“Behind many extraordinary innovations there are extraordinary human stories.” ~Francis Gurry, Director General of WIPO

On April 26, 2012, WIPO celebrates World Intellectual Property Day.  The theme of World IP Day this year is “Visionary Innovators”.  Behind every great innovation, either artistic or technological, is a human story – a tale in which new pathways open as a result of the curiosity, insight or determination of individuals.

The Wright Brothers’ boyhood fascination with flight leads to a flying machine and travel by air. Louis Pasteur’s inquisitive mind advances the science of disease prevention. Tu Youyou’s dogged analysis of herbal remedies results in a malaria treatment that saves millions of lives. Steve Jobs’ ambition to make digital technology simple and accessible to everyone gives rise to personal computing and – three decades on – a new paradigm for the delivery of entertainment.

The list of visionary innovators is long. It is a catalogue of human ingenuity and creativity. It includes the many artists, writers and musicians who changed the way we see and hear things: Rembrandt and Turner, Picasso and Kandinski, each reshaping our perceptions of light, shape and form; Chekhov and Tagore, Neruda and Mafouz, their writing giving new insights into the human experience; Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, Hendrix and Rostropovich – musicians who challenge the status-quo, and endure.

Why not use World Intellectual Property Day 2011 to fully explore and utilize IP protections for your business?

What you can do

  • Organize an event or activity for World IP Day;
  • Download the official Visionary Innovators poster (28 MB);
  • Browse IP Day activities, posters and photos on our world map;
  • Follow us on Facebook.

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