World Intellectual Property Day 2018, Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity
Issue No. 712 - April 10, 2018


The U.S. Copyright Office will celebrate World Intellectual Property Day with a special event on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. in the historic Coolidge Auditorium in the Jefferson Building in Washington, DC. This year’s theme, as announced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is “Powering change: Women in innovation and creativity.”


The Copyright Office’s program will feature an impressive array of prominent speakers discussing the myriad ways women have shaped creativity and innovation. Congresswoman Judy Chu, co-chair of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, will provide featured remarks. Michele Woods, head of the Copyright Law Division of WIPO will then moderate a lively panel discussion featuring Kate Flannery (actor, The Office), Judy Herrmann (photographer), Michelle Hurd (actor, Cagney and Lacey, Blindspot, Law & Order SVU), Georgia Stitt (composer and lyricist, Snow Child), and Julie Swidler (EVP, Business Affairs and General Counsel, Sony Music Entertainment). Acting Register Karyn Temple will provide introductory remarks.


World Intellectual Property Day, observed on April 26th since 2000, marks the date in 1970 when the WIPO Convention came into force. The anniversary of this occasion is observed as a way of promoting and increasing general understanding of intellectual property. This program is part of the Copyright Matters lecture series, and is free and open to the public. Please visit the event page to stay apprised of updated information about this program and speakers. Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or [email protected]