and creativity through IP using interactive content on Copyright, Patents and Trademarks, and
4. a competency in either developing new lesson plans, customizing the WIPO Academy IP4Youth content, or creating a draft business case.

Selected participants will also complete a face-to-face training seminar under theme 5 covering the developing of learning outcomes relevant to innovation, creativity, and IP.

Academic support is provided throughout each theme by experienced coaches and IP experts.

Copyright

• Identification of learning objectives for the lesson on copyright
• Outline of the copyright lesson plan
• Gamified lesson on copyright (30 minutes)
• Teachers' tools for the copyright lesson (180 minutes)
• Copyright case study on a 15 year old fantasy writer whose novels are read by millions of people worldwide.
• Copyright student activities
• Copyright lesson assessment
• Teachers notes

Patents

• Identification of learning objectives for the lesson on patents
• Outline of the patents lesson plan
• Gamified lesson on patents (30 minutes)
• Teachers' tools for the patents lesson (180 minutes)
• Patents case study on the inventor of the Braille code for the blind.
• Patents student activities
• Patents lesson assessment
• Teachers notes

Trademarks

• Identification of learning objectives for the lesson on trademarks
• Outline of the trademarks lesson plan
• Gamified lesson on trademarks (30 minutes)
• Teachers' tools for the trademarks lesson (180 minutes)
• Trademarks case study on the Doctors without Borders (MSF) logo.
• Trademarks student activities
• Trademarks lesson assessment
• Teachers notes

The IP Panorama 2.0 course aims to provide learners with a comprehensive foundation in the utilization of IP for entrepreneurship and business. Through the use of real-world case examples, IP Panorama 2.0 raises awareness of the benefits of using the IP system for business while providing practical guidance and a framework for how to do so. With newly designed, interactive, micro-learning content participants can more easily access and assimilate bite-sized chunks of learning material. 

Developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), and the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA), IP Panorama 2.0 is an updated version of the original IP Panorama program which was released in 2007.

The content comprises 8 modules:

• Module 1: The Role of IP
• Module 2: IP and IPR as Tools in Utilization
• Module 3: Different Forms of IP and IPRs
• Module 4: How to Ensure your Business is e-Savvy
• Module 5: IP Strategy
• Module 6: IP Audit
• Module 7: IP Infringement
• Module 8: IP Utilization

Eligibility

This course is open to all individuals, particularly in the enterprise sector and university students, seeking to increase their awareness of using IP for business success.

• Senior students in business administration and entrepreneurship (searching for knowledge and skills in the use of IP for entrepreneurship and business administration)
• Young professionals
• Entrepreneurs
• Business owners (of both SMEs and large firms)

The DL101PCT course provides an introduction and general overview of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), an international system that facilitates the acquisition of patents on a global scale.
 
The course was developed by WIPO specialists on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), using the pedagogical and distance learning methodology of the WIPO Academy. Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout the course to measure your understanding and progress. In addition to the course material, links to specific reference documents are provided, such as legal texts and other official WIPO documents.
 
The content and methodology of all “General Primer” courses are structured to complement self-directed learning.  As such, participants are able to review course material at their own pace.

Curriculum

The DL101PCT course is comprised of fourteen modules:

Final Exam and Certificate

This course is entirely self-study. An electronic certificate may be generated upon successful completion of the course quizzes.

Eligibility

This course is open to any individual wishing to obtain a general understanding of the PCT system.

This course aims to briefly describe the principles and economic impact of patents and the international patenting process. It provides participants with a review of the importance of patents in facilitating the effective transfer and development of technology. It is a preparatory course designed to precede practical training as regards protection under patents.

Curriculum

The course includes the following topics, a final set of questions and an audiovisual PowerPoint summary:

• Introduction to patent law;
• Core principles of the international patent system;
• Patentability: formal requirements (Patent Application);
• Patentability: substantive requirements;
• The different layers of patent protection (national, regional, and international options);
• Ways to protect innovation;
• Grant of patents and enforcement rules;  
• Patent flexibilities and development goals;
• New issues, important cases and discussions in patent law

Final Assessment and Certificate: The final assessment for this course is comprised of a series of multiple-choice questions. If you pass the assessment, you will be eligible to receive a certificate awarded by the WIPO Academy.
 
Eligibility: The course is designed for participants who plan to attend further training to develop their knowledge of patents to the full. It is useful to busy professionals who want to review in brief the essential elements of patent rights.
It is strongly recommended that prospective participants complete the General Course on Intellectual Property (DL-101) before taking up this course.

Duration: Participants can work through the course material at a pace that suits them. It is estimated that the course material can be reviewed in approximately 10 to 12 hours.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

The advanced level course explains the fundamental principles of international copyright and related rights protection, including a comprehensive overview of the international treaties, and recent developments and trends in the area of international copyright. This course also describes the system of collective management of rights and deals with issues of copyright and related rights in the digital environment. It also covers the role of WIPO in the worldwide protection of copyright

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

This course aims to provide technical information on key concepts and international, regional and national experiences, policy options and legal mechanisms available or under consideration for the intellectual property protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.  It is hoped that the course will strengthen capacity and stimulate consideration of these issues, share experiences and advance understanding of the range of issues and possible options in this area, in which legal and policy developments are still evolving at national, regional and international levels. 

