WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT)

Definition - What does WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) mean?

The WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) is an international agreement of the World Intellectual Property Organization that supplements the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Berne Convention) and the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations (Rome Convention). Like the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), WPPT was created to address changes in digital technology and communications, particularly the distribution of digitally protected works over the Internet.

The WPPT is implemented in the U.S. as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

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Techopedia explains WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT)

Known as the Internet Treaties, WPPT and WCT were enacted to respond to new marketplace and technology developments where an increasing amount of copyrighted work is distributed in digital form. WPPT was created to update WIPO copyright treaties and regulations, primarily with the rapidly evolving development of new markets, distribution, methods of use and types of works.

The WPPT was adopted by a consensus of 100 member states of the European Union (EU) in Geneva, Switzerland on December 20, 1996. At that time, the Berne and Rome Conventions had not been modified for 25 years.