World Intellectual Property Day

  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...

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.

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 observance of the World Intellectual Property Day on April 26th offers a unique opportunity to join with others around the globe to consider how intellectual property (IP) helps the global arts scene to flourish and enables the technological innovation that drives human progress. The campaign is also an opportunity to highlight the role that IP rights , such as, patents , trademarks , industrial designs , copyright , play in encouraging innovation and creativity.