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About World IP Day

World Intellectual Property (IP) Day is a chance to reflect on the importance of human innovation and recognise the important role that IP plays in our daily lives.

Encouraging Creativity forms the essence of innovation - without encouragement, many great innovations might have remained merely ideas.

By demonstrating the importance of IP in daily life, World IP Day can help improve public awareness and understanding of creativity, innovation and the intellectual property system.

World IP Day is an initiative WIPO and has been celebrated annually on April 26 since its inception in 2001. For more information and background history of World IP Day please visit the WIPO website.

World IP Day Celebrations across Australia

Throughout April, Australians around the country joined in global celebrations coordinated by IP Australia. These included seminars and innovation showcases in capital cities, a regional newspaper reader competition, and a paper plane design competition for school children.

Other celebrations included the New Inventors World IP Day Live Forum and an IP information session by the Research Development Unit, WA Department of Health. CSIRO marked the day with the launch of a video presenting a range of innovations developed at CSIRO which shows the contributions of IP to Australia and Australians. To view CSIRO’s video click here.

Intellectual Property – a breakdown

IP represents the product of your mind or intellect. It can be an invention, trade mark, original design or the practical application of a good idea.

Types of IP:

  • patents for new or improved products or processes;
  • trade marks for letters, words, phrases, sounds, smells, shapes, logos, pictures, aspects of packaging or a combination of these, to distinguish the goods and services of one trader from those of another;
  • designs for the shape or appearance of manufactured goods;
  • copyright for original material in literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works, films, broadcasts, multimedia and computer programs;
  • circuit layout rights for the three-dimensional configuration of electronic circuits in integrated circuit products or layout designs;
  • plant breeder's rights for new plant varieties; and
  • confidentiality/trade secrets including know-how and other confidential or proprietary information.

More intellectual property information

IP Basics in 10 Easy steps

A day in the life of IP

Intellectual Property (IP) Rights at a Glance

IP Protection Strategy

IP and your business

IP and other intangible assets are often the building blocks of new business and form key parts of your ultimate business plan. If the plan is a good one, these assets could become more valuable. So from the start, be aware of the importance of your IP assets and ensure they are well protected and managed.

Find out more about IP in your business by visiting Smart Start or the IP Toolbox