WIPO Pulse

The global IP perception survey

WIPO PULSE is the first global IP perception survey that studies the global attitudes towards IP and the changes in such attitudes longitudinally.
It provides a better understanding of people’s awareness and perception around what and where IP is in their everyday life, as well as assess the importance of creativity and innovation to the general population.

Key findings

Among other features of the survey, you will find the overall appreciation of innovation, and the value placed on creativity in general, and insights about the significance of IP in consumer choices, including the importance of brands, state-of-the-art technology, product design, and geographical indications in purchasing decisions.
WIPO PULSE provides valuable knowledge that can shape your understanding of the role IP plays in modern society.
By gender
By age group
By urbanization
By stopped education at age of
By feel about household's income

IP awareness

The world’s respondents demonstrate the highest awareness index scores for copyright, surpassing those for trademarks, geographical indications, patents, and designs.
Consumers from Eastern European states have the highest awareness index scores for patents, copyright and geographical indications compared to all other regions. However, when it comes to geographical indications, Latin American and Caribbean as well as African states share the highest awareness index scores.
The survey indicates that consumers in African and Latin American and Caribbean states have high awareness index scores and perception of IP regarding trademarks and designs.

IP perception

The attribute of “ensures fair income” is mentioned among the top two attributes in four types of IP rights (excluding trademarks, as it was not an option in the question).
The main attributes of patented products are their trustworthiness and their ability to ensure fair income for inventors.
The attribute of being the “first choice when buying products” evokes the highest level of agreement among consumers in Asia-Pacific states across all IP subject matter, surpassing other regions. It is worth noting that consumers in African States also recognize the significance of trademarks and copyright when choosing products.

Personal touchpoints with innovations

Consumers (regardless of the region) believe that innovations in digital communications, food and nutrition, computer technology and household appliances bring the highest benefits.
Consumers in Latin American and Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and African states perceive more benefits from innovations than consumers from other regions.

IP rights impact on the economy

The majority of consumers across the globe agree that IP rights can bring benefits to their economies as well as posing some challenges.
IP is perceived as a positive tool that can be utilized to create opportunities for economies and propel positive social development, including by helping inventors, creators, and local communities to make a living through their work; guaranteeing high-quality products; helping smaller business to grow; and creating employment opportunities and better-paid jobs, among others.
Benefits include:
  • Help inventors / creators / local communities to make a living from their work;
  • Inspire creativity and innovation;
  • Help smaller businesses in my community/country to grow (as a tool for protecting and promoting products from local farmers;
  • Help to create employment opportunities and/or better paid jobs in my community/country;
  • Lead to economic growth in my country.
Challenges include:
  • Matter only to big corporations;
  • May make it difficult for small businesses to enter the market;
  • Lead to monopoly and high prices for consumers;
  • Lead to social inequality globally;
  • May limit innovation and creativity.

Survey demographics

The online survey was conducted among national representatives aged 18 to 65 years old in 50 selected countries around the world. The survey collects answers from 500 respondents in each country and the findings are based on 25.000 interviews worldwide.

Publications

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This report covers the top-line findings of the survey and describes the research methodology used.