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.
 

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

This advanced course is intended to provide training material online to cover intellectual property aspects which are closely related to trade and competition in the globalized market. Additionally, the course is intended to educate and raise awareness of some of the complex issues that surround the protection and management of intellectual property for branding.

This course is a preparatory course designed to precede practical training as regards protection of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

This advanced course is intended to describe the main features and advantages of the procedures designed by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center; how the selection process of the most appropriate dispute resolution procedure for any given case; and how to draft appropriate dispute resolution clauses for insertion into and agreement.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

The intention of this distance learning course relating to patent information searching is to introduce you to, and illustrate the concepts, of searching patent information. Practical activities have been incorporated throughout the course to complement theoretical principles that underpin patent information searching. Course participants are also furnished with in-depth information regarding sources, techniques and data used during patent searches.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.
 

The intention of this advanced distance learning course on the basics of patent drafting is to introduce you to, and illustrate the concepts, of patent drafting. It is neither a qualification course for patent drafting, nor a replacement of existing training manuals for patent attorneys or patent agents in countries in which robust systems for professional education in the area of patent practices exist. Some practical exercises are proposed with enough background and description to help you gain confidence to form a credible set of claims.

The course material has been designed on the basis of common denominators of several national patent laws in which most applicants seek patent protection.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.
 

The course, Intellectual Property Management, focuses on intellectual property from the perspective of ‘why’ and ‘how’ for participants who have already covered the basics of ‘what’ Intellectual Property is. In the first three modules, it teaches about the economic significance of IP. Using management examples and established industry methodologies, it elaborates on IP asset identification, IP incubation, IP commercialization, IP valuation, and IP taxation. In the last three modules it offers an in-depth look at commercial activities in the digital area by looking at e-commerce and IP, digital management of creative works, and the strategic management of IP.

Course Description:

The blue economy presents significant opportunities for economic resilience, sustainable growth, innovation, and job creation for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal economies.  The Specialized Course on Intellectual Property in the Blue Economy is designed to support innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in ocean‑based and coastal sectors. Through 12 self-paced online modules, including real‑world examples, practical exercises, and regionally relevant case studies, participants learn how to identify, protect, manage, and monetize intellectual property assets across the blue economy value chain.

The course is particularly relevant for stakeholders in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal economies, where innovation in sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine technology, tourism, and creative industries is growing rapidly.

Objectives:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the concept of the blue economy, including key stakeholders and sectors, particularly in the context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Explain core intellectual property concepts, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, and trade secrets, and distinguish between these IP forms.
• Recognize the relevance of IP in the blue economy and how it can be applied to protect and promote unique goods, services, and brands.
• Formulate effective IP management strategies tailored to the needs of blue economy businesses, focusing on brand building, marketing, and protection.
• Evaluate various methods for monetizing IP assets, such as licensing, franchising, and commercialization, to create new revenue streams.
• Integrate ethical and environmental considerations into IP management strategies, promoting sustainable and responsible practices within the blue economy.
• Develop strategies to resolve IP disputes in the blue economy sector, ensuring the protection of assets and the continuity of operations.
• Describe the role of IP in safeguarding and promoting local and indigenous cultural expressions and knowledge within the blue economy.
• Discuss future trends and emerging issues in IP and the blue economy, outlining proactive strategies to address the potential challenges.

Target Audience:

This course is suitable for existing and potential actors across the blue economy ecosystem, including: 

• Stakeholders in the seafood industry sector, producer/processor associations, professional schools/universities in the seafood sector 

• SME owners and industry practitioners 

• Climate change and green technology actors 

• Research and Technology Organizations 

• Academia / Universities: educators and researchers 

• Government agencies, ministries, policymakers, and International Organizations 

The course will be especially useful for those involved in seafood production and processing, innovation and technology, sustainability and climate action, higher education and training, the design or implementation of blue economy policies and programs and SIDS but is open to learners globally. 

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

Legal practitioners need to understand essentially what CMOs do, how they acquire mandates from rights holders and how they license the use of protected works.  Whereas their advice may be required in almost any aspect of collective management, the most common ones are the establishment of a collective management organization, the agreements that are concluded with rights holders and users of protected works, as well as the settlement of tariff disputes and aspects of competition law.  This course aims at building knowledge about the basics of copyright and in particular the international copyright treaties that have bearing on management and enforcement of rights nationally.  It focuses on providing an overview of issues in which legal practitioners are customarily involved in relation to collective management of copyright and related rights.  It also raises awareness of how creators, users, legislators and society at large benefit from the system of collective management.
 

