body: I am currently studying for an exam in intellectual property rights and read that the *Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property* is a umbrella agreement, whereas agreements such as PCT (*Patent Cooperation Treaty*) or MMA (*Madrid system for the international registration of marks*) are special agreements (within the umbrella).
  
  
  Therefore I wonder if **membership in the *Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property* is a requirement for any of the before mentioned special agreements and if not why**?
  
  
  Special agreements are mentioned in [Art. 19 of the Paris Convention](http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/text.jsp?file_id=288514#P361_57002).
  
  
  
title: Is membership in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property required for other special agreements such as PCT?