World Intellectual Property Day

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.

  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...

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

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.

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.

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

  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.

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 .