World IP Day: Women Are Celebrated But Gender Gap Persists

The annual World Intellectual Property Day (26 April) is dedicated to women this year at the World Intellectual Property Organization. On the occasion, several countries are organising an exhibition and the screening of a film celebrating the life of Hedy Lamarr. Austrian/American actress who was also an inventor.

Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia will be inaugurating an exhibition of women innovators at the end of the afternoon. The exhibition will run through 10 May, according to WIPO.

After the exhibition inauguration, film director Alexandra Dean will introduce (via Skype) her 2017 film “Bombshell”, which retraces the life of Hedy Lamarr.

The Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network (oriGIn) also celebrated women today in a release. Massimo Vittori, Managing Director said in a release that “Women in fact play a crucial role in preserving the tradition, as well as in matching it with elements of innovation and creativity, necessary for GIs to thrive.”

Also adding their voice in favour of women in IP, the International Trademark Association said in a release it will be hosting a series of global events spanning three continents.

Meanwhile, CPA Global is posting a celebration of women innovators every hour today for World IP Day –  24 blogs in 24 hours. The entire list is here and they are sharing content every hour on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

In a press release today, WIPO said the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and chemistry show the highest rates of women named as inventors in international patent applications filed through WIPO. Although women are more represented among inventors, and IP owners, a “pronounced gender gap exists,” WIPO Director General Francis Gurry in said the release.

A video of Gurry’s message on IP day is here.