World Intellectual Property Day

World Intellectual Property Day is an annual observance dedicated to the recognition and promotion of intellectual property rights. Intellectual property entails an expansive range of tangible and intangible assets including patents, trademarks, copyright, and industrial designs. The day seeks to highlight the important role intellectual property plays in encouraging innovation, creativity, economic growth, and social development worldwide.

World Intellectual Property Day was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000, coinciding with the organisation's creation in 1970. This observance holds particular relevance to South Africans, with the country being a vibrant hub of innovative activity, particularly in technology, music, and design. Moreover, South Africa is a founding member of the WIPO, indicating its longstanding commitment to intellectual property rights. It also underscores the necessity for appropriate legal frameworks and enforcement measures to safeguard the ideas, innovations and creative expressions of its citizens.

In South Africa, World Intellectual Property Day is typically marked by seminars, workshops, and public discussions facilitated by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). These events aim to educate the public about the importance of intellectual property rights, and to encourage respect for the intellectual property of others. Special focus is often placed on promoting the understanding of patents, copyrights, and trademarks among the business community and general public. World Intellectual Property Day is observed on April 26th, the date on which the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970.