International Publishers Association (IPA)
Website: http://www.internationalpublishers.org/
Category: Business
Year of Foundation: 1896
Location of Foundation: Paris, France
Location of Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Brief Description: The International Publishers Association describes itself as 'an international industry federation representing all aspects of book and journal publishing. Established in 1896, IPA's mission is to promote and protect publishing and to raise awareness for publishing as a force for economic, cultural and political development. Around the world IPA actively fights against censorship and promotes copyright, literacy and freedom to publish. IPA is an industry association with a human rights mandate.' (source: www.internationalpublishers.org; accessed 5 May 2010).
Founding Rationales:
The International Publishers Congress held in Paris in June 1896 decided 'that the different associations (Cercle de la Librairie de Paris, Boersenverein de Leipzig, etc.) should join together to study and to promote all appropriate measures to bring about adhesions to the Berne Convention. The Cercle de la Librairie de Paris is charged with bringing the associations together. ... An international Commission - composed of national Commissions established in each country - shall be formed with the mision of studying the question of suppression of customs rights applied on intellectual products. ... The Cercle de la Librairie de Paris is provisionally charged with bringing about the creation of national Commissions and serving as a link between them. ... The choice of the town in which the second Congress will take place, and eventually its organization are referred to the same Commission which must meet, on the initiative of the Cercle de la Librairie, for studying questions of intellectual property.'
Source: Cercle de la Librairie, 'Congrès International des Éditeurs (Paris, 15-18 Juin 1896) ... Documents - Rapports - Procès-Verbaux' (Paris: Cercle de la Librairie, 1896), pp. 224-226.
Evolution of Membership (countries represented):
Sources: AVI; HIO; YIO; EAIO; www.internationalpublishers.org (accessed 5 May 2010).