Frequently Asked Questions: World Intellectual Property Day
Basics
World Intellectual Property Day offers a unique opportunity to join with others around the globe to consider how intellectual property (IP) helps the global arts scene to flourish and enables the technological innovation that drives human progress. In 2000, WIPO's member states designated April 26 – the day on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970 – as World IP Day, with the aim of increasing general awareness and understanding of IP.
World IP Day is an opportunity to highlight the role that IP rights, such as, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, play in encouraging innovation and creativity. A balanced IP system recognizes and rewards inventors and creators for their work and ensures that society benefits from their creativity and ingenuity.
IP rights provide the means by which researchers, inventors, businesses, designers, artists and others can legally protect their innovative and creative outputs and secure an economic return from them.
But the IP system is no free lunch. Only when a work meets certain established criteria will it qualify for IP protection. A song, or a movie, for example, only qualifies for copyright protection if it is original. Similarly, a technology has to be groundbreaking (i.e. novel, non-obvious and useful) to qualify for patent protection. Moreover, to obtain a patent, inventors are obliged to make details of their invention public so that others can build on the technology.
An effective IP system that balances the interests of inventors and creators with those of society as a whole has proven an effective way to encourage inventors and creators to invest their time, energy and ingenuity into developing new technologies and new forms of creative expression that improve and enrich our lives.
An environment in which innovation and creativity thrive, and which is diverse and inclusive, improves our chances of addressing the major challenges facing humanity, driving human progress, and making our lives healthier, safer, and more comfortable.
The theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2024 is IP and the SDGs: building our common future with innovation and creativity.
In 2024, we celebrate change makers around the world who are driving the innovation and creativity needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
IP is central to addressing the global challenges we face. IP is a powerful catalyst for growth and development and, as such, has a key role to play in improving livelihoods, and safeguarding our planet.
World Intellectual Property Day 2024 is an opportunity to showcase the central role that IP, innovation and creativity play in achieving the SDGs for the benefit of everyone.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the international community in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, both now and in the future. The 2030 Agenda is underpinned by 17 SDGs. The SDGs are an urgent call to action for all countries to come together in a global partnership to carve pathways to a better and more sustainable future.
- As the specialized United Nations agency for IP, innovation and creativity, WIPO has a unique role to play in supporting the achievement of the SDGs.
- We work with key stakeholders across the globe to create a balanced, effective and inclusive intellectual property system that encourages and gives value to innovation and creativity for the benefit of everyone, everywhere.
For more information how WIPO is contributing to achieving the SDGs, check out the World Intellectual Property Day web page.
Organizing and promoting World Intellectual Property Day events
World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated globally. Anyone can take part in the campaign! IP offices, government agencies, law firms, businesses (large and small), international organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities, schools, students, and more... Join the millions of people around the world who come together every year to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day.
World Intellectual Property Day is a great opportunity to get people interested in and talking about IP and how it enables innovation and creativity for everyone.
If you would like to organize your own World Intellectual Property Day event, whether virtual, hybrid or in-person, and are looking for inspiration, have a look at our suggested activities, or World Intellectual Property Day events maps from previous years. These are available in the World IP Day archives.
You can get involved in many ways:
- Help us amplify the campaign.
- Online: Share your views and on social media using the #WorldIPDay hashtag, and follow @WIPO on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter. Download and share World IP Day content and give your perspective on how IP rights are supporting the SDGs on your social media platforms or website.
- Offline: Talk about World Intellectual Property Day and this year’s theme with your friends and colleagues.
- Attend a World Intellectual Property Day event (virtual/hybrid). Every year, hundreds of events are organized around the world to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day – webinars, conferences, national award ceremonies, workshops, and exhibitions - take your pick. World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate innovation and creativity and to learn something new.
- Why not organize your own World Intellectual Property Day event? Have a look at our list of event ideas for inspiration.
- Use our World Intellectual Property Day suggested activities to promote your event online and offline. For details of how you can use these materials, Take a look at the FAQs relating to publicity materials relating to publicity materials.
- WIPO may also publicize certain events on social media. Be sure to use #WorldIPDay and mention WIPO (@wipo on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter) when talking about your event.
Publicity Materials
Unfortunately, we cannot authorize use of the WIPO logo for third party events.
Editable versions of some publicity materials are available from our social media kit.
Our video production guidelines offer some basic pointers on how to create a video clip for your campaign.
Our press guidelines provide information on how to reach out to the local press to enhance the visibility of your campaign.
Our guidance note offers suggestions on how to engage with social media influencers to amplify your key campaign messages.
Our web guidelines offer pointers on how to develop a website with helpful information on IP, case studies, videos, and other IP activities.
World IP Day Archives
Take a look at previous World IP Day campaigns in our archives.
More questions?
If you are unable to find an answer to your question on this page or through the World IP Day homepage, feel free to contact us.