Importance to Sustainable Development Goals
Every April 26, World Intellectual Property Day is marked around the world.
The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe”.
WIPO has a mandate to lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property (IP) system. This enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all and is relevant to the United Nations 2030 development agenda: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year’s World Intellectual Property Day campaign highlights the ingenuity, curiosity and courage of women who are driving change in the world and shaping our future.
WIPO contributions to SDGs
In a 2017 report, the WIPO lists its contribution to the implementation of SDGs.
The report notes that innovation has an impact on a number of SDGs. It says that, in practice, innovation, contributes directly to the achievement of certain SDGs, notably:
o SDG 2 – Zero hunger
o SDG 3 – Good health and well-being
o SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation
o SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy
o SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
o SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
o SDG 13 – Climate action
Innovation can, in a policy setting, additionally assist in realizing other SDGs, such as:
o SDG 1 – No poverty
o SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
o SDG 14 – Life below water
o SDG 15 – Life on land
Meanwhile, governments and private sectors the world over are being encouraged to work more closely together in the area of technology to make the sustainable development goals (SDGs) a reality by 2030.
Intellectual property on St. Maarten
On St. Maarten, the Bureau for Intellectual Property St. Maarten (BIP SXM) is the official body responsible for the execution of the Trademark Ordinance and delegated laws as well as providing information about other areas of intellectual property to the public, such as patents and copyright.
The bureau registers national and international trademarks, for private persons, domestic and foreign companies.