World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26 of every year. The day is celebrated to “raise awareness on how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate the creativity and the contributions made by innovators and creators in the development of societies across the globe.” April 26 was chosen as it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970. The day is also known as World IP Day. It is a perfect day to increase people’s awareness and understanding of intellectual property.

“I still really love the world and the universe and the mythology of ‘Halo.’ If I was given control, I would really like to do that film. But that’s the problem. When something pre-exists, there’s this idea of my own interpretation versus 150 other people involved with the film’s interpretation of the same intellectual property.” – Neill Blomkamp

History of World Intellectual Property Rights Day

According to the statement made by the WIPO in September 1998, the director of the National Algerian Institute for Industrial Property (INAPI) proposed on April 7, 1999, the institutionalization of an international day for intellectual property. The main aim behind this is to draw the framework for broader mobilization and awareness accessing to the promotional aspect of the innovation and the achievements of creators of intellectual property across the world. In August 1999, the Chinese delegation to the WIPO proposed the adoption of “World Intellectual Property Day.” In October of the same year, the general assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organisation approved the idea of declaring the day.

World Intellectual Property Day

Themes of World IP Day

The current and past themes of World IP Day are listed below

  • 2024 – IP and the SDGs: Building Our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity.
  • 2023 – Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity.
  • 2022 – IP and Youth Innovating for a Better Future.
  • 2021 – Taking your ideas to the market.
  • 2019 – Reach for Gold: IP and Sports.
  • 2018 – Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity.
  • 2017 – Innovation – Improving Lives.
  • 2016 – Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined.
  • 2015 – Get Up, Stand Up. For Music.
  • 2014 – Movies – a Global Passion.
  • 2013 – Creativity – The Next Generation.
  • 2012 – Visionary Innovators.
  • 2011 – Designing the Future.
  • 2010 – Innovation – Linking the World.
  • 2009 – Green Innovation.
  • 2008 – Celebrating the innovation and promoting the respect for intellectual property.
  • 2007 – Encouraging Creativity.
  • 2006 – It Starts With An Idea.
  • 2005 – Think, Imagine, Create.
  • 2004 – Encouraging Creativity.
  • 2003 – Make Intellectual Property Your Business.
  • 2002 – Encouraging Creativity.
  • 2001 – Creating the Future Today.

Other Celebrations on April 26

April 26 is also celebrated as

How to Celebrate the day

Celebrating World IP Day is quite easy and very simple to remember. The government agencies, non-government organizations, and community groups will hold different events and activities to promote the World Intellectual Property. You can participate in those events, and you can use #WorldIntellectualPropertyDay or #WorldIPDay to post on social media.

Thank you for reading the post. Celebrate every day with Happydays365.org and Happy World Intellectual Property Rights Day 2023.