The following is a selection of events planned by various countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in observance of World Intellectual Property Day:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Algeria

A celebration was held on April 26 at the Press Center "El Moudjahid" in Algiers, where many journalists and representatives of diplomatic missions were present. The Director General of the Institut national Algérien de la Propriété Industrielle (INAPI), Mr. Omar Bouhnik, gave a press conference on the theme, "The Place and the Issue of Intellectual Property in the Global Environment - Strategic Vision and Macro-Economic Context."

Mr. Bouhnik spoke particularly of new developments in intellectual property, such as in the fields of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore, electronic commerce and the TRIPS Agreement; he mentioned the need to adapt legal norms to these challenges.

He also emphasized the economic importance of innovation and creativity, and the need for more awareness and knowledge among stakeholders of how best to use intellectual property systems to harness and spread the benefits of such resources. He concluded by observing that this occasion and others served to popularize the subject of intellectual property, and to promote awareness among users of how to integrate it in their quest for external markets.

Austria

The Austrian Patent Office will celebrate the Day by holding a special seminar for those involved in industry, in which the concept of intellectual property will be explored.

Bangladesh

The Ministry of Industries gave responsibility to the Department of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks for the celebration of the Day. The Department made arrangements for a discussion program, organized jointly by the Bangladesh Intellectual Property Attorneys' Association and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), to promote awareness of intellectual property.

The occasion was presided over by the President of the DCCI. The Chief Guest and Special Guest were the Minister for Science, Information and Communication and the Secretary, Ministry of Industries, respectively. The Registrar of the Department and the Deputy Registrar (Trade Marks) were speakers, and an advocate of the Bangladesh Intellectual Property Attorneys' Association presented a keynote paper

During the discussions, matters spoken of included the importance of intellectual property rights, the value of intellectual property as an asset to commerce and as a tool for economic development - notably the need to spread knowledge of intellectual property for the purposes of commerce and economic development - and the present status of intellectual property in Bangladesh.

Among the participants were a large number of users of intellectual property.

In addition, banners to celebrate the Day were displayed in prominent places in Dhaka.

Belize

The Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) will celebrate the Day with the following activities:

  • Publication of the Director General’s message in the most popular newspaper in Belize and on BELIPO’s website (www.belipo.bz);
  • a broadcast of the WIPO video “Creating the Future Today” on national television;
  • a poster campaign in the most important buildings in the capital city, Belmopan.

British Copyright Council

The British Copyright Council (BCC) is a non-governmental organization which has acquired observer status with WIPO. It has created a website, on which World Intellectual Property Day will be reflected. This is at: www.britishcopyright.org

Bulgaria

The Day was celebrated in Bulgaria by a Round Table on the theme 'Encouraging Creativity' in the Boyana Residence, on April 26.

The event included:

  • an official presentation of diplomas to graduates in intellectual property at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), on the tenth anniversary of that institution's Intellectual Property Center;
  • speeches by the Minister of Economy, the President of the Patent Office, and the Rector of UNWE;
  • presentations on the encouragement of innovation, on amendments in the law on utility models, on industrial designs, on the quality policy of the European Commission in the field of agricultural and food products, and on other aspects of industrial property;
  • a discussion, a press conference, an official ceremony for the entry of inventors in the Golden Book, and a cocktail party.

Cameroon - Association for the Promotion of Intellectual Property in Africa

The Association has planned a program of public information over several days, aiming at explaining concepts and mechanisms of intellectual property. This includes the publication of articles in the press, special broadcasts on radio and television and the holding of open days (April 22-25), a conference and debate (April 26) and an evaluation meeting (April 29).

Canada - The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will undertake the following activities on the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day.

CIPO is teaming up with the network of business service centres across the country in an effort to deliver intellectual property awareness presentations and engage in on-line promotions and marketing activities.

Close to 2,000 World Intellectual Property Day posters, highlighting this year's theme, were developed and distributed to business centres and to the community of intellectual property practitioners to promote local events and/or raise awareness of World Intellectual Property Day.

On April 26, CIPO will announce the release of a new generic publication and the creation of a pool of intellectual property experts available to teach seminars on the importance and strategic value of intellectual property.

At CIPO's headquarters, internal events will take place, including a breakfast, a display and promotional activities.

Canada - Othentik Technologies Inc.

Othentik Technologies Inc. is a company based in Montreal which specializes in e-commerce. Its President has highlighted the theme of this year’s Day, “Encouraging Creativity,” emphasising the loss occasioned to economies by counterfeit products, and the importance of copyright issues in the fields of software and music.

