Celebrating World IP Day 2026

Source: WIPO website

About World IP Day

Every year we celebrate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day on April 26, the date on which the convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) entered into force in 1970.

Since 2001, World IP Day has been observed worldwide by holding a variety of events and activities to increase people's awareness and understanding regarding the important role that IP rights play in promoting innovations. This year is no exception, with public awareness-raising activities scheduled to be held in many parts of the world based on this year's theme of “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate”.

In celebrating World IP Day 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) is highlighting “IP and Sports”, as well as the contributions that the JPO has made to WIPO, and the cooperative JPO-WIPO relationship.

• WIPO Website: World Intellectual Property Day (External link)

Theme for 2026: “IP and Sports – Ready, Set, Innovate”

Sports are a familiar and integral part of our lives, and intellectual property (IP) rights—such as patents, trademarks, and industrial designs—play a crucial role in supporting their development.

For example, structural designs and material technologies used in sports footwear have contributed not only toward improving athletes' performances, but also toward enhancing the competitive environment for a wide range of people including recreational runners. Technologies such as image processing, sensing, and artificial intelligence are actively utilized in such areas as officiating support and tactical analysis. Furthermore, video analysis technologies within sports training enable coaching and athlete development based on scientific evidence—thereby contributing toward improved performance.

By ensuring that these technologies are appropriately protected through patents, continuous investment in research and development becomes possible—which in turn leads to the creation of new innovations. The JPO, through measures such as providing timely and high-quality examinations, will continue to ensure the proper protection of intellectual property rights, thereby supporting the development of industries that underpin sports as a whole.

Contributions to WIPO Under the Support of Voluntary Contributions

The JPO has enhanced its cooperative relationship with WIPO over the years through a wide variety of initiatives. Japan has made voluntary contributions to WIPO each year since 1987, based upon which it has operated a trust fund called the “Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT Japan IP Global).” The JPO has implemented a variety of assistance-related initiatives for developing and least-developed countries, which have included holding various workshops and seminars, sending JPO experts, and supporting the digitalization and upgrading of the IT infrastructure at IP offices in those countries.

• International Cooperation in Association with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Cooperation with the WIPO Japan Office

The WIPO Japan Office (WJO) (External link) was established in 2006 as an external office of WIPO. The WJO's functions include providing information on the significance and role of the IP system in Japan; liaising between WIPO and concerned ministries, agencies, courts, universities, and industry in Japan; and disseminating international application and registration systems for patents, trademarks, and designs under WIPO's jurisdiction. In addition, the WJO contributes to various SDG initiatives initiated by WIPO to address global issues, including WIPO GREEN (External link).

Furthermore, the WJO implements capacity-building for developing countries through the Short-term Fellowship Programme (External link) and other funding programs via the FIT Japan IP Global, and also conducts research-based studies to promote utilization of the IP system.

Finally, in disseminating information on the IP system and international application/registration systems under WIPO's jurisdiction, the WJO conducts seminars and makes individual visits to users, and also provides various types of information and support to users in Japanese.

The JPO has been advancing its cooperative relationship with the WJO through these public awareness campaigns, responses to global issues, and assistance-related initiatives using the FIT Japan IP Global.

• Cooperation with the WIPO Japan Office
• Contact information for the WIPO Japan Office (External link)

Events

Under the 2026 World IP Day theme of “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate”, the WIPO Japan Office will hold a commemorative event on April 24, 2026, which will consist of lectures by distinguished guests from various fields. JPO Commissioner Kasai will also deliver a speech at this event.

• World IP Day 2026 Commemorative Event by the WIPO Japan Office (External link)

[Last updated 23 April 2026]

Contact Information

For inquiries on Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT Japan IP Global) and related projects: Developing Country Cooperation Section International Cooperation Division E-mail: PA0870@jpo.go.jp For any other inquiries: International Organization Section International Policy Division E-mail: PA0800@jpo.go.jp Policy Planning and Coordination Department Japan Patent Office