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World Intellectual Property Day Highlights Value of Intellectual Property for Development

Geneva, April 26, 2004
Press Releases PR/2004/381

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, marking World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, said that all nations can use the intellectual property system to achieve economic growth and cultural development. The theme of this year's day, "Encouraging Creativity", underlines how human creativity drives advances in science, business, technology, and the arts. Dr. Idris pledged WIPO's commitment to continue to work with all societies to assist them in developing their intellectual property systems to promote economic growth and social well-being.

To mark the occasion, the Director General of WIPO, Dr. Kamil Idris, released the following message:

"World Intellectual Property Day provides an opportunity for people of all nations to reflect on the importance of creativity and innovation in building a better world.

"Encouraging Creativity", the theme of this year's observance, is at the heart of the World Intellectual Property Organization's vision: that all nations, by harnessing the power of creativity and innovation through the use of the intellectual property system, can achieve economic growth and cultural development.

Human creativity drives advances in science, business, technology, and the arts – in all human endeavor. Recognizing and developing this limitless resource, and exploiting it as an economic asset, is key to achieving prosperity in today's world.

Many governments have grasped this fact and are actively incorporating intellectual property policies into their overall development strategies. WIPO's goal is to work with all countries to assist them in this effort.

By building awareness of the value of intellectual property and developing the necessary infrastructure to help their citizens take full advantage of the IP system, all nations can create an economic environment and a culture that truly encourages creativity."

World Intellectual Property Day offers an ideal opportunity to promote, inform and teach the importance of intellectual property as a tool for economic, social and cultural development. To find out more about what is planned in different countries and by various organizations in observance of World Intellectual Property Day, please go to https://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/world_ip/2004/activities.html.

In 2000, member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) designated 26 April, the date on which the Convention establishing WIPO entered into force in 1970, to celebrate the contribution made by innovators and artists to the development and growth of societies across the globe and to highlight the importance and practical use of intellectual property in our daily lives.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

  • Tel: (+41 22) - 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
  • Fax: (+41 22) - 338 88 10
  • Email: publicinf@wipo.int.
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