World IP Day 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." World IP Day is observed annually on April 26; the date was chosen because it coincides with the date on which the convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970. The theme of this year's World IP Day celebrations is: "Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity."
Texas Regional Office Director Hope Shimabuku will serve on a panel that includes local female inventors for a discussion of Women in Tech. The panel will be followed by a screening of the film Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, the story of the Hollywood actress who is also credited with inventing a wireless form of communication called "frequency hopping." This technology led directly to the creation of secure communications for wireless phones, Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi technology itself.
More information about World IP Day can be found on the WIPO website. (link is external)
This event is FREE, but please register beforehand.
For inquiries about the event:
please email texasregionalUSPTOEvents@USPTO.GOV (link sends e-mail), visit us at the Texas Regional Office home page, or call us at 469-295-9000.