The 8th Annual World Intellectual Property Day is April 26, 2008, and focuses on celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property. Dr. Kamil Idris, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization [1] (WIPO), highlighted the intrinsic link between creativity, innovation and IP.
Let us know what you think is the best way to celebrate World IP Day. Out-Law.com [2] is running a photography competition for pupils at two London schools as an event to mark the date. No word yet if the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) [3] will be having any festivities. You can see a whole round-up of activities here [4].
Think this is all much ado about nothing? Consider this:
- Economists estimate that two-thirds of the value of large businesses in the US is due to intangible or intellectual property assets.
- The World Bank estimates that, on average, 40% of company valuations are from intellectual property.
- PriceWatershouseCoopers estimated that as much as 90% of the value of the world’s top 2000 enterprises would consist of intellectual property.
And so, on World Intellectual Property Day, here’s to you o’ inventors and artists, great and small, who enrich our existence with the fruits of their innovative thoughts and creative vision. Cheer!
See more on World IP Day here [5]. You can even download and print your own Innovation postcards [6].