International Intellectual Property Day (26/04)

Every year since 2001, International Intellectual Property Day has been celebrated on April 26.

The General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), at a meeting in October 1999, having considered the proposal of the Chinese delegation, decided to establish this holiday. At the same time, she proceeded from the fact that April 26 marks the founding of the WIPO — organization designed to promote the protection and development of intellectual property throughout the world, and which, as the UN specialized agency for creativity and intellectual property, operates primarily to expand and development of a balanced and accessible international intellectual property system.

International Intellectual Property Day provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of innovation in everyday human life and the improvement of society. Patents, trademarks, copyright and related rights, as results of creativity and knowledge, are powerful tools for promoting the economic and cultural development of the entire world community.

An effective intellectual property system that balances the interests of inventors and creators with the interests of society as a whole allows inventors and creators to harness the power, energy and skill to create new technologies and forms of creative expression that enrich and improve our lives.

The conditions in which innovation and creativity flourish and which support diversity and inclusion increase our chances of meeting the important challenges facing humanity, promote progress and help lead healthier, safer and more comfortable lifestyles.

Patents, trademarks, copyright and related rights are powerful tools for promoting the economic and cultural development of the entire global community (Photo: kentoh, licensed by Shutterstock.com)

Therefore, traditionally, various thematic events, actions and campaigns are held on this day, the purpose of which is to attract the attention of the world community to the problems that the «World Intellectual Property Organization» faces in solving its tasks, as well as in order to inform society about what constitutes intellectual property and how its protection system contributes to the development of many areas of progress: from art to innovative technologies. And the Director-General of WIPO distributes a celebratory message addressed to his regional representatives.

By the way, every year events within the framework of Intellectual Property Day are dedicated to a topic. So, over the years, the mottos of the Day were: «Today the future is being created», «Make intellectual property your business», «Everything starts with the idea», «Green innovation», «Creativity — next generation», «Creativity — World cult of cinema», «Rise, get up! For music!», «Creativity in the digital environment: Rethinking culture», «Innovation: improving the quality of life», «The driving force of change: women in innovation and creativity», «In the fight for gold: intellectual property and sports», «Innovation for a "green" future», «Intellectual property and youth: innovation for the future», «Women and intellectual property – catalyst for innovation and creativity» and others.

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