Every year on April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day. The main motive to celebrate is to learn about the intellectual property rights. Intellectual property rights are patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright etc. The day was started by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 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 innovators to the development of societies across the globe”.
26 April was selected as the day to World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
What is Intellectual Property(IP):
According to dictionary, Intellectual Property means
Intangible property that is the result of creativity, such as patents, copyrights, etc.
Intellectual property (IP) is the creation of the intellect for which a monopoly is assigned to its owner. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are the protections granted to the creators or owner of IP. Everyone has his right to his property. The Same thing is also applicable for Intellectual properties. IPRs include trademarks, copyright, patents, industrial design rights, and in some jurisdictions trade secrets.
Intellectual property rights:
IPRs ensure of the IP to be its creator. Some of the IPRs are defined here:
Patents:
A patent is a right granted to the owner of an IP that prevents others from making, using, importing or selling the invention without his permission. The patent is issued by Government or particular organizations.
Copyright:
According to dictionary, Copyright means
the exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of years, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material.
The copyright gives the creator rights to it, generally for a limited time. Copyright does not apply ideas and information. Its only give right to form or the manner in which their idea is expressed.
Trademarks:
According to its meaning in English, trademarks means,
a symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product.
One has right over his trademarks, as it represents them. One can’t copy other’s trademark.
Industrial design rights:
It also is known as design patent and design right. An industrial design right gives right for the visual design of the products. With this right, one can’t copy the design of the product. An industrial design includes the shape, pattern, color. An industrial design may be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the product.
Trade secrets:
A trade secret is a formula, recipe, process, design, instrument, a pattern which owner not want to share. Such as Coca-Cola never publicize its formula of taste. With this right, they can preserve it illegally.
History:
In the Assembly of the member states of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in September 1998, the Director General of the National Algerian Institute for Intellectual Property (INAPI) proposed on 7th of April 1999 to established an international day for Intellectual property. After it, the Chinese delegation proposed on 9th of the August 1999 to adopt the World Intellectual Day. And in October 1999, the General Assembly of the WIPO declared a particular day for the World Intellectual Day. 26 April was chosen as the day for the World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
World Intellectual Property Day Themes:
Each year, a theme is associated with the day:
- 2001 – Creating the Future Today
- 2002 – Encouraging Creativity
- 2003 – Make Intellectual Property Your Business
- 2004 – Encouraging Creativity
- 2005 – Think, Imagine, Create
- 2006 – It Starts With An Idea
- 2007 – Encouraging Creativity
- 2008 – Celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property
- 2009 – Green Innovation
- 2010 – Innovation – Linking the World
- 2011 – Designing the Future
- 2012 – Visionary Innovators
- 2013 – Creativity – The Next Generation
- 2014 – Movies – a Global Passion
- 2015 – Get Up, Stand Up. For Music.
- 2016 – Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined.
- 2017 – Innovation – Improving Lives