World Intellectual Property Day

 Stories on how IP stimulates the business of sports. The Phryges – Paris 2024 Mascots Star as Olympic Merchandise . Paris 2024 is here. But what remains after the Games? The Paris 2024 mascots will be more than just souvenirs. Beyond the medals and accolades, it’s the merchandise that endures – and the Olympic mascots stand out. Innovative prostheses positively change the Paralympics Some 4,400 athletes with disabilities competed for gold during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. IP protected sports prostheses were one of the key devices they used to achieve their goals. Paralympian Rory Cooper drives innovation for people with disabilities Dr. Cooper – Paralympian, serial inventor, army veteran, engineer, marathon racer – discusses his ground-breaking work and the importance of IP in bringing it to the market. Meet the designer of the Olympic torch for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games . An icon of the Olympic Games, the Olympic torch symbolizes hope and peace. The Olympic torch relay, ...

The theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2026 is “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate”. Sports aren’t just about the game — they reach into fashion, entertainment, media, health, gaming and consumer goods. IP rights enable cross-industry connections with sport, sparking creativity, technological advancement and economic growth. Even when we’re not watching a game in the stadium or on the court cheering, the impact of sports and IP is part of our daily lives. World Intellectual Property Day 2026 celebrates how creativity and innovation, backed by IP rights, keep the world of sports thriving, dynamic and accessible for everyone, everywhere. Join the #WorldIPDay celebrations on April 26th , and together let’s honor the contributions of the creators, inventors and entrepreneurs working behind the scenes to push the boundaries of athletic performance, improve audience experience and bring sports events to every home.

This World IP Day , athletes, creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs worldwide show how IP rights keep the world of sports thriving . Let their stories inspire your own passion for sports and innovation! "Securing IP protection is critical for funding as it demonstrates novelty and potential impact. Every investor, including charitable foundations and government organizations, wants to know what impact their investment will have on the target population." Read the article: "Paralympian Rory Cooper drives innovation for people with disabilities" “The Historical African Martial Arts Association (HAMAA) is a community of martial artists, instructors, scholars, and artisans working to share information, connect, and learn about the history and culture of martial arts in Africa and the African diaspora.” Read the article: "HAMAA at the Forefront of Historical Martial Arts Protection" “Players and athletes are far more IP savvy today, and are increasingly bre...

  Behind every sporting triumph are years of dedication and sacrifice. But illegal streaming puts athletes, fans, and the entire sports ecosystem at risk. Discover how you can support your favorite players, stay safe online and keep the spirit of sport alive . Video produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea and in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

  We all love watching sports. The speed, the power, the drama, the extraordinary moments. But behind every record that's broken and every breathtaking play, there's something important that most fans never see. Innovation. Creativity. Intellectual property. Lighter shoes. Stronger rackets. Safer helmets. Patents protect these innovations, encouraging research and investments in sports-related technology. And then there's the identity of sports. Team logos, athletes' names and images. Trademarks help build the brands that power global sports marketing and that fans rally around. Design rights protect the style of sports. From swimsuits to gym wear to tennis outfits. And when the action reaches our screens through broadcast and social media, copyright protects the content that connects billions of fans worldwide. And all of these extend to esports as well, a huge and growing industry. That is why this year, World IP Day celebrates IP and sports. Because sports is more th...

 Expand your knowledge of IP rights beyond the game.  About Sports and IP

From football to tennis to ice skating, in every sporting field, inventors and creators are working behind the scenes to push the boundaries of athletic performance, improve audience experience and bring sports events to every home.  IP rights – and the legal protection they give – are the basis for key business transactions that secure the economic value of sports and push the industry forward. Thanks to steady industry growth, sporting organizations can finance high-profile sports events and promote sports development worldwide. The sports industry also contributes to the world economy, creating jobs and developing public infrastructure. Learn more

 Here are some answer on how IP rights protect a sports shoe. The  Patents protect the technology used to develop the shoe The  Designs protect the “look” of the shoe The  Trademarks distinguish the shoe from similar products and protect the “reputation” of the shoe (and the company making it) The  Copyright protects any artwork and audiovisual creations used to publicize the shoe

Sports show intellectual property (IP) in action. Patents encourage technological advances that result in better sporting equipment. Trademarks, brands and designs contribute to the distinct identity of events, teams and their gear. Copyright-related rights generate the revenues needed for broadcasters to invest in the costly undertaking of broadcasting sports events to fans worldwide. IP rights are the basis of licensing and merchandising agreements that earn revenues to support the development of the sports industry. PUBLICATION:  Reference Guide to Sustaining Sport and its Development through IP Rights A guide to the development of national strategies for sports and its development through IP. Read the full publication.

From the sports shoe to the swimsuit and the tennis racket to the football, sports technologists have applied their ingenuity, creativity and expertise to develop better and safer equipment in the quest for sporting excellence. About Sports Patents

Brands are critical for creating business value, and the sports business is no exception. Strong brands command customer loyalty and premium prices, constituting valuable assets that drive company revenue and growth.  About Sports Trademarks

The influence of design in the world of sport is far-reaching. Where image and aesthetics are involved, so too is design, and where new materials emerge, aesthetics or design soon follow.  About Designs in Sports

By acquiring IP rights and using them strategically, sports organizations and other rights owners can protect and increase their income-generating potential. Learn more About Sports Sponsorships

Across the world, competitive video gaming events have become a powerful reality, drawing millions of fans with esports generating US$1.8 billion in revenue in 2023. Intellectual property rights in esports allow different stakeholders—from video game publishers and brands to esports organizers, teams, and players—to protect and profit from their creative works and innovations . Without IP protection , key players of the video game industry would struggle to monetize their contributions and make a living from esports, and in turn, fans and players would not enjoy their favorite video games. Understanding how IP rights function within the esports ecosystem is vital for contributors to this dynamic industry. Explore the analysis on  Intellectual Property and Esports - An overview of the game .