Congo

To celebrate the Day, two activities were organized, under the patronage of the Ministry of Industial Development, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Handicrafts:

  • a message broadcast on April 26 on television by the Minister, who stressed the need to encourage creativity and innovation for the purposes of economic and socio-cultural development, to enable investors, enterprises and the people as a whole to benefit from the intellectual property system, and to promote awareness at governmental level of the need for policies to integrate intellectual property into their development strategies;
  • a play presented on April 27 by the National Theatre at the French Cultural Centre in Brazzaville, in the presence of the above-mentioned Minister, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism, the “Conseiller du Chef de l’Etat à l’industrie et au commerce” and other dignitaries, as well as members of the public.

Côte d’Ivoire

The Government of Côte d’Ivoire will celebrate the Day with the following activities:

  • a declaration of the Government, read by the Minister of French language and Culture;
  • an official ceremony presided over by the Minister of French language and Culture;
  • a televised debate on the theme “Piracy, an Obstacle to Literary and Artistic Creation”, with the participation of copyright specialists, performers, and professionals in the field of arts and culture;
  • a debate broadcast on radio on the same theme;
  • a Conference open to the public, and
  • the distribution and exhibiting of WIPO materials in schools, in the Ivorian Copyright Office, and in the Ministry of French language and Culture.

Croatia

The Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship plans to hold, at its premises in Zagreb on April 26, a seminar on the theme of “Intellectual Property: A Power Tool for Economic Growth,” using WIPO publications.

Czech Republic

The Industrial Property Office is planning celebrations at its premises, and has put the message of WIPO’s Director General on its website in both Czech and English.

Dominican Republic

The activities planned to celebrate the Day were:

  • the insertion, on April 26, in “Diario Libre,” which has a nationwide distribution, of the cartoon “Copyright” under the auspices of the National Copyright Office;
  • the destruction, on April 27, of illicit materials seized by the National Copyright Office, at the office of the Secretary of State for Culture;
  • the presentation of the website of the National Copyright Office, on April 27.

Equatorial Guinea

The Council of Scientific and Technological Research has planned a series of activities to celebrate the Day, such as a cycle of conferences, a competition for inventions and other creative works, a sketching competition for children on the theme of finding solutions to the commonest social problems, and articles and experiments in the field of intellectual property in Equatorial Guinea.

Estonia - Estonian Patent Office

The Estonian Patent Office and a national newspaper, “Postimees,” will be producing a supplement on the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day. It will contain information on industrial property, on official gazettes and databases of the Estonian Patent Office, the seminars organized by that Office, and on the experiences of Estonian inventors.

Estonia - Tallinn University of Technology

The Tallinn University of Technology will be holding an exhibition on University patents/utility models, as well as a seminar for the staff of the University and the general public.

Fiji

Fiji is to postpone its celebration of the Day until May 5, 2004, in deference to the period of mourning declared following the recent death of Sir Kamisese Mara.

The program to celebrate the Day will begin on May 5, and will run for a month. It will consist of a series of seminars and panel discussions, involving Government officials from the competent Ministries (dealing with Justice, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Education, Fijian Affairs and Agriculture) as well as the Fiji Performers’ Rights Association.

Germany

World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated in Germany by a dialogue between a representative of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) on the subject “Music Download via Internet: Free Flow of Information or a Cybercrime?” The dialogue will begin with a lecture by Professor Berger of the law Faculty of the University of Leipzig on intellectual property issues.

Ghana

To celebrate the Day, the UNIC Office in Accra cooperated with the Copyright Office and the Registrar General’s Department to organize a seminar and an exhibition to promote awareness among stakeholders of the importance of intellectual property protection.

Haïti

The Office of the Secretary of State for Culture and the Copyright Office of Haïti organized several days of activities to celebrate the Day, which included the following:

  • the distribution of a set of documents to the media, on April 21;
  • presentations on copyright and the encouragement of creativity, at the Collège Salésien, on April 23;
  • a declaration in two languages to the media, by the Secretary of State for Culture, on April 23;
  • presentations on piracy and its harmful effects, at the Collège Marie Anne, on April 24;
  • presentations on copyright and access to knowledge, at the Collège Saint Louis de Bourdon, on April 26;
  • the broadcast of a documentary on copyright on television stations in the capital, on April 23 and April 26;
  • presentations by two authors on their experiences with authors’ contracts and the economic status of authors, on April 23 or 26.

Honduras

The Dirección General de Propiedad Intelectual (DIGEPIH), which is the Intellectual Property Office of Honduras, organized a cycle of lectures by experts in the field on April 26. This event was attended by some 80 participants.

Hong Kong - SAR China

Two newspaper supplements will be publicizing World Intellectual Property Day, and will include the message of the Director General of WIPO for the occasion. One will be in an English-language newspaper, and the other in a Chinese-language newspaper.

India - CSIR and FICCI

To celebrate the Day, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), with the participation of a WIPO official, held a Workshop on Dispute Resolution in Intellectual Property and Technology Agreements in New Delhi on April 26 and 27, 2004.

The speakers were experts in the field from India and Europe, who covered subjects such as technology and licensing, intellectual property management, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, benefits and limitations, the drafting of dispute resolution agreements, main steps in mediation, and case studies in mediation and arbitration. CSIR awards for invention were also presented to schoolchildren.

