World Intellectual Property Day

Cutting-edge equipment, team identities, broadcasts of unforgettable sporting moments and more: intellectual property (IP) is key to protecting and promoting the inventions, designs, brands and stories that drive the world of sports, inspire athletes and unite fans everywhere.

Sports aren’t just about the game — they intersect with fashion, entertainment, media, health, gaming and consumer goods. IP such as patents, designs, trademarks, and copyrights, incentivizes innovation and enables cross-industry connections with sport, sparking creativity, technological advancement and economic growth. Even when you’re outside the stadium or off the court, sports and IP are part of your daily life – just look down at the sneakers on your feet.

World Intellectual Property Day 2026 celebrates how creativity and innovation, backed by IP rights, keep the world of sports thriving, dynamic and accessible for everyone, everywhere.

Join the #WorldIPDay celebrations on April 26, and together let’s honor the contributions of the creators, inventors and entrepreneurs working behind the scenes to push the boundaries of athletic performance, improve audience experience and bring sports events to every home.

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IP in Music: Supporting the Creative Rights of Musicians

In the music industry, copyright and related rights are crucial for safeguarding the rights of musicians and harnessing the economic value of their work. Whether you are an aspiring musician learning about copyright or a music fan curious about how songs are licensed and distributed, explore how intellectual property intersects with the music industry.

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World IP Day Youth Video Competition

Join the World IP Day 2025 Youth Video Competition and unleash your creativity in a video that shows how IP powers the music that moves us. In a 90-second video, show a creator, inventor, or entrepreneur near you who's making a difference with their innovation and creativity in music. Take part for a chance to win a top prize worth CHF 4,000 and other prizes.

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Sports and Intellectual Property

In the sports industry, IP rights are crucial for safeguarding the rights of innovators and harnessing the economic value of their work. From equipment innovation to branding, broadcast rights and sponsorships, explore how IP helps to support global sports development.

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World IP Day Youth Video Competition

Game Changers: IP powering Sports Innovation

Enter the World IP Day 2026 Youth Video Competition and unleash your creativity by showing how IP fuels innovation in the world of sports. Take part for a chance to win a top prize worth CHF 3,000.

Join now

World IP Day Youth Video Competition

Game Changers: IP powering Sports Innovation

Meet the winners of the Competition! Young participants from XX countries submitted more than XX videos, each showing how IP fuels innovation in the world of sports. Find out who the winners are!

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Feel the Power of Intellectual Property in Sports

This World IP Day, athletes, creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs worldwide show how IP rights keep the world of sports thriving. Let their stories inspire your own passion for sports and innovation!

“Players and athletes are far more IP savvy today, and are increasingly breaking down what was one macro bundle of IP rights into multiple strands where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.”

Stephen Duval and Jason Traub, are co-founders of 23 Capital, in a WIPO IP Advantage on intellectual property rights in sports.

Image: Courtesy of 23 Capital

“The Historical African Martial Arts Association (HAMAA) is a community of martial artists, instructors, scholars, and artisans working to share information, connect, and learn about the history and culture of martial arts in Africa and the African diaspora.”

Read the article: "HAMAA at the Forefront of Historical Martial Arts Protection"

Image: HAMAA

Respect the game. Respect copyright.

Behind every sporting triumph are years of dedication and sacrifice. But illegal streaming puts athletes, fans, and the entire sports ecosystem at risk. Discover how you can support your favorite players, stay safe online and keep the spirit of sport alive.

Video produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea and in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).