In the esports ecosystem, different stakeholders participate and own IP rights , offering unique opportunities to form commercial relationships around and monetize work in this space. Some of these key right holders are listed below.   To learn more explore the  WIPO Guidelines for esports players .

  Behind the scenes, developers not only invest in maintaining video games and platforms but also in continuously creating new titles that engage players and fans around the world. Video game developers and publishers are responsible for creating video games and therefore own the rights over the different game elements, including game code, visual elements, characters, storylines, music, game title, and logos. As rights-holders, they authorize the uses of video games in tournaments , as well as the use of the video game characters and trademarks in other products, advertisements, and events.  To learn more explore the  WIPO Guidelines for esports players .

Combatting illegal sports piracy to protect the athletes we love and to keep fans safe.  About Tackling Illegal Sports Streams

Broadcasting and distribution rights represent one of the most valuable commercial assets in the esports ecosystem. These IP rights govern how competitive gaming content is shared with audiences worldwide, determining who can stream or broadcast competitions , on which platforms, and under what conditions. As viewership continues to grow, media rights create new revenue opportunities for publishers, tournament organizers and teams.

Esports players are often frequent streamers with thousands of followers online. To commercially exploit their reputation and engage with their fanbase, professional players seek IP protection in addition to relying on their personality rights. The content streamed on their online channels, other types of brands and logos associated with them, and exclusive in-game or promotional items are some of the key ways players leverage their IP.  To learn more explore the  WIPO Guidelines for esports players .

What kind of IP-related disputes are common in the sports area, and how to resolve them. Learn more  About IP and Dispute Resolution in Sports .

Copyright and related rights, particularly those relating to broadcasting organizations, underpin the relationship between sports and television and other media. Learn more About Copyright and Broadcasting Rights in Sports

The esports ecosystem generates an incredible volume of creative content beyond the games themselves. Esports players and teams produce streams, tutorials, highlight reels, and commentary that create new layers of copyrightable works, distinct from the underlaying game rights. This dynamic raises important considerations about copyright ownership and permissions, particularly in relation to when and how content creators can legally use game footage, artwork, or music in their productions . Legal frameworks for addressing these questions vary globally. Doctrines like fair use, fair dealing, or similar structures offer certain exceptions to copyright protection. These broader concepts or specific copyright exceptions may provide for the use of parody, criticism, commentary, and education. Specific legal frameworks for these doctrines vary in terms of the enumeration of exceptions—both exhaustive and non-exhaustive lists exist in various jurisdictions—and the procedures to be follo...

Similarly, esports teams develop their own IP portfolios , which may be combined with those of their rostered players depending on the terms of their agreements. Partnerships with brands, licensing of team and player identities, and hosting exclusive events are some of the ways this IP becomes essential for controlling how others associate with the team and its players. To learn more explore the  WIPO Guidelines for esports players .

  Video game publishers establish specific frameworks for how their IP can be used in competitive environments. These guidelines define the parameters within which tournament organizers must operate, covering critical aspects such as permitted uses of game assets, competitive formats, broadcasting arrangements , and sponsorship parameters. Many publishers make these guidelines publicly available on their websites, while others require direct contact to secure proper authorization. Understanding these policies is essential for creating events that respect IP rights while delivering engaging competitive experiences.

In the competitive gaming landscape, distinctive identifiers such as team names, logos, player nicknames or handles, and tournament brands represent valuable IP assets that can be protected through trademark registration. These protected elements establish recognition among fans and distinguish teams and players in a crowded marketplace. By securing trademark rights , esports organizations create legal foundations for their brand identity, enabling merchandising opportunities and protecting against unauthorized uses. As the industry matures, forward-thinking teams and players increasingly recognize the importance of developing comprehensive branding strategies to support their long-term commercial growth. In an industry with substantial mobility and volatility, there are also considerations for high-profile players to clearly delineate their individual brand identities from those of the team, though trademark and likeness rights, in ways that support their team, but protect their long...

Esports competitions have expanded to television, but online streaming remains the primary way fans follow major tournaments. Broadcasting and streaming these events require licensing from the competition organizer , who must ensure they hold all necessary rights—including those from the video game publisher, teams, and players. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming have revolutionized how esports content reaches audiences, offering infrastructure for live streaming, video-on-demand, and social engagement. These platforms operate under specific terms of service that cover copyright, monetization, and content restrictions. Understanding these platform-specific policies is essential to successfully distribute esports content. To learn more explore the WIPO Guidelines for esports players .

The competitive gaming ecosystem is fundamentally built on IP rights and the licensing agreements that govern their use. These contracts establish the legal framework through which tournament organizers, leagues, and players obtain permission from video game developers and publishers to host competitions, broadcast or stream gameplay, and use game assets. Video games are not only the result of “new” original content but may also include pre-existing content such as music, famous comic book characters, or even elements from movies that are licensed for inclusion. Examples include Blur’s Song 2, which became iconic in the FIFA EA Sports game launched in 1998, and the recent announcement of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a partnership between LEGO, Warner Bros., and TT Games Publishing. Licenses for community tournaments and professional leagues Small-scale and community tournament organizers must secure appropriate licenses from game publishers. Many publishers provide standar...

In every corner of the world, esports are becoming one of the most profitable IP-driven industries. These real-life stories showcase how the strategic use of IP bolsters esports. Team Liquid Esports Sponsorship Deal with Marvel Studios Riot Games Gaming and Music: Warner Music Group’s Esports Partnership Model Copyright in Esports – How Isurus Stays Ahead of the Game