Every year on April 26, the United Nations, through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), celebrates how intellectual property rights encourage innovation and creativity. This year's theme is women and gender inequality, also within this area.
/ 26/04/2018 / Willy MartinsenThe UN Copyright Convention entered into force on 26 April 1970, and the day is celebrated annually to increase understanding of the benefits of intellectual property and copyright. Today, more than 230 events are held in different parts of the world. Click here for an interactive map of the events (Google maps on WIPO's website).
Women's rights and situation
The theme of UN "World Intellectual Property Day" in 2018, women's contributions to the world are as innovators, creators, and originators. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go before men and women have the same opportunities and conditions in this area.
En WIPO survey states that less than 1/3 of all international patent applications come from female creators, and far more men are granted patents for inventions than women. A UN report shows that there are only 7 percent women among the world's film directors and screenwriters. This survey shows that female artists receive less for the sale of their art at auctions than men. Furthermore, one can read from this survey that men register twice as many copyrighted works in the United States as women. There are clear benefits for individuals, societies, and businesses alike to investing in women. This survey shows that women make businesses more profitable.
The value of intellectual property is twice that of raw materials
The UN Declaration of Human Rights states in Article 27, second paragraph: “Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.”
Why is it so important to protect intellectual property and copyright? Your copyright gives you ownership of new things you create, whether it's a design, a book, a piece of music, or another creative or artistic idea you've developed. It's supposed to ensure that no one else can make money from, or make available, your works without your permission. Not least, copyright gives you the opportunity to earn income from your creative endeavors.
Intellectual property encourages investment in innovation and new products. A study conducted by WIPO found that the value of intellectual property, such as inventions, designs and specialist knowledge, is twice as great as physical resources such as raw materials. The cultural value of creative works is impossible to calculate, but stories, music and visual arts are invaluable tools for people and societies to express our deepest identities.