Importance
World Intellectual Property Day is
observed on April 26 each year with a variety of events and activities
worldwide. It aims to increase people’s awareness and understanding of
intellectual property (IP). World Intellectual Property Day is sometimes
referred as World IP Day.
What Do People Do?
The World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) works together with various government agencies,
non-government organizations, community groups and individuals to hold different
events and activities to promote World Intellectual Property Day each year.
Activities and events may include:
Stage concerts or other public performances centered around the around
the World IP Day theme, with the performers delivering messages which encourage
respect for creators and creativity.
Essay competitions for young people on themes relating to intellectual
property, innovation, piracy, counterfeiting, and other similar issues. Seminars
or free lectures in universities to build awareness of intellectual property
and its benefits among students, faculty and researchers.
Exhibits in museums, art galleries, schools and other educational
institutions, with presentations explaining the link between exhibitions,
innovation and intellectual property. Some local intellectual and copyright
offices may have an open day on or around April 26 to promote World IP Day.
Some educational institutions may choose World IP Day as a time to celebrate
the works of a notable inventor, artist, designer, or entrepreneur, and link
discussions with the important role of intellectual property.
Background
IPO is a specialized agency of the
United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible
international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity,
stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while
safeguarding the public interest.
WIPO decided in 2000 to designate
an annual World Intellectual Property Day to address the perceived gap between
IP as a business/legal concept and its relevance to people’s lives. April 26
was chosen as the date upon which the convention establishing WIPO first
entered into force in 1970.
WIPO plays a key role in organizing World IP Day. The activities, events and campaigns that focus on World IP Day seek to increase public understanding of what IP really means, and to demonstrate how the IP system fosters not only music, arts and entertainments, but also all products and technological innovations that help to shape the world.