World Intellectual Property Day 2024: Theme, History & Significance

The world is observing 26 April as the  "World Intellectual Property Day." This day is organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) every year on 26 April. The occasion promotes the role of Intellectual Property (IP) in encouraging innovation and creativity.

Theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2024:

• The official theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2024 is ‘IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity’.

History of World Intellectual Property Day:

• WIPO's origins are traced back to 1883 when the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was signed.
• The Paris Convention established intellectual property protection for inventions, trademarks and industrial designs.
• In 1970, the Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization came into force. This formally led to the creation of WIPO. WIPO indeed attained the status of a specialized agency within the United Nations system in 1974.
• In the year 2000, WIPO officially declared 26 April as World Intellectual Property Day. April 26 is significant because the WIPO Convention came into force on this date.
• By 2022, WIPO had become an annual global event celebrated in 189 countries. It has organized a variety of activities and initiatives to raise awareness and promote discussion about the multifaceted impact of IP.

Significance of World Intellectual Property Day:

• The day provides an opportunity to connect to explore and promote IP solutions that can contribute to economic growth and social welfare.
• It also aims to raise awareness of the importance of IP protection and the role of intellectual property in fostering innovation and creativity.
• The day highlights the importance of intellectual property protection and promotes the role of IP in fostering innovation and creativity.
• WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It works to promote the protection and advancement of intellectual property around the world.
• In addition to the WIPO Convention, WIPO also offers a range of other services and resources. Its purpose is to promote intellectual property awareness and promote the benefits of intellectual property protection.

About the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):

• Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of human intelligence primarily copyrights, patents, and trademarks.
• WIPO was formed in 1967 to encourage creative activities and promote intellectual property protection around the world.
• Currently, there are 26 international treaties under WIPO.
• WIPO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Currently, 191 countries are its members.
• All member states of the United Nations can become its members, but it is not binding.
• India became a member of WIPO in 1975.