India - IIT and IGNOU

The Day was celebrated by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on April 26.

The occasion at the IIT was attended by faculty and students, and was chaired by a former Director of the institution. A WIPO participant spoke on “Intellectual Property Strategy for Development in the Era of Globalization.”

The program at the IGNOU took the form of a videoconferencing session to a nationwide audience, presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of that institution. This was viewed live for 45 minutes in 26 regional centers. A WIPO participant spoke on “Demystifying Intellectual Property - a Tool for Economic Development.” It ended with a question and answer session.

India - National Intellectual Property Organization of India

The National Intellectual Property Organization (NIPO) is organizing a lecture on “Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and the Biological Diversity Act.”

A keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Rajesh Gopal, Director of Project Tiger, on the subject of “Biodiversity Conservation with Peoples’Participation in Project Tiger Areas.”

India - The National Institute of Design

The Institute plans to organize a half-day workshop in Ahmedabad, Gujerat, with industrialists from small- and medium-sized enterprises. The aim of the workshop is to show the role of intellectual property rights in transforming innovative technology and ideas into market successes, and to enable participants to use those rights as a business tool. The workshop will provide suitable material in the regional language.

Indonesia

The Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights (DGIPR) will be conducting a series of activities on the theme of "The Empowerment of the DGIPR's Role in Supporting the National Economy Through the Effective Protection of Industrial Designs." A selection of the best Indonesian Industrial Design and National Roving Seminars will be held on
April 26-27, 2004 in Jakarta, and on April 29-30 in Surabaya.

WIPO is invited to contribute a speaker for the seminars, as well as a medal for the best Indonesian industrial design. WIPO materials such as publications, posters, brochures and booklets will also be on display.

Ireland

Ireland is to mark World Intellectual Property Day with the following activities:

  • a general note on intellectual property and the message from WIPO’s Director General, Dr. Kamil Idris, will be placed on the websites of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Irish Patents Office (www.entemp.ie and www.patentsoffice.ie);
  • letters issuing from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Patents Office will be franked with the following text from mid-April: “World Intellectual Property Day 26 April.”& amp; amp; amp; lt; /li>

Italy - Central Innovation Relay Center

The Central Innovation Relay Center for Lazio, Abruzzo and Sardinia will be celebrating the Day with a Conference in Rome on April 26 on the theme “Investing in Trade Marks and Patents.”

Italy - Centro Sviluppo S.P.A.

Centro Sviluppo S.P.A. is the regional development agency of the Aosta Valley in Northern Italy. It plans to organize a series of six seminars on intellectual property, the first of which will be held on World Intellectual Property Day.

Italy - The Italian Trademark and Patent Office

The Italian Trademark and Patent Office had the message of WIPO’s Director General for the Day broadcast in an Italian translation.

It also organized two conferences on intellectual property at the premises of the competent Ministry.

One conference was for legal specialists (lawyers and attorneys) and the other for SMEs. In particular, the first conference presented a CD-Rom with a collection of all Sentences from 1976 to 2000 set up by the “Commissione dei ricorsi” – a special jurisdictional body with competence in assessing the UIBM decision of refusal of intellectual property rights.

In the second conference were presented the results of two EU programmes in the field of intellectual property: a multimedia guide containing stories of SMEs which use intellectual property rights successfully in their entrepreneurial strategies and a website which SMEs and PROs can consult as a useful tool for knowledge of the intellectual property system. On this occasion the two WIPO guides on trademarks and industrial designs, translated into Italian, were distributed to representatives of SMEs.

Jamaica

The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) has organized a week of activities, from April 23-30, 2004, on the theme “Intellectual Property - Paving the Way to Wealth Creation.” These include:

  • an Open Day and website launch at the Intellectual Property Service Centre (April 24);
  • a public lecture, specifically to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, on the new Geographical Indications Act;
  • a conference on “Collective Management of Rights” run by the Jamaica Copyright Licensing Agency (April 27 and 28);
  • an “Evening of Creativity” featuring the Songwriters’ Guild (April 29).

Kenya

Kenya is observing World Intellectual Property Day as follows:

  • a training workshop sponsored by Microsoft for copyright and counterfeit prevention officers, which took place on March 12, 2004;
  • a talk show on local radio on matters of intellectual property rights and question time from the public on April 22, 2004, with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), the Copyright Board of Kenya and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service for plant breeders’ rights participating;
  • on April 26, 2004, KIPI is planning to host a symposium and an exhibition within its grounds, presided over by the Minister for Trade and Industry, with invitations issued to all Coordinators in universities and Research and Development Institutes and to other stakeholders in the field of intellectual property rights;
  • there will be a panel for discussion on matters of intellectual property rights;
  • publicity in the print and electronic media starting a week leading up to April 26, 2004, including the messages of the Minister for Trade and Industry, WIPO’s Director General, the Managing Director of KIPI and of the Copyright Office, which will appear in the print media;
  • KIPI and a local television station are producing a documentary, in which intellectual property officials speak of developments in the protection of innovations and inventions, and where projects which have benefited from such protection will be shown.

