IN 2001, member-states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) celebrated World Intellectual Property Day. Their aim was to raise awareness of the role of intellectual property in our daily lives, and to celebrate the contribution made by innovators and artists to the development of societies across the globe. They chose April 26 as this was the date on which the convention establishing WIPO came into being in 1970.

World Intellectual Property Day provides an opportunity to reflect on how intellectual property touches all aspects of our lives; how copyright helps bring music to our ears and art, films and literature before our eyes; how industrial design helps shape our world, and how trademarks provide reliable quality.

These things are often taken for granted; there is little public awareness of the connection between human creativity and intellectual property in daily life. Although most people have heard of copyright, patents and trademarks, they view them simply as business or legal concerns. This year's intellectual property theme is “Promoting green innovation as a key to a secure future”.

Global warming and climate change are the most critical challenges the world is facing at this point of time, as it threatens the very survival of our existence. These challenges are the product of man-made technologies and it's after-effects. WIPA aims at promoting innovation and inventions of environment-friendly technologies.

Technologists, private sector, NGOs and researchers are urged to study, research and develop clean energy technologies for a better future. The government is requested to provide full support to all those who devote their time, energy and lives for inventing solutions that can defeat the threats to our very existence.

KARIMULLAH ADENI
Karachi