World Intellectual Property (IP) Day – created in 2000 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations (UN) – takes place annually on April 26th. In Brazil, the date has been celebrated since 2016, with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) as its main partner, in addition to other institutions.
Each year, WIPO establishes a theme to be debated during the date. This year, the subject covers the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how intellectual property and innovation can serve as tools to leverage the achievement of these goals, he told Brazil Agency the WIPO advisor in Brazil, Isabella Pimentel. One of the highlights is the rights of indigenous peoples.
Isabella highlighted that the issue relating to indigenous peoples “is pressing on Brazil’s agenda”. Between May 13 and 24, WIPO will host, in Geneva, a diplomatic conference to adopt an international treaty that will require adhering countries to declare whether there are genetic resources or associated traditional knowledge in patent applications. “Brazil is very interested in this being an effective treaty. This has been a hotly debated topic,” she emphasized.
He added that this is a request from indigenous peoples, “because genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge have normally been used to register patents for the development of cosmetics and medicines, in which there is no sharing of assets, or there is no policy of profit sharing for indigenous communities”.
Indigenous peoples demand a share in the profits of these companies. One example was the cannabis medicinal, used by people in India for medicinal purposes, which ended up being taken by an English doctor to his country, where he developed studies and medicines based on the plant.
The request of indigenous peoples to share benefits for medicines and other inventions that are developed based on their ancient knowledge, from the areas in which they live, has existed since the 1990s. The adoption of an international instrument on this issue has been discussed by a WIPO committee since the 2000s. Representatives of Brazilian indigenous peoples are expected to participate in the conference.
Originality
World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated this Friday (26) with programming at the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB), in Rio de Janeiro, involving innovation and rights over human creations, with free entry to the public. In the outdoor area, the attractions will start at 9am. The event at CCBB is promoted by INPI, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and WIPO.
In addition to the rights of indigenous peoples, the initiative will discuss smart cities and urban planning, energy transition, health and how science and technology institutes (ICTs) can contribute to sustainable development.
WIPO’s advisor in Brazil, Isabella Pimentel, also highlighted the novelty of this year’s celebration, which brings together INPI, four universities in Rio and Fiocruz.
Wide audience
According to INPI’s Social Communication Coordinator, Isabela Borsani, the main highlight is the almost pioneering possibility of bringing programming on intellectual property to a wider audience.
“For the first time, we are taking the topic of intellectual property, still little known by Brazilian society, to a democratic space, such as the CCBB RJ, which is highly visited in Brazil. Everyone is very excited to be able to take this program, which is normally restricted to an audience that is already knowledgeable about IP, to an audience that, we hope, will have a first contact with intellectual property assets and their importance for the socioeconomic development of Brazil”.
The program was designed to reach a wide audience, from children to researchers. There will be a sustainable fashion show made by students from UFRJ and PUC-Rio and two workshops. One is the IP Game of Life (monitored board games), which teaches what the IP process is, from the conception of the idea by the inventor, to the designeruntil the consecration of an intellectual property right.
“We will do this in a playful way, teaching students and the broad public who are interested in participating.” Another workshop is called Sounds of Science and uses podcasts (internet radio programs) in the process of scientific literacy, talking about the importance of disseminating science through these communication vehicles.
Technologies
INPI’s Social Communication coordinator also highlighted the technology exhibition part, where satellite rocket modules, magnetic superconductors, hydrogen-powered vehicles and a submarine for oil prospecting in deep waters will be presented.
“It will be interesting for students and the general public to have access, photograph and ask questions of the inventors of these artifacts. These are technologies that we don’t normally see on a daily basis”, highlighted Isabela Borsani.
Free tickets for tables, lectures and workshops can be collected at the CCBB physical or online box office one hour before each activity.
Patents and trademarks
The importance of intellectual property can be measured by the patent and trademark applications that are filed annually with the INPI. In 2023, for example, 27,900 patent applications were made. In the last 12 months – between March 2023 and March 2024 – the institute granted 16,850 patents.
Regarding trademark registration, 402 thousand trademarks were requested from INPI in 2023, with 198 thousand trademarks having been granted, that is, registered, in the last 12 months.
