April 26th: World Intellectual Property Day

World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26th every year. This date was chosen to coincide with the date the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Convention was established in 1970.

It is a celebration that seeks to increase awareness about the importance of intellectual property in promoting creativity, innovation, and economic and social development.

Intellectual property refers to the legal rights that protect creations of the mind, such as inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights, and trade secrets. These rights allow creators, inventors, and companies to have exclusive control over their creations and obtain economic benefits from them, thus promoting innovation and creativity.

World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity to raise awareness in society about the importance of respecting and protecting intellectual property and highlight the fundamental role it plays in the global economy.

Some of the highlights about World Intellectual Property Day are as follows:

• Purpose: The objective of this day is to raise awareness in society about the importance of intellectual property rights, both to protect creativity and innovation, and to promote economic, cultural, and social development. This celebration highlights how innovation, creativity and the protection of intellectual property are fundamental to driving progress and well-being in the modern world.

• Annual Theme: Each year, WIPO sets a specific theme for World Intellectual Property Day. This topic focuses on a specific aspect and its relationship with innovation and creativity. This year’s theme (2024) is “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we have to rethink how we live, work and play.” The SDGs are a project for people, peace, prosperity, and our planet. Just like the challenges we face are multifaceted and complex.

• Protection of intellectual property: World Intellectual Property Day is also used as an opportunity to highlight the importance and encourage innovation, encourage fair competition in the market, generate economic value and protect consumers. By ensuring that creators and companies can protect their ideas and creativity, it promotes the differentiation of products and services, creates an environment conducive to collaboration and ensures the quality and authenticity of the products offered.

• Economic importance: It is essential for economic growth and prosperity. Protecting intellectual property helps foster innovation and creativity and promotes fair competition in the market. Furthermore, it allows creators, inventors, and companies to protect their intangible assets, which in turn provides them with incentives to invest in research and development. Also, it promotes technology transfer and facilitates commercial associations.

In summary, World Intellectual Property Day highlights the importance of balancing the protection of the rights of creators and their creations, with access to information and innovation to promote sustainable and fair development in today’s society.