World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26 every year. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of intellectual property in our lives and in the world. Intellectual property encompasses creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, trade names and designs. These creations are protected by laws that promote innovation and ensure that creators are adequately rewarded for their efforts.
Each year, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) selects a relevant theme for World Intellectual Property Day. Previous themes include “Innovation for a Green Future” and “Innovation Improves Lives”. In 2023, the theme was “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity,” highlighting the importance of giving visibility to creations produced by women.
This day is commemorated through conferences, exhibitions and educational events on the relevance of intellectual property.
Daniel Morel
One of the most interesting cases related to copyright on the Internet took place on Twitter. Photographer Daniel Morel captured images of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, which were then shared without his consent by several media outlets such as the Washington Post.
The controversy was resolved when a U.S. federal court recognized Morel’s rights over the images, setting a precedent in the protection of copyrights in social networks, where the viralization of content makes it difficult to safeguard them.
Naruto’s selfi
A curious copyright case arose when photographer David Slater left his camera near a group of apes. Naruto, one of the apes, took a photograph, which later went viral. Slater claimed the rights to the image, but an animal protection agency sued him.
Ultimately, the agreement determined that 25% of the profits would go to the habitat where the animal resides, a remarkable precedent in the history of royalties.
Plagiarism in music
Many famous songs have been the subject of plagiarism disputes. These include Rihanna’s “Love Without Tragedy“, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven“, and Radiohead’s “Creep“. Even the popular Ghostbusters theme was sued by Huey Lewis, claiming it was similar to his song “I Want A New Drug“. The similarities between the two songs were so remarkable that there are even comparisons on YouTube where the differences are minimal.
Although the case was complicated, a settlement was reached. Such disputes underline how, sometimes, the success of a creation depends more on its fame than on its originality. World Intellectual Property Day also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of protecting creators from abusive practices in the industry.
In conclusion
World Intellectual Property Day invites us to reflect on the importance of protecting the rights of creators and promoting respect for intellectual property. This aspect is key to the global economy, as it drives innovation, creativity and progress.
(We already told you about it in our previous publication).
