The purpose of the IPI system is the global unique identification of a right holder acting across multiple creation classes (musical work, literary work, work of art etc.), assuming different roles (musical creator, film director, author of fine art etc.), and owning all rights (performing right, reproduction right, radio broadcast right etc.), determined by each creation class he deals with. This is related to the data exchange not only within the copyright societies, but also in the world-wide transaction processing with third parties, such as user organizations like radio and TV stations, sound carrier producers etc. The IPI system contains the real and artistic names of the right holders, as well as their nationalities and place of birth (natural persons) or foundation (legal entities), including their territory, time and share dimensioned agreements with the corresponding copyright societies. Around 6.5 Million right holders (IPs) are today included in the IPI system.
The IPI system is designed, developed and operated by SUISA to support all types of intellectual property rights protection, not limited to copyright. It directs the international economic flow, between creation users and creation right holders, through administrative organizations. The IPI system is in fact the back bone administration tool for all collective, intellectual property protection organizations.