World Intellectual Property Day – 04/26/2009

As highlighted by the World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO"), 2009’s World Intellectual Property Day ("World IP Day") was April 26, 2009. According to the WIPO World IP Day website (link below), "WIPO and its Member States celebrate World Intellectual Property Day with activities, events and campaigns," which "seek to increase public understanding of what IP really means, and to demonstrate how the IP system fosters not only music, arts and entertainments, but also all the products and technological innovations that help to shape our world." The four specific aims of the annual World IP Day are:

- to raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life;
- to increase understanding of how protecting IP rights helps promote creativity and innovation;
- to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe; and
- to encourage respect for the IP rights of others.

The 2009 World IP Day focused on promoting green technology, and consistent with WIPO’s efforts to reduce mass-mailings, it has made available various electronic information, including a special issue of WIPO Magazine (focusing on green innovation). This information is available at the second link below.

WIPO World IP Day Webpage: LINK
2009 World IP Day Webpage: LINK
Suggested World IP Day Activities: LINK
WIPO Magazine (2/2009 Issue): LINK