‘Reach for Gold: IP and Sports’

Celebrating festival as ‘World Intellectual Property Right Day’ on April 26

By Dr. Paresh Kumar C.Dave

Newswave@ New Delhi

Unemployment is a situation in which able-bodied people who are looking for a job cannot find a job. Lower unemployment rate for any country is a matter of concern for any country’s economic condition. During the time of election year, unemployment rate is becoming more politicizing topic rather than serious subject of debate. Last month, in India we have received unemployment data from various sources, such as household survey data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE); we have the Azim Premji University’s State Of Working India 2018 report; we have monthly data on subscriber additions to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and we have more enterprise data coming from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). In the long run, perhaps all the jobs data will converge to give us meaningful results, but right now, it is only adding to the confusion as all the studies have serious drawbacks. It’s a case of the blind men and the elephant.

Apart from all these, Intellectual Property Rights is playing one of the crucial roles, in major developed countries in the world, for their economic boost and increasing growth domestic product (GDP). For India also, it is important first to spread Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) awareness in society and then start building businesses or economics founded on strong IPRs.

On the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day, April 26, this is the best opportunity for all of us to learn and understand, in brief, about Intellectual Property Rights.

World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe”. 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.

Every year, the World Intellectual Property Organization decides theme of the World IP day, this year in 2019, “Reach for Gold: IP and Sports” which reflects connection of the IP and Sports.

What is “Intellectual Property Rights”?

Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.

What are Different Types of IPRs?

Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Designs, Geographical Indications, Trade secrets, Traditional Knowledge, Integrated Circuit layout.

A sports shoe may be protected by several IP rights:

• Patents protect the technology used to develop the shoe
• Designs protect the “look” of the shoe
• Trademarks distinguish the shoe from similar products and protect the “reputation” of the shoe (and the company making it)
• Copyright protects any artwork and audiovisual creations used to publicize the shoe

We should also start from now celebrating “World Intellectual Property Day”.