Kyrgyzstan

The State Agency of Science and Intellectual Property planned the following activities to celebrate the Day:

  • Round table for research institutions on issues of intellectual property protection, on April 7, 2004;
  • seminar on “Intellectual Property and Innovation for Inventors of the Kyrgyz Republic,” on April 19, 2004;
  • meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission against infringements in the field of intellectual property, on April 20, 2004;
  • seminar for the Office of Public Prosecutors, executives, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic and Internal Affairs Department of Bishkek city, with specialists from Microsoft and CIPR participating, on April 22, 2004;
  • the action “Stop Piracy!” in common with the Police, on April 24, 2004;
  • short-term course for the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy, devoted to the problems of intellectual property protection;
  • competition for the best article and the best poster in the field of intellectual property, until April 20, 2004;
  • an exhibition on “Intellectual Resources of Kyrgyzstan – 2004,” from April 19 to 26, 2004;
  • competition of technical creative work “Intellectuals of the XXI Century,” from March 24 to 26, 2004;
  • presentation to the best students in 2003, the result of a competition, on April 26, 2004;
  • celebration of Book and Copyright Day, on April 23, 2004;
  • Kyrgyzpatent Annual Report preparation, until April 15, 2004;
  • the edition of the Official Bulletin of the Interstate Council on Industrial Property Protection, until April 12, 2004;
  • chess tournament, in April 2004;
  • elucidation of events dedicated to the World and National Intellectual Property Day by the Information Agency “Kabar”;
  • participation in the action of the Office of Public Prosecutors against counterfeit production in various regions, from March 23 to April 2, 2004;
  • seminar on intellectual property protection for leaders, businessmen, managers of cafés and restaurants in the towns of Tokmok and Kara-Balta, on March 24, 2004 and on April 8, 2004;
  • coordination with the Central Administrative Board on combating infringements under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on April 2, 2004;
  • Scientific Conference, on April 26, 2004.

Lithuania

World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated in Lithuania as follows:

  • April 22 - the Lithuanian Related Rights Association (AGATA) will commemorate its 5 th anniversary and will honor the most popular performers and phonogram producers of the year;
  • April 23 - on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, State Patent Bureau and Agency of Lithuanian Copyright Protection Association (LATGA-A) the celebration of World Intellectual Property Day will be held at the Applied Arts Museum/Arsenal, including:
  • a concert of St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra - the leader and conductor of which is a former nominee for the World Intellectual Property Organization Creativity Award;
  • a grant of two WIPO Creativity Awards for 2004 by the Ministry of Culture;
  • nominations for awards by the State Patent Bureau;
  • tributes to the most popular authors of the year, coordinated by the Agency of Lithuanian Copyright Protection Association (LATGA-A);
  • the website of the Ministry of Culture will be updated to incorporate the World Intellectual Property Day message to highlight the importance of creativity and innovation in building a better world.

Malaysia

To celebrate the Day, The Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS), in cooperation with the Malaysian Intellectual Property Association (MIPA), has organized, for May 5, 2004, a Symposium entitled “Intellectual Property-Commercialization” for the benefit of inventors and the intellectual property community in general.

A special room at MINDS is also being prepared for the display of WIPO publications.

Malta

In commemoration of the Day, the Industrial Property Registrations Directorate, Commerce Division, organized a press conference given by the Minister for Competitiveness and Communication, Mr. Censu Galea. Mr. Godwin Warr, Director General, Commerce and Comptroller of Industrial Property, gave an opening address followed by a speech made by the Minister stressing the importance of intellectual property for the development and growth of SMEs. Constituted bodies and representatives of small businesses, such as the Federation of Industry ( FOI), the Chamber of Commerce, the Gozo Business Chamber and the General Retailers and Traders Union ( GRTU), were present for this press conference. During this conference a number of CDs, received from WIPO, entitled 'Intellectual Property for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises', were distributed to the afore-mentioned organizations in order that they may distribute them to their members. In addition, a demonstration CD of the Intellectual Property Rights Guide was distributed and a short presentation of the relevant website was given.

Mauritius

The Day was celebrated in Mauritius by giving wide publicity to the message of the Director General of WIPO, and by the following initiatives at the national level:

  • The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council launched the first Innovators Mauritius Award, to promote a culture of innovation among people from all walks of life;
  • The Ministry of Women's Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare organized a cultural program emphasizing intellectual property, with an exhibition of books, sculptures, photographs and paintings, and with the participation of women artists.

Mexico - National Institute of Copyright

To celebrate the Day, the National Institute of Copyright organized an event entitled "Concierto por la cultura autoral," on May 13, 2004.

