First World Intellectual Property Day to be Marked on April 26 under Banner of "Creating the Future Today"
Geneva, April 23, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/264
April 26, 2001 will be celebrated as the first World Intellectual Property Day, an opportunity to highlight the significance of creativity and innovation in people's daily lives and in the betterment of society. At their annual meetings in September 2000, WIPO member states decided to designate April 26, the date on which the Convention establishing WIPO entered into force in 1970, for special activities to highlight the importance and practical use of intellectual property.
To mark the occasion, WIPO released the following message:
Creating the Future Today this is the theme of the first World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2001. Four words that underscore the importance of innovators and artists to the development and growth of societies everywhere.
We owe the inventions, designs and works of art that ease our workload, improve our living conditions and enrich and beautify our surroundings to a long line of men and women whose creativity and invention have led us from the inkwell to the Internet and from railways to rockets.
Let us use this first World Intellectual Property Day to salute these special individuals who power us forward and give us the opportunity to create a better future. They are an encouragement to all and should inspire us to work together men and women, young and old, of every nation towards a universal culture of creativity.
We salute them and pledge ourselves to ensuring that their works are put to good use for the common benefit of all countries.
WIPO Director General Dr. Kamil Idris paid tribute to society's inventors and creators, both past and present. "I invite the peoples of all nations on this first World Intellectual Property Day to join us in recognizing the contribution of inventors and creators in making our world a better place," he said. "We all share in the fruits of their ideas, their imagination, their talent and hard work. Join us in saluting their dedication and perseverance, and help us in encouraging the innovators of tomorrow."
As part of its activities to mark World Intellectual Property Day, WIPO has launched an international essay competition. The competition, conducted by WIPO's Worldwide Academy (WWA), is open to university students around the world. The 2000-word essay must address the question "What does intellectual property mean to you in your daily life". It must be submitted in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish. A prize of 1,000 Swiss Francs will be awarded for the best essay in each language. Entries must be sent to the WWA by December 1, 2001. The winners will be announced on World Intellectual Property Day next year, that is, on April 26, 2002.
WIPO is also encouraging its member states to reproduce an exhibition entitled "At Home With Invention". To assist national authorities in mounting this exhibition, the Organization has produced a CDROM featuring its own exhibition, which recreated a simple home to illustrate how various aspects of intellectual property surround us in everyday life.
A second CDROM has been sent to national authorities featuring posters from around the world aimed at raising awareness of intellectual property issues.
To find out more about what is planned in various countries in observance of this day, please go to https://www.wipo.int/world-ipday/
For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:
- Tel: (+41 22) 338 81 61 or (+41 22) 338 95 47;
- Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10;
- E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int