World Intellectual Property Day: History & Significance

World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26th to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights in encouraging creativity and innovation. The day was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000.

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. IP rights are legal rights that protect these creations and enable creators and innovators to be recognized and rewarded for their work.

Every year, WIPO chooses a theme for World Intellectual Property Day to highlight a specific aspect of IP. The theme for 2023 is ” the ‘can do’ attitude of women inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs around the world and their ground-breaking work. ” This theme aims to raise awareness about how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can use IP to build and grow their businesses.

Throughout the day, various events are organized worldwide to promote the importance of IP rights, including seminars, conferences, and workshops. These events provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in IP and share best practices for protecting and enforcing IP rights.