World IP Day 2026 - IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!

England v India, 2025 First Test, Headingly, Leeds
© 2025 Jane Elizabeth Lambert, all rights reserved
 




















World Intellectual Property Day is an interntational celebration of the laws that protect investment in branding, design, technology and creativity.  It takes place on or around 26 April which is the anniversary of the WIPO Convention's entry into force.  Each year the celebrations focus on a theme.  The theme for 2026 will be IP and Sports - Ready, Set, Innovate.

The Menai Science Park ("M-SParc") on Anglesey has contributed significantly to Wales's celebrations of World Intellectual Property Day every year since 2019.  Sports related businesses based at the science park include Pelly which offers information systems and services to football club managers and Haia Communications Ltd, which provides a platform for e-sports.  The organizers of this year's celebrations will be Lois Bevan Shaw and Steff Thomas.  I will assist them to assemble a programme in any way I can.  I will promote any announcement to the public that they may make in NIPC Cymru.

Another place in the United Kingdom that celebrates World Intellectual Property Day is Yorkshire.  Leeds IP and Business Centre held events to mark the day in 2023 (see World IP Day and Start-up Leeds 18 April 2023 in NIPC Yorkshire).   I noted Barnsley's creativity and innovation in Celebrating Barnsley's Intellectual Property on World IP Day on 18 Nov 2024 NIPC Yorkshire.   Last year the Barnsley Business Village posted What is Intellectual Property and why is it important for Barnsley businesses? to its website to celebrate World IP Day.   

As Leeds hosts test matches against the world's best cricketing nations at Headingley and many famous football, rugby league and rugby union clubs are in Yorkshire, the Barnsley Business Village is unlikely to be backwards in coming forwards this year.  The man behind previous years' initiatives is Kevin Steel and I shall be glad to organize, speak at or attend anything he promotes this year.

Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 020 7404 5252 during normal office hours or send me a message through my contact page at any time.

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