In particular, the Director General of the Institute, Mr. Adolfo Eduardo Montoya Jark'n, emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of creators, and the damage done by piracy in Mexico, while also outlining the work of the Institute, in cooperation with other institutions, to safeguard these rights.

Mexico - University of Colima

The University of Colima will be celebrating the Day as follows:

  • a periodical will be issued in the State of Colima containing five articles on the subjects: “ What Universities Can do for Intellectual Property” (Olga Alicia Krauss Torres), “Inventions - some Cases showing Possibilities”, “What you Always Wanted to Know about Copyright and Never Dared To Ask” (Laura Sofía Gómez Madrigal), “Marks, Franchises and Commercial Names” (Oscar Javier Solorio Pérez), “What the Program of Intellectual Property Offers at the University of Colima” (Ángel Prado López);
  • a panel will be set up, for both teaching researchers and the general public, for the promotion of legal protection of intellectual creations, which will be guided by Angélica Silis Reyes, Departmental Coordinator of the Center for Information Technology of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property;
  • a lecture will be given by Dolores Jiménez Hernández, official of the External Relations Secretariat and formerly a Consultant of the World Intellectual Property Organization;
  • various courses and lectures will be given by staff of the University program on intellectual property as a culture and as a means to encourage creativity.

Mongolia

Mongolia has declared World Intellectual Property Day a day of official celebration, and organized a public relations program for it.

The Minister of Justice and Home Affairs made the award of a WIPO gold medal, and television broadcasts showed the award ceremony, as well as WIPO spots for the celebration of the Day.

Nepal

The Day is to be officially celebrated in Kathmandu by:

  • an opening address by the President of FNCCI;
  • an address on the importance of intellectual property in Nepal with emphasis on the WIPO theme, “Encouraging Creativity,” by the Director General of DOI;
  • a presentation on the effects of parallel imports by the Brand Protection Group;
  • remarks by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies;
  • a vote of thanks by the Coordinator of the Brand Protection Group;
  • a lunch hosted by FNCCI.

Nicaragua

To celebrate the Day, Training Seminars/Workshops on Intellectual Property were organized in Managua on April 26 by the Inter-american Bank for Development’s Project to Strengthen the Management of External Trade, with the cooperation of the Secretaría de Integración Económica Centroamericana (SIECA), the project on Intellectual Property SIECA/USAID, the Universities of UNAN-MANAGUA, UAM, UNI, UPOLI, UPONIC and UCA, the Camerata Bach, the Ministry for Development, Industry and Trade, and the General Directorate for Industry, and through the Industrial Property Registry.

Lectures were given and discussions held on:

  • policies and competence in the acquisition and marketing of pharmaceutical products in Nicaragua;
  • the importance of intellectual property for economic, social and cultural development in developing countries;
  • traditional knowledge and the protection of folklore in Panama;
  • plant breeders’rights in Nicaragua;
  • trademarks and other distinctive signs;
  • copyright and related rights;
  • the benefits of innovation and technology transfer.

Fairs were also inaugurated on national technology and adherence to treaties, and for Nicaraguan disks.

Pakistan - Haider Shamsi & Associates (Private) Limited

Haider Shamsi & Associates (Private) Limited, the management consulting arm of Haider Shamsi & Co., Chartered Accountants (www.firms.findlaw.com/Haidershamsi) will be organizing a half day seminar on the theme of intellectual property rights and their implications and importance for a growing organization. Intellectual property rights lawyers, consultants, experts, regulators and owners will be invited to address the seminar. The technical material presented will be published and distributed to the participants. A newspaper supplement will be issued containing WIPO materials and the messages of the concerned officials and Ministers. Electronic media coverage will be arranged to support the event.

Pakistan - Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry

In order to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan (www.hyderabadchamber.com), in collaboration with the Collectorate of Customs, Sales Tax and Central Excise, Government of Pakistan, Hyderabad, will organize a one-day workshop/seminar on April 26th, 2004. The aim of the workshop is to create awareness regarding implementation of the TRIPS Agreement and various enforcement measures being taken by the Government of Pakistan in order to check the flow of counterfeit goods at exit/entry points. The workshop will be addressed by customs officers, The Registrar of Trade Marks, and other intellectual property rights experts. The event will also be covered by electronic and print media.

Pakistan - Pakistan Industrial and Intellectual Property Rights Association (PIPRA)

The Pakistan Industrial and Intellectual Property Rights Association (PIPRA), will be celebrating the Day in Karachi. The celebration will be presided over by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh, who will address a gathering of prominent intellectual property lawyers, government officials and members of PIPRA. Other speakers will include the Chairman of the Association, a leading intellectual property practitioner and the Honorary Secretary of the Association. The message of the Director General of WIPO will be read out by the Chairman of the Association while presentations will be made on the theme of this year's Day: "Encouraging Creativity Through The Use of the Intellectual Property System." The occasion, which will be held at the Sheraton Towers, Karachi, will be followed by a gala dinner and a musical programme. It is expected that the occasion will be widely covered by the media.

