As many of his readers may have noticed, while the Kats were at play yesterday, celebrating World Intellectual Property Day, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) unveiled its new logo. According to WIPO's press release, "The new logo reflects the Organization’s dynamism and innovative spirit [Merpel asks mischievously, is that why there's a huge empty space in the middle of it?], and is a powerful symbol of WIPO’s revitalization and strategic reorientation [?]. It is based on a graphic representation of the WIPO headquarters’ building [prior art!], an iconic structure familiar to all WIPO member states and stakeholders. The color blue links the Organization with the United Nations [and Chelsea Football Club: click here for a stirring rendition of "Blue is the Colour"]. The seven curved lines represent the seven elements of IP, as set out in the WIPO Convention:
* literary, artistic and scientific works,
* performances of performing artists, phonograms, and broadcasts,
* inventions in all fields of human endeavor,
* scientific discoveries,
* industrial designs,
* trademarks, service marks, and commercial names and designations,
* protection against unfair competition, and all other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields [doesn't leave much out, does it?].
The gathering sweep of the curves is inclusive - WIPO is an open forum, welcoming all stakeholders and points of view. The dynamic, upward pitch of the curves represents ideas, movement, and the progress which comes from innovation and creativity. This rests on a strong foundation, the name and acronym of the Organization, representing its long-standing role at the center of international IP policy. The logo’s clean modern lines reflect the trust, reliability and efficiency which are key to WIPO’s corporate image".The IPKat, who actually quite likes the new logo and really didn't care much for the old one, has resisted the churlish urge to invite readers to seek out any earlier registered marks that use similar curves, but is instead happy to offer a complimentary one-year electronic subscription to the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice (JIPLP) to anyone who can suggest the best alternative explanation of the logo to what offered by WIPO itself. Entries, please, to the IPKat here, by close of play on Sunday 30 May.
That new WIPO logo
Reviewed by Jeremy
on
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Rating:
Reviewed by Jeremy
on
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Rating:
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looks to me like a fire-screen, to keep us safe from the flames of controversy.
ReplyDeleteI preferred the old one. The new one has too much empty space.
ReplyDeleteThe new logo reflects the Organization’s dynamism and innovative spirit, and is a powerful symbol of WIPO’s revitalization and strategic reorientation, with the open ended spirals arching gently towards the heavens. It is based on a graphic representation of the WIPO headquarters’ building, an iconic structure familiar to all WIPO member states and stakeholders but to no one else so we decided to include the acronym and full name of the organization for the uninitiated; bless. The colour blue links the Organization with the United Nations as the pantone number is an exact match and like us they are seeking inspiration in this world. The seven curved lines represent the seven elements of IP, as set out in the WIPO Convention; the open ended curves elude to the great uncertainty about the future direction symbolising the ever present possibility of “U” turns around IP policy and direction:
ReplyDelete* literary, artistic and scientific works,
* performances of performing artists, phonograms, and broadcasts,
* inventions in all fields of human endeavor,
* scientific discoveries,
* industrial designs,
* trademarks, service marks, and commercial names and designations,
* protection against unfair competition, and all other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields.
The gathering sweep of the curves have a subtle double meaning; inclusive - WIPO is an open forum, welcoming all stakeholders and points of view and the dynamic, upward spiralling pitch of the curves is akin to birds of prey rising on unseen thermals and represents a lot of hot air. This rests on a strong foundation, the name and acronym of the Organization, representing its long-standing role at the center of international dilly-dallying on IP policy. The logo’s clean modern lines reflect the thrust (you always need thrust), reliability and efficiency which are key to WIPO’s corporate image.
Welcome to the new WIPO logo. We decided we needed to do something special for World IP day. The major driver was our concern that World IP Day would go unnoticed by over 99% of the world’s population so we decided to release a new eye catching and thought provoking revision to catch the imagination of that elusive 99% and be a focus for discussion about IP on this important day for IP in the world.
ReplyDeleteWe are thrilled with the initial response. Our marketing department has been giving this a lot of attention recently and we are pleased to report that over 99% (Google) of the discussion around IP since the launch of our new logo has been about? You guessed it our new logo. A fantastic achievement I am sure you will agree and as a result of this we have decided that a new logo revision will be the focal point of all future World IP days. Onwards and upwards as they say (that’s the spiral bit...clever eh?).
PS If I win donate to charity as I only have one pair of eyes!
The logo began as a stack of seven concentric circles, representing the all encompassing vision of being at the epicenter of all aspects of global IP...most of which was then "wipoed" away, as it were, leaving a visual representation of what portion of its goal WIPO can realistically expect to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteIt's about the curved building with blue glass - and being somewhat abstract, disconnected and out of focus, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteThe old one had class, history and was very unique and distinctive.
http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/ITsupport/Categorization/dataset/wipo.gif
It's kind of like abandoning a legendary mark such as "House of Lords" for a rather plebeian and commonplace update such as "Supreme Court". I can't imagine that anyone would so that.
But Jeremy, doesn't the recent Peek & Cloppenburg decision
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/EUECJ/2010/T36108.html
indicate that it doesn't matter if the graphical symbols in the two marks are the same?
What has happened to OMPI?
ReplyDeleteThe curved, ribbed design is clearly evocative of a kitty litter scoop. For example, see here:
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/aaoaGZ
Do you think there is a case for infringement?
Perhaps its a example of subconscious copying arising as a result of WIPO officials spending too much time looking at the IPKat blog.
I'm not a trade mark expert. But will the goodwill associated with the old logo automatically transfer to the new one or do they have to start again?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to "BIRPI"?
ReplyDeleteHello IPKat, WIPO calling. Thank you for the publicity. You clever little IPKat spotting the Chelsea link. Well as the IPKat is now out of the IPBag we may as well sahre with you are new WIPO anthem.
ReplyDeleteBlue is the colour, IP is our game
We're all together but IP is a shame
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos WIPO, WIPO is our name.
Here in Geneva, whether rain or fine
We talk about IP all of the time
Home or away, come and hear us say
You'll love IP one day.
Blue is the colour, IP is our game
We're all together but IP is a shame
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos WIPO, WIPO is our name.
Come to the IP Conference and we'll welcome you
Wear your blue (delegates badge) and see us through
Sing loud and clear until the Plenary is done
Sing WIPO everyone.
Blue is the colour, IP is our game
We're all together but IP is a shame
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos WIPO, WIPO is our name.
Blue is the colour, IP is our game
We're all together but IP is a shame
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos WIPOOOOOO, WIPOOOOO is our name.
Cool! If you look at it long enough it flips from a downward-looking view of the outside of some curved bars, to an upward-looking view of the inside of those curved bars. And then back again. I am sure such visual flip-flopping is a metaphor for something - perhaps the prison cell that should await officials who misapproriate WIPO funds, and reality of getting away scot-free.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, it seems they forgot the barbed wire at the top. :)
ReplyDeleteIt resembles a privacy screen of the type used around a swimming pool. Progressing that further could land one in deep water.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively, it is a graphical representation of how WIPO delivers notifications of provisional refusal, ie not by the fastest means.
It's a rather sad, bland logo and reminiscent of that one might see launched by a state agency. For an amusing take on same, some of which is applicable to the new WIPO logo (eg. "Justify your unoriginal design with Lots of Crapology") see this blog http://is.gd/bLej1).
ReplyDeleteThe old logo was pretty cool. Disappointing to see it jettisoned.