The Convention represents the oldest cornerstone of the global industrial property protection system, promoting a uniform system of rights and protections. The treaty establishes a minimum system for harmonizing the regulations of adhering countries, imposing reciprocal protections, including respect for the principle of non-discrimination (i.e., national treatment). The Convention also governs the "right of priority," whereby an applicant who files an application in one member state has a period, which varies depending on whether it is a patent, trademark, or design, to extend protection to other countries while maintaining the priority of the first application.

https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/it/wipo_pub_201.pdf