Paraguay

In relation to the Day, the activities planned by the Directorate General for Intellectual Property, the National Directorate for Copyright and the Directorate for Industrial Property are the following:

The Day will be celebrated by a ceremony in the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Those invited will include high-level government officials, other public servants, judges, prosecutors, members of the National Council for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, the Paraguayan Patent Attorneys’ Association, the Collective Management Society of Paraguay, as well as SMEs, universities, research centers, inventors’ associations, the Industrial Union of Paraguay and the press.

The major theme of the event will be emphasis on the Day, the importance of intellectual property for economic development, enforcement and the protection of intellectual property rights.

Philippines

The day will be celebrated by the following activities:

  • launch of National Essay Writing Contest for students at all levels of education;
  • launch of the On-the-Spot Painting Contest for students at the secondary education level;
  • mounting of exhibit with the theme: “Know Your Partners in Intellectual Property Enforcement,” which will feature government agencies responsible for enforcing intellectual property rights.

Poland

The Patent Office celebrated the Day in the following ways:

  • publicity and information on the Day, with the message of WIPO’s Director General and an explanatory text on WIPO, are on the Office’s website;
  • a poster has been displayed at the main entrance of the Patent Office;
  • on April 20, 2004, there was a seminar for patent attorneys, judges, prosecutors, representatives of industry, universities, professional associations (in total about 300 people) on the protection of industrial property in the context of the enlargement of the European Union, during which a message from the Director General was conveyed and distributed with conference proceedings.

Portugal - Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI)

The Industrial Property Office, known as the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI), has announced World Intellectual Property Day on its website. Also, INPI’s magazine, “Patentes & Marcas” contained the message of WIPO’s Director General and was published on April 26.

Portugal - Microsoft

Microsoft Portugal organized activities for employees, partners and customers to raise awareness of the importance of intellectual property.

Republic of Moldova

Events to be organized in the Republic of Moldova on the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day, are as follows:

  • three national seminars on intellectual property issues will be organized by the AGEPI during March-April, namely: “Protection of industrial property objects in the field of car-building industry” (with Alimentarmas SAY, “The role of industrial property objects in promotion and protection of domestic products” (for enterprises subordinated to Moldova-Vin Department) and “ Intellectual property - in support of SME’s (for participants of the International Exhibition “ Small Business”);
  • the 7 th scientific-practical Symposium “AGEPI Readings”, organized by the AGEPI, will be held on April 22 and 23, 2004;
  • the AGEPI Library will participate in the scientific symposium “Libraries - cooperation from globalization perspective”, organized by the National Library of the Republic of Moldova within the “Bibliologic Year 2004”;
  • consulting and marketing services will be provided and promotional intellectual property materials, including the message of the Director General, posters and other publications prepared for Intellectual Property Day, will be distributed by the AGEPI staff at the exhibitions, organized in March-April, at the International Exhibition Center “Moldexpo” and Chamber of Industry and Commerce;
  • a press communiqué “World Intellectual Property Day - at its fourth celebration” is to be widely broadcast;
  • a press conference on the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day is to be organized on April 20, at the AGEPI, for mass media and national audiovisual representatives and the fourth national competition for journalists, addressing intellectual property issues, will be launched;
  • a television talk show with the participation of the Director General of the State Agency on Industrial Property Protection, the Director General of the State Agency on Copyright and Related Rights, the Chairman of the Union of Inventors and Rationalizers from the Republic of Moldova is to be televised on the National television channel on April 21;
  • the message from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) by Director General Kamil Idris and other WIPO information translated into Romanian will be published in the AGEPI magazine “ Intellectus”and in local newspapers;
  • an official ceremony dedicated to World Intellectual Property Day will be held on April 26, in the Conference Hall of Codru Hotel, during which prizes will be given for the 32nd International Exhibition of Inventions, New Technologies and Products of Geneva; the most active authors (natural persons) and representatives in the field of industrial property will be awarded diplomas and prizes; a reception and a concert will be organized after the official ceremony;
  • an announcement of the ongoing and forthcoming events dedicated to the World Intellectual Property Day is on the AGEPI website: www.agepi.md.

