World Intellectual Property Day, 26 April 2008

Celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has been celebrating World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) since 2001. The 26 April was the date when the Convention establishing WIPO originally came into force in 1970.

This year, the UK Intellectual Property Office is joining WIPO and its members in celebrating the link between intellectual property (IP) and creativity under the theme - Celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property.

Government's IP agenda

Creating an up-to-date intellectual property (IP) system in the UK that is fair and balanced is the challenge for Government and the IP industry, the Minister for Intellectual Property has announced.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin outlined the Government's IP agenda for the next 12 months and beyond at an event in London on Friday, April 25 to mark World IP Day.

She spoke of ensuring the IP system is accessible, affordable and simple so that business are encouraged to use the IP framework to protect their ideas while deriving maximum income from them.

Baroness Morgan also spoke about the need for a commonsense copyright system that was easier for users to access content.

The full speech is available on the DIUS website .

Celebrations

To celebrate World IP Day 2008, the UK Intellectual Property Office:

• Held an "Ask the Expert" online question and answer session;
• Hosted an Intellectual Property Celebration in London for IP stakeholders;
• Organised workshops for primary and secondary school children focussing on celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property. The fun filled day included a visit from Oscar winners Wallace and Gromit who are fronting the Intellectual Property Office's primary school educational campaign Cracking Ideas ;
• Published a special edition World IP Day, IP Insight e-Newsletter;
• Published the Office's 2007 Annual Review (7.38Mb).