All IP Rights Covered in the WIPO Singapore Office’s World IP Day 2017 Activities

June 1, 2017

The WIPO Singapore Office (WSO) organized and participated in a number of activities in Singapore and the Philippines, which covered the four main forms of IP (patents, trademarks, designs and copyright). Taking this approach allowed the WSO to promote WIPO’s global services to a diverse range of stakeholders and potential users whilst remaining consistent with the Day’s theme.

Poster Exhibition (April 26) – the WSO identified 14 patented inventions that are common day-to-day things such as wheels on a suitcase, Velcro, and the zipper and, working with a local designed, created a poster series that told the story behind these simple yet life improving inventions. The strategy was to encourage viewers to realize not all innovation comes from a laboratory – many great ideas are the result of one person following an idea. The posters were displayed in JTC Launchpad, the main start-up incubator in Singapore which is housed in the heart of Singapore’s innovation community. The posters will now be toured to other destinations in Singapore and throughout the ASEAN region.

World IP Day Launch Event with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) (April 26) – At the invitation of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), WSO attended this event which saw Special Minister for State Indranee Rajah and IPOS CE Daren Tang launch a raft of new initiatives to encourage innovation and commercialization.

Singapore’s Senior Minister for State, Ms. Indranee Rajah, launches a range of new initiatives including a SG$1 billion innovation fund to help companies with strong IP to expand. (Photo: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS))

Transforming Enterprises Through Design (April 26) – the WSO delivered a presentation on Madrid and Hague systems as part of an event organized to reveal the importance of IP in a design-based business.

WIPO Singapore Office Director, Mr. Denis Croze, speaking at a workshop organized as part of World IP Day 2017 celebrations in Singapore. (Photo: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS))

Movie Screening in Partnership with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the US Embassy of Singapore (April 25) – the WSO provided some insights on copyright in today’s digital economy at a special movie screening for creative-sector students and copyright holders.

Mr. Denis Croze, WSO Director, delivers his opening remarks on the importance of copyright for the creative industries before the screening of a movie organized in partnership with the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the U.S. Embassy of Singapore. (Photo: Peter Willimott)

WIPO-IFPI Workshop on collective management of related rights, Manila, Philippines (April 24 and 25) – 60 musicians, recording industry executives, singers, officials from the Ministry of Education, IP lawyers, representatives from national CMOs and officials from the IP office of the Philippines attended a workshop designed to enhance understanding of collective management in the Philippines.
Press articles – The WSO Director gave an interview to ‘Le Petit Journal’ (Singapore) with the resulting article explaining the IP ecosystem in ASEAN, the role of WIPO and issues facing multilateralism. An article was also prepared for the next edition of ‘IN Diplomacy’, Singapore’s magazine for the international community, in which World IP Day was promoted along with the work of WIPO.

In summary, World IP Day featured lots of different activities that resulted in many people learning more about the importance of innovation and the way it improves lives.