Frequently Asked Questions: World Intellectual Property Day
About the World Intellectual Property Day
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 2025 is “IP and music: Feel the beat of IP” .
Music is the most universal of creative expressions, a harmonic language that transcends borders and cultures to touch hearts, spark minds and motivate people to take action. Even when we don't actively think about it, the beat and rhythm of music are a familiar presence in our lives. Music unites us, sparks action, stirs deep emotions and fuels the change we want to see in the world.
World Intellectual Property Day 2025 shines a light on creators, inventors and entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of innovation and creativity to bring new ideas in the music world and how IP rights support a vibrant, diverse music scene that benefits everyone, everywhere.
This year’s campaign is an opportunity to inspire future generations of creators, innovators and entrepreneurs to continue developing new and exciting ideas in the world of music that enriches our lives.
As the specialized United Nations agency for innovation and creativity, WIPO has a unique role to play in supporting the music creation landscape. WIPO is working with its member states and partners to create a legal and policy environment for inventors, creators and entrepreneurs to thrive.
WIPO, in partnership with the Music Rights Awareness Foundation, launched the digital awareness platform - Creators Learn Intellectual Property (CLIP). This platform provides information for managing creators’ rights and related management practices, aiming to ensure they receive recognition and fair reward for their work.
Get involved with World Intellectual Property Day 2025
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.
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. World Intellectual Property Day is a celebration for everyone, everywhere, and you can get involved in many ways:
- Discover WIPO resources: If you are a creator, inventor, entrepreneur or IP professional in the music industry, take a look at all the tools and information that WIPO offers for you on our resources page.
- Learn about IP in music: Find out about the intersection of IP and music , and learn how IP rights boost creativity and innovation in music.
- Participate in the World IP Day 2025 Youth Video Competition: Submit a 60-90 second video and get a chance to win the prizes. More details on the competition page .
- Create your own campaign: If you would like to organize your own World IP Day campaign and are looking for inspiration, check out our create your own campaign page. Download all artwork materials from the social media kit (Trello board available in February).
- Attend an event in your local area: Every year, hundreds of events are organized around the world to celebrate World IP Day—from webinars to conferences, national award ceremonies, workshops, and exhibitions. Find them on the World IP Day Events Calendar and connect with the global celebration.
- Why not organize your own World IP Day event? Share the details of your event on the World IP Day Events Calendar (available in early March).
- Join the #WorldIPDay conversation: Share your views on social media using the #WorldIPDay hashtag, and follow @WIPO on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X.
Use our World Intellectual Property Day social media kit to promote your event online and offline.
N.B. WIPO is not in a position to officially endorse or financially support events organized by third parties.
Publicity materials
Our social media kit (Trello board available in February) is available in eight languages to help you create your World IP Day campaign content. These various contents are free and open to use for everyone. The social media assets can be edited and customized to different needs.
Unfortunately, we cannot authorize use of the WIPO logo for third party events.
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.