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

This course, targeted at anyone intending to learn in-depth about collective management and in particular (CMOs), aims at raising awareness of how creators, users, legislators and society at large benefit from the system of collective management. It covers the workings of collective management of copyright in the categories of music, text and images, works of visual art and photography and dramatic works.  After a basic introduction of copyright and related rights which participants should know in advance of the course (see DL-201 Copyright), it lays the ground for the three main elements of a well-functioning copyright system: legislation, policy and management of rights.  The overriding principle is that whenever it is impracticable or impossible for IP rights holders to exercise their rights individually, collective management is a feasible solution.  The course examines the synergies that exist among stakeholders in the legal, creativity, management, and policy arenas in order to balance the benefits to creators and society.  It will also discuss the day-to-day work of CMO’s and how they are governed. Finally, the learners will be able to examine the challenges and opportunities brought about the digital technologies.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

Policy makers have a direct role in legislation and enforcement.  The primary role of policy makers is to lay down legislative framework for copyright and collective management.  In some countries, they can also have a supervisory role in relation to collective management.  This course is an introduction to policy making relying on the three main elements of a well-functioning copyright system, i.e., legislation, enforcement and management of rights.  Management of rights is mostly the task of the private sector, but in cases where legislation includes special stipulations on collective management, policy makers have a direct role, too. The main objective of this course is to examine different legislative frameworks for collective management and study what role Government can play in collective management of rights.  It also raises awareness of how creators, users, legislators and society at large benefit from the system of collective management in music and sound recordings, film and audiovisual, print and publishing, visual arts and photography, and dramatic works.
 

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self-study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.
 

The objective of this course is to enhance awareness of the possibilities and implications of proprietary and open source software;  and create useful sources of information including concrete examples and bibliography on software licensing, whether proprietary or open source, with special emphasis on the needs of developing countries.

IMPORTANT: The content of this Self Study course is available to you to read if you enroll, however, there will be no tutorial service, exam or certificate offered.

Intellectual Property (IP) is a key tool that facilitates both the protection and commercialization of goods and services at national, regional and international level. The Distance Learning (DL) course, DL-730 on IP and Exports adopts a practical, skills-focused methodology to address the common challenges and issues that are faced by exporters and export agency workers in everyday practice.
 
In seeking to raise awareness of the importance of IP to the exporting process as a whole, DL-730 examines the IP and export-related issues that arise in the specific national regulatory environments for business, trade and foreign direct investment within the Latin American and Caribbean region. The course draws on real-world, situational, case examples from Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, to attune learners to the practical cross-border and transnational considerations which they must give regard to when seeking to protect their IP-reliant products and services.
 
Throughout the course, participants will work toward building a practical checklist of activities that is customized to their own individual export environment.
 

This program provides comprehensive training on the drafting of patent applications to persons with professional and commercial interest in patents, and those who are looking to enhance their patent drafting skills across different technical fields. Designed as practice-oriented training, inventors and those providing services to them can acquire technical skills and knowledge necessary to prepare and file successful patent applications, including the capacity to draft all-important claims that determine the scope and coverage of the protection to be granted by a patent.
 
The training program will utilize state of the art WIPO e-Learning tools, while also giving unparalleled access to patent drafting experts virtually, through the use of online discussion forums, mentoring and in-person, through workshops conducted at WIPO Headquarters, in Geneva (Switzerland).

The training program is composed of three (3) phases:
 
Phase 1: Drafting Basics

• Fundamentals of drafting claims and the specification through facilitated discussions and exercises

Phase 2: Geneva Workshop

• Focused on improving technology-relevant patent drafting skills and practices of different jurisdictions
• Due to the prevailing public health and international travel situation, it may be necessary to conduct the in-person seminar either entirely, or partially online.

Phase 3: Mentoring

• Advanced patent drafting exercises in the participants’ field of expertis

Evaluations and Certificate
There is an Evaluation to test the patent drafting skills of participants at the end of Phase 3 via the WIPO’s online Learning Management System. Participants who successfully complete Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the training program, and pass the Evaluations scheduled at the end of the training program  will be awarded a WIPO Certificate.

Eligibility
Applicants must have:

1. Minimum 2 years of university level education; in law, and/ or in science and technology such as, engineering, life sciences, medicine, physics, chemistry, communication sciences or biotechnology; or at least 1 year of professional/ work or research experience in a field relevant to patent drafting/ patent prosecution.
2. General knowledge of IP and patents, at least equivalent to the WIPO Academy Distance Learning course DL301 - Advanced Course on Patents;
3. Proficiency in written and spoken English, i.e. minimum 2 years of university level education or higher in English, or TOEFL iBT 80/120 or IELTS 6.5/9 scores in the last three (3) years.

Registrations

Eligible persons must submit an online application. A limited number of applicants will be selected by WIPO and be invited to participate in the course. Information on registration periods and application process will be available at https://welc.wipo.int/ipdtp/