The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) serves world business by promoting trade and investment and open markets for goods and services, as well as the free flow of capital. It defends the private enterprise system and encourages self-regulation by business.  Founded in 1919, the ICC is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) of thousands of companies and business associations in 130 countries.  National Committees like that in the UK present ICC views to their governments and alert Paris Headquarters to national business concerns.

The ICC has top level consultative status with the UN, where it puts forward the views of business in industrialised and developing countries. It also maintains close relations with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union, and other inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies.

Specialist ICC Commissions meet regularly to review issues affecting business, among them banking, competition, the environment, financial services and insurance, intellectual property, marketing, air, maritime and surface transport, taxation, and trade and investment policy.  These Commissions assess legislative proposals and other developments affecting their fields, and communicate their views to governments and international organisations.

ICC Commission on Intellectual and Industrial Property

The Commission promotes appropriate legislation for the protection of all kinds of intellectual property, including trademarks, patents and copyright, at national, regional and international levels.  It believes that the protection of intellectual property stimulates international trade and exchanges of goods and services, creates a favourable climate for foreign direct investment, and encourages transfers of technology and inventions.

The Commission works closely with intergovernmental organisations and NGOs involved in intellectual property policy-making including the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and other regional organisations.

For more information, please see our website or contact:

ICC United Kingdom
12 Grosvenor Place
London SW1X 7HH

Tel: 020 7838 9363
Fax: 020 7235 5447
E-Mail: membership@iccorg.co.uk

page last updated: 24 Sep 2008