We celebrate World IP Day this year on April 26, commemorating 53 years of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Convention’s implementation. This year’s theme is “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity.” Women inventors and creators have shaped our world, developing new drugs, medical devices, industrial chemicals and technology. While women make up nearly half of the world’s population, WIPO estimates that in 2022, only 16 percent of international patent application inventors were women. That innovation gender gap is closing, and companies having at least one woman founder were involved in over 3,000 deals, valued at about $35 billion, last year.[1]
On World IP Day this year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is hosting “The Value of Her IP.” The program will feature women inventors, creators and business owners who will discuss the difficulties and rewards associated with creating, protecting and defending their intellectual property. ChIPs (Chiefs in Intellectual Property is hosting a webinar featuring Kathi Vidal, director of the USPTO. WIPO sponsors several programs, including mentoring programs and online courses, to assist women in successfully implementing an IP strategy.
BakerHostetler has the privilege of advising countless women inventors and entrepreneurs whose ingenuity continues to inspire us. We are proud to celebrate them on this year’s World IP Day.
[1] https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/2022-female-founders-year-in-review; https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/the-vc-female-founders-dashboard.