World Intellectual Property Day - 26 April 2021

World Intellectual Property Day - 2021

World Intellectual Property Day is observed on 26 April each year with the avowed aim of increasing people’s awareness and understanding of intellectual property (IP).

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, works together with various government agencies, non-government organizations, community groups and individuals to hold different events and activities to promote World Intellectual Property Day each year.

WIPO is committed to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, that rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development, even while safeguarding the public interest.

The Copyright Act 1957 was the first post-independence copyright legislation in our country. In addition to the Copyright Act, the Information Technology Act was enacted in the year 2000 to prevent cyber violations that happen across the internet and through computers.

Today copyright is given even for paintings, drawings, photographs, music, movies, software, designing, etc.

The Copyright Office website of the Government of India states that,

Some of the important amendments to the Copyright Act in 2012 are extension of copyright protection in the digital environment such as –

penalties for circumvention of technological protection measures and rights management information, and

liability of internet service provider and introduction of statutory licenses for cover versions and broadcasting organizations;

ensuring right to receive royalties for authors, and music composers,

exclusive economic and moral rights to performers, equal membership rights in copyright societies for authors and other right owners and exception of copyrights for physically disabled to access any works, etc.

Image: https://www.wipodotint/ip-outreach/en/ipday/