World Intellectual Property Day

World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on 26 April every year to promote discussion of the role of intellectual property in encouraging innovation and creativity.

The theme for World IP Day 2013 is "Creativity: the next generation".

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind and includes inventions, new plant varieties, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images and designs.

Why protect IP?

The protection of IP rights allows the creators of IP to benefit from their own work and owners of IP rights to benefit from their investment in creation.  Risk and occasional failure are inevitable in an innovation economy, but IP rights give entrepreneurs an incentive to keep pushing for new advances in the face of adversity.Protecting IP rights encourages the investment of resources for further innovation and provides an environment in which creativity and inventions can flourish.

How does the average person benefit from IP protection?

An efficient and equitable IP system is a catalyst for socio-economic development. IP rights reward creativity and human endeavour, promoting the creation of new industries and an enhanced quality of life.

If IP rights were not protected –

·         the film, recording, publishing and software industries would not be able to survive;

·         most pharmaceutical companies would not be able to bring their drugs to the market;

·         researchers and inventors would have little incentive to continue producing better and more efficient products for consumers.

History of World IP Day

World IP Day was started in 2000 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovatorsto the development of societies across the globe."

26 April is the day on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970.

The day is celebrated around the globe with discussions and demonstrations of how IP contributes to the music and arts industries, and helps to drive the technological innovation that shapes our world. The day offers an opportunity to generate public and media interest in issues relating to IP.

What will NIPMO be doing for World IP Day?

The National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) will recognise the week of 22 to 26 April 2013 by advertising on the Department of Science and Technology’s billboard, as well as the NIPMO and DST websites, and by distributing promotional material within DST. Offices of technology transfer at South Africa's higher education institutions and science councils will be encouraged to conduct IP awareness sessions on the day.

Enquiries

Ms Mavis Nyatlo

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

012 844 0215.