AIPPI dates back to 1897, shortly following the signature of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property in the year 1883. Following the initiative of leading legal scientists and practitioners a founders meeting was held in Brussels on May 8, 1897 and in October 1897 the first Congress was convened in Vienna with subsequent festivities in Budapest. Congresses were held annually in the early stages, later alternating with "Reunions", until the beginning of the First World War dictated an interruption in 1914.

The revival of the Association took place in 1925. Under the leadership of the Swiss Patent Attorney, Eugen Blum, the centre of gravity of AIPPI moved to Switzerland.

As a consequence of the Second World War, the activities of the Association suffered a second interruption from 1938 to 1946. The development of AIPPI to its present form has been a continual one. Starting with an emphasis on Western Europe it has become a truly international Association, including North and South America, Eastern European countries, Asia, Australia and Africa.

In 1997 AIPPI celebrated its Centennial in Vienna and Budapest. In its long history, AIPPI has adopted more than 700 Resolutions and Reports. The presentation of these Resolutions and Reports to international Governmental Organizations, in particular the WIPO, has contributed considerably to the development, improvement and harmonization of the international protection of Intellectual Property.

Recently AIPPI has revised and improved its Statutes and Regulations in order to meet not only the challenges present in the IP field but also the needs of the Membership.