The Paris Convention created a Union for the protection of Industrial Property rights and established the priority right among member States.

The Paris Convention was first signed on the 20 th March, 1883, which makes it the first and oldest global treaties on Intellectual Property. Currently, 176 States all over the world have signed the Paris Convention and provides common standards for Intellectual Property protection in member states.

The priority rights were first originated with this treaty, allowing applicants of an Intellectual Property right (trademark, patent or design) from one jurisdiction to apply for the same right in another jurisdiction, benefiting from the original application date. Claiming Paris Convention priority is thus crucial for patents and industrial designs as absolute novelty is a granting requirement.