WPPT

Audiodrome | Last Updated: March 16th, 2026 | 4 min read | Glossary

WPPT stands for the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, an international treaty adopted in 1996 to strengthen related-rights protection for performers and producers of phonograms in the digital environment. It does not cover all copyright issues generally; it focuses on neighboring rights in performances and sound recordings, especially rights relevant to online and digital use.

Quick facts:
Also called: WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Abbreviation: WPPT
Adopted: December 20, 1996
Entered into force: May 20, 2002
Administered by: WIPO
Not the same as: WCT or the Berne Convention.

Example:
When a country implements the WPPT, its law is expected to protect performers and phonogram producers against unauthorized digital uses of sound recordings, including certain online on-demand uses. That matters for streaming-era rights because the treaty specifically addresses making works available over the internet.

Gotchas:

  • WPPT protects performers and producers of phonograms, not authors of literary or musical works in the same way the WCT addresses copyright in works. The two treaties are related, but they are not interchangeable.
  • For performers, the WPPT mainly concerns performances fixed in phonograms, not audiovisual performances such as motion pictures. WIPO’s summary explicitly draws that line.
  • The treaty includes digital-era rights such as making available, plus legal protection against circumvention of technological measures and tampering with rights-management information.
  • The treaty provides for at least 50 years of protection, but national implementation still matters because countries must adopt the treaty through their own legal systems.

FAQs

A phonogram producer is the person or company that takes the initiative and responsibility for making a sound recording. It doesn’t have to be the performer. In many cases, record labels or independent producers hold these rights because they organize, fund, and manage the recording process.

Yes, but only under strict conditions. Countries can allow limited exceptions if they meet the “three-step test,” meaning the use must be special, must not harm the normal market for the work, and must not unfairly damage the rights holder’s interests. Common examples include education and research uses.

No, the WPPT only protects performers who create audio recordings, like musicians and singers. Performers in movies, television shows, or other video-based works are protected under a different treaty called the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances.

The WPPT gives performers and producers the right to control how their music is streamed online. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music must get licenses and pay royalties to legally offer recorded music. This ensures that artists and producers are fairly compensated for digital distribution.

There is no global court that forces countries to comply with the WPPT. However, ignoring the treaty can cause political pressure, trade disputes, and legal uncertainty for creators and businesses. Countries are expected to align their copyright laws with WPPT standards once they join the treaty.

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Related terms:
WIPO Copyright Treaty • WIPO • Phonogram • Neighboring Rights • Sound Recording • Performer Rights