The theme of this year’s World IP Day, which takes place today, is “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity”.

WIPO has a gallery celebrating innovative, creative and enterprising women around the world and a video competition, as well as a special issue of WIPO Magazine.

There are also video messages from WIPO Director General Daren Tang and WIPO Gender Champion Lisa Jorgenson. “It is harder for women and girls than men and boys to realise their creative and innovative potential and our data shows that women are using the IP system less than men. And that’s a loss for all of us. WIPO is working to close this gender gap in IP and make IP work for everyone everywhere,” said Mr Tang.

Events taking place to mark World IP Day are listed here.

Women in design

EUIPO has today published a study on Women in Design, which is available in 23 languages. It reveals a significant gender gap and wage disparity in the design industry in the EU. The study found that only 24% of designers in the EU are women, and it would take over 50 years to close the gap at the current pace. Women designers also earn 12.8% less on average than their male colleagues.

Only 21% of RCDs registered by EU-based owners listed at least one woman designer.

“With this new EUIPO study, focusing on women designers and their participation in the EUIPO’s Registered Community Design system, we hope to bring attention to the existing gender gap and to inspire more women to pursue careers in the field of design, promoting a more diverse and inclusive profession,” said EUIPO Executive Director Christian Archambeau in a statement.

According to the study, the products most frequently designed by women include pharmaceutical and cosmetics products, articles of adornment, and textile piece goods.

Women at MARQUES

Here at MARQUES we promote diversity in our membership and leadership and today we recognise the many women volunteers throughout the association. We particularly celebrate:

• Our 1^st Vice-Chair Claudia Pappas
• The 11 women serving on the MARQUES Council
• The 23 women who are chairs and vice-chairs of the MARQUES Teams

MARQUES sends warm wishes to all women involved in innovation, creativity and IP, and pledges to continue working to close the gender gap and ensure that everyone can fulfil their potential.