Most people are aware of intellectual property (IP)-of copyright, patents, industrial designs and trademarks. But many still view these as business or legal concepts with little relevance to their own lives. To address this gap, WIPO’s Member States decided in 2000 to designate an annual World Intellectual Property Day. They chose April 26, the date on which the convention establishing WIPO originally entered into force in 1970. Each year, WIPO and its Member States celebrate World Intellectual Property Day with activities, events and campaigns. These seek to increase public understanding of what IP really means, and to demonstrate how the IP system fosters not only music, arts and entertainments, but also all the products and technological innovations that help to shape our world. WIPO issues a message from the Director General each year, broadcasts a short publicity spot on international television channels, and dispatches posters and other promotional materials to IP offices and organizations. Reports of activities organized by Member States are published on this site.

The aims of World IP Day are:

to raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact our daily life;
to increase understanding of how protecting IP rights helps promote creativity and innovation;
to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe;
to encourage respect for the IP rights of others;
Each year, a message or theme is associated with the event:

2001 – Creating the Future Today
2002 – Encouraging Creativity
2003 – Make Intellectual Property Your Business
2004 – Encouraging Creativity
2005 – Think, Imagine, Create
2006 – It Starts With An Idea
2007 – Encouraging Creativity
2008 – Celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property
2009 – Green Innovation
2010 – Innovation – Linking the World

On April 26, 2010, the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) and member firms across the world celebrate the 10th anniversary of World Intellectual Property Day as well as the 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the convention that establishing WIPO.The theme of ‘innovation’ is synonymous with New Zealand firms such as Glidepath, Lanzatech and Navman as well as individuals such as Sir Stephen Tindall, Kevin Roberts and Sir Kenneth Stevens. It is with the business community that intellectual property is most associated with. However, one of the purposes of World Intellectual Property Day is to increase public awareness of what IP really means, and to demonstrate how the IP system fosters not only music, arts and entertainments, but also all the products and technological innovations that help to shape our world. IP simply surrounds us each and all through every one of us each and every day of our life.Join with us! The name Baldwins, as Patent Attorneys, has been synonymous with Intellectual Property for 11 4 years.

Baldwins has led World Intellectual Property Day celebrations in New Zealand since its inception 10 years ago and has recognised this occasion with special activities and events Join with us and Take a minute out of your busy day on Monday 26 April, to look around and observe how much IP surrounds you, then raise your coffee mug in celebration.