First in time, first in right: WIPO takes the lead on digital date stamping of IP

It is often crucial for tech, international brand companies and design-based businesses to demonstrate convincingly that they are the first to record a new idea, design or code. Most importantly though, it is trite that many intellectual property (IP) cases turn on proving who was the first to establish a specific right. This is where WIPO has provided a new digital platform, called WIPO PROOF, to record the critical date of existence for individuals and companies alike. Frederick Mostert provides us with a rundown of what this all means.