Celebrating World IP Day 2019 (with Event Information)

Introduction on World IP Day

On every April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, which was established in 2000 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). April 26 is the date on which the Convention Establishing the WIPO entered into force in 1970. Ever since 2001, World IP Day is observed by holding a variety of events and activities worldwide to increase people’s awareness and understanding of the important role that IP rights play in promoting innovations. This year 2019 marks the 19th anniversary and the theme for this year is “Reach for Gold: IP and Sports.” In line with this year’s anniversary, various events are to be held around the world, including in Geneva, which is the location of the WIPO headquarters.

Event Summary:

The WIPO Japan Office (WJO) will hold a Conference in Aoyama, Tokyo, under the theme of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics and the management and utilization of intellectual property.

In this event that includes three lectures, Mr. Yoshifumi NAGAO, a Paralympic medalist of wheelchair track and field, will deliver a speech.

Finally, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held next year. Taking this opportunity, how about looking at the Olympics and Paralympics from the perspectives of managing and utilizing intellectual property and promoting innovations?

April 26th Conference in Celebration of Intellectual Property Day on the website of the WIPO Japan Office (External link)

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) in celebrating World IP Day 2019 is highlighting the contributions it has made to the WIPO, emphasizing the cooperative relationship between the JPO and the WIPO.

Contributions to WIPO under the Support of the Japan Funds

The JPO, through a wide variety of cooperative initiatives, has enhanced its cooperative relationship with the WIPO over the years. Since 1987, Japan has made voluntary contributions each year to the WIPO, and based on these contributions, the Japan Funds-in-Trust at the WIPO (the Japan Funds) has been set up. Making effective use of the Japan Funds, Japan has implemented a variety of assistance activities for developing countries in Asia and Africa. This includes welcoming more than 1,800 trainees since 1996 from 59 countries among four regions of the world, holding various workshops and seminars, sending more than 300 of its own experts to 40 countries since 1987, and supporting the computerizing and upgrading of the IT infrastructure at other IP offices.

Collaboration with WIPO Japan Office

The WIPO Japan Office (WJO) (*) was established in 2006 as an external office of the WIPO. The WJO has been collaborating with the JPO in conducting public awareness campaigns and providing support to users by holding various seminars and workshops on services provided by the WIPO and visiting individual users. These services include: the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Madrid Protocol System, the international design application and registration system under the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement, global database, WIPO GREEN, WIPO Re:Search, IP Advantage, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Also, the WJO is actively working to further promote greater use of the services provided by the WIPO by, for example, preparing Japanese translations of information and pamphlets provided by the WIPO and conducting online seminars on them in Japanese. Furthermore, the WJO is responding in Japanese to various questions from users of these services about the overall support systems and practices at the WIPO, including their specific procedures. In addition, the WJO is making great contributions to supporting cooperative activities being mainly conducted in Japan under the support of the Japan Funds. Through these public awareness campaigns and assistant activities using the Japan Funds, the JPO has been advancing its cooperative relationship with the WJO.

Conclusion

Going forward, the JPO is firmly committed to further enhance the cooperative relationship it has built with the WIPO, in order to contribute to developing and improving the intellectual property systems in developing countries. Also, it will work to advance international harmonization of intellectual property systems.

• (*) Website of the WIPO Japan Office:
  Contact information of the WIPO Japan Office:
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[Last updated 19 April 2019]

Contact Information

For inquiries about Japan’s cooperative and assistance activities under the support of the Japan Funds, please contact: Developing Country Cooperation Section International Cooperation Division Tel:+81-3-3581-1101 (ex. 2574) Fax:+81-3-3581-0762   For inquiries about others: International Organization Section International Policy Division Tel:+81-3-3581-1101 (ex. 2567) Fax:+81-3-3581-0762   Policy Planning and Coordination Department Japan Patent Office