Romania

World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated in Romania as follows:

  • on April 26, the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, in cooperation with the Romanian Copyright Office, will organize a symposium with the participation of senior officials from the Presidential Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ministry of European Integration, National Authority for Control, and other stakeholders in the field of intellectual property. A press conference will follow. The message of the Director General of WIPO and other WIPO information, translated into Romanian, will be published in local and national newspapers and will be placed on the websites of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (http://www.osim.ro/index3.html) and the Romanian Office for Copyright (http://www.orda.ro/indexeng.html);
  • on the same day, the network of the Regional Centers for the Promotion and Protection of Intellectual Property will organize seminars and round tables on the subject of “Intellectual Property as an Important Factor in Fostering Creativity and Invention for Economic Growth”;
  • also the same day, the national Agency for SMEs and Cooperatives (www.mimmc.ro) will organize a conference on the subject of “The Importance of Intellectual Property Strategy for SMEs in Enhancing their Market Competitiveness,” with the participation of senior government officials and private sector representatives. A press conference will follow;
  • in the week April 26-30, the WIPO video film “Creative Planet” and the WIPO spot “Encouraging Creativity” will be broadcast on national and local television networks.

Russian Federation

To celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, the following activities were organized by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks:

  • participation in the 5 th International Forum entitled "High Technologies of the 21 st Century" (April 19-23, 2004), which contributed to technological innovation in industry and to the determination of priorities in technology;
  • participation, in the framework of the above-mentioned Forum, in a Conference entitled "Improving Intellectual Property Protection and the Means of Commercialization," with a display of WIPO materials at the stand of the Federal Service;
  • a meeting on April 26 at the Office of the Federal Service, to which over 120 persons involved in intellectual property were invited, to hear presentations and to see displays;
  • creation of a special page about the Day on the website: www.fips.ru/ruptoru/ipd.htm
  • Two magazines, "Intellectual Property" and "Patents and Licences," published information on the occasion

Samoa

The Intellectual Property Registries of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour celebrated the Day as follows:

  • a notification was sent to secondary schools, inviting students of 9-13 years to participate in a poetry-writing competition. There was also a short story writing competition scheduled for students at tertiary institutions;
  • an awareness training program was organized for the Samoa Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and intellectual property brochures were prepared under the Regionally Focused Action Plan and distributed to the participants;
  • an awareness program was held specifically for the Music Association;
  • a declaration from the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour on the importance of creativity and efforts to protect intellectual creations was broadcast on television. In addition the Registries of Intellectual Property were able to broadcast live on television a special program on the different types of intellectual property protection existing in Samoa, including coverage of the relevant procedures.

Senegal

The Day will be celebrated by the organization, jointly by the Industrial Property Service (SNL/OAPI), the Senegalese Association for Technological Innovation and the Senegalese Copyright Office, of a National Seminar at the House of Culture.

The subjects covered in the seminar will include piracy, the copyright problems of artistes and composers and the practical problems of creators of industrial property in their dealings with the Industrial Property Service.

WIPO promotional material will also be used to spread awareness of intellectual property.

Seychelles

To celebrate the Day, the Registrar General published a message and posters in the national newspaper, as well as organizing a display at her office.

Singapore

On World Intellectual Property Day, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will be launching its “Say no to piracy” campaign. An advertisement emphasising the need to respect original works will be placed in the newspapers. Director General Liew Woon Yin will also be interviewed on radio on the importance of intellectual property and new developments.

The HIP Alliance (IPOS’ initiative with intellectual property associations and industry) will launch a program for schools: secondary schools will be provided with a set of posters and a “Play and Learn” video called “Real Choices,” highlighting various intellectual property rights and emphasising the need to say no to piracy. The objective is to enhance the existing teaching on “ Intellectual Property” in the Civics and Moral Education (secondary school) syllabus, using this tool to facilitate classroom discussion.

Slovak Republic

The Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic (IPO SR) will be holding the 4th International Conference, on the theme “The State of Intellectual Property in Slovakia.” The Conference is aimed at professionals, the public, students, the IPO SR staff, and everyone interested in intellectual property. It will be held on April 26, 2004, in the IPO SR, Banská Bystrica.

On April 27, 2004, in the same place, the IPO SR will be holding an Open Day for the general public to see premises that are usually not accessible the whole year round. The Office employees will give information on industrial property and the activities of the Office.

Sudan

The office of the Registrar General of Intellectual Property is preparing a program of celebration spread over a whole week, which will include public lectures, workshops, an exhibition, radio and television programs, as well as press coverage, backed by stickers to advertise the occasion.

Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property scheduled for World Intellectual Property Day the opening of a barrier-free version of the Institute’s website: www.ip4all.ch

All information on the Institute’s traditional site, without restriction, will be made accessible, so that it can be demonstrated that the intellectual property system is an advantage for everyone.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Activities to celebrate the Day were as follows:

  • a ceremony to mark the opening;
  • a seminar on the subject “New amendments of the Laws of Intellectual Property Rights,” to promote the establishment of a legislative and institutional framework in the field of intellectual property rights which should provide a higher degree of legal harmonization with Community rules, and support the development of efficient and speedy administrative procedures. Lectures and video presentations by experts in the Ministry of Culture and State Office of Industrial Property;
  • an official ceremony dedicated to World Intellectual Property Day was held in the Conference Hall of the Government building, with speeches made by high officials of the Government, including the Minister of Culture, and the Director of the State Office of Industrial Property (SOIP);
  • the message from WIPO’s Director General was translated into Macedonian, and was published in a brochure distributed by the SOIP staff at the seminar and ceremony, together with the messages of Government officials (the Minister of Culture, and the Director of the State Office of Industrial Property);
  • announcements of all events dedicated to World Intellectual Property Day were made in the media - radio, television, daily press, the website of the Macedonian Information Agency (MIA) www.mia.com.mk and the State Office of Intellectual Property: www.ippo.gov.mk

