Global Community Marks Intellectual Property Day


World Intellectual Property Day is observed on April 26 each year with a variety of events and activities worldwide. 

It aims to increase people’s awareness and understanding of intellectual property (IP). World Intellectual Property Day is sometimes referred as World IP Day.

The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe".

World Intellectual Property Day 2017 celebrates that creative force that would explore how some of the world’s most extraordinary innovations have improved lives; and how new ideas are helping tackle shared global challenges, such as climate change, health, poverty and the need to feed an ever-expanding population.

It’s also to look at how the intellectual property system supports innovation by attracting investment, rewarding creators, encouraging them to develop their ideas, and ensuring that their new knowledge is freely available so that tomorrow’s innovators can build on today’s new technology.

Every day, ordinary people are producing extraordinary new things to change the world for the better.

In Ghana, the Office of Research, Innovation and Development, of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Registrar Generals’ Department and the Copyright Office is commemorating the 2017 Intellectual Property Day on the Theme:  “Innovation -Improving Lives”.

The event which is underway at the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel in Accra, will have a launch of a Technology Competition for students from the University Community.

GBC