Trinidad and Tobago

The Intellectual Property Office of Trinidad and Tobago will celebrate the Day with the following activities:

  • April 5-7 - Study visit for Head of Office of Belize to the Intellectual Property Office, Trinidad and Tobago;
  • April 14 - Introductory seminar on intellectual property for clerks of intellectual property agents;
  • April 15 - Seminar for staff of Intellectual Property Office on Copyright;
  • April 16 - Seminar on Reprography;
  • April 19 - Enforcement Workshop for Police Officers;
  • April 20 - Customs Enforcement Workshop;
  • April 22 - Industrial Design Workshop;
  • April 26 - Seminar for the Business Community and Small- and Medium- Size Enterprises on intellectual property as a tool for economic development as well as an exhibition on intellectual property;
  • April 30 - Day of activities for staff of the Intellectual Property Office, focusing on intellectual property displays, and in-house competitions.

In addition there will be:

  • a distribution of 200 copies of the diskette, “At Home with Invention”;
  • a handicraft display by staff and the Morne Diablo Women’s Group at the Intellectual Property Office;
  • an intellectual property literature and poster display at the University of West Indies (UWI) Main Library.

The seminar for Small- and Medium- Sized Enterprises, to be held on April 26, will be co-hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA), the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Turkey

The Turkish Patent Institute, with the participation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will celebrate the Day with a commemorative occasion at the Ankara Dedeman Hotel on April 26. It will be a symposium to which representatives of universities, professionals, chambers of industry and trade, research and development institutions and jurists are invited.

The symposium will open with speeches by the Minister of Justice, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the President of the Turkish Patent Institute. Experts of the Institute and other speakers will explain intellectual property rights and the activities of the Institute in local centers all over the country.

Uruguay

The Day will be celebrated by a commemorative occasion in the auditorium of the University of the Republic, beginning at 7 p.m. The program will consist of introductory speeches, remarks by national creators on the necessity of intellectual property for their work, a lecture by Dr. Carlos Fernández Ballesteros on the importance of intellectual property and a musical interlude.

This occasion will be organized in conjunction with the Cátedra UNESCO de Derechos Humanos, the Instituto Uruguayo de Derechos de Autor, the Asociación General de Autores del Uruguay, and the Asociación Uruguaya para la Tutela Organizada de los derechos Reprográficos, as well as with other organisms.

United States of America

Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs) across the U.S.A observed World Intellectual Property Day on April 26 with displays, activities and outreach programs promoting the importance and benefits of intellectual property. The Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program provided PTDLs with posters and information kits supplied by WIPO. A few examples of PTDL activities follow:

  • the Science, Technology and Health Department at the Central Library of Rochester (NY) and Monroe County, displayed posters and materials provided by WIPO, and other library materials; http://www.libraryweb.org
  • the Sunnyvale Center for Innovation, Invention and Ideas, a service of the Sunnyvale (CA) Public Library, displayed the WIPO posters in the library's patent and trademark area and distributed WIPO bookmarks to clientele. In April there was also an exhibition on women inventors; http://www.sci3.com/
  • at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), there was a display of interesting examples of U.S. trademarks and patented inventions, such as the board game Monopoly' and the Coca-Cola' bottle, and patents awarded to the UNCC faculty. In addition, a one-day patent and trademark information seminar was organized on April 20 and was attended by approximately 45 people; http://library.uncc.edu/
  • at Montana Tech in Butte, WIPO materials were included in a presentation on patents at the annual conference of the Montana Library Association, held from April 24-27 in Bozeman. http://www.mtech.edu/library/index.htm

Vietnam

To celebrate the World Intellectual Property Day 2004, Vietnam is conducting various activities as follows:

  • with the assistance of WIPO under Japanese Funds-In-Trust, a Vietnamese translation of WIPO’s publication, “Intellectual Property - A Power Tool for Economic Development,” has been produced and widely distributed;
  • the message from the Director General of WIPO has been translated into Vietnamese, and a text explaining the Day has been prepared. Both the translated message and the explanation will make the headlines of major newspapers in Vietnam on April 26;
  • a short television program on intellectual property activities in Vietnam is to be broadcast on Vietnam National Television on April 26, into which the WIPO “Creative Planet” tape will be incorporated;
  • an official website of the National Office of Industrial Property (NOIP) will be launched at the end of this month, facilitating the work of enforcement agencies and contributing to increased public awareness.