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The UCF Libraries in partnership with the Office of Technology Transfer is celebrating World Intellectual Property Day this year.

On April 26 from 1:00-3:00pm, stop by the John C. Hitt Library to learn more about intellectual property. We will have a table set up near the entrance, and we will be ready for your questions and curiosity.

Bring questions for the experts at our table. Experts will include:

• Patent Attorney Sandra Sovinski (1:00-2:00pm)
• Licensing Associate John Miner (1:00-2:45pm)
• Scholarly Communication Librarian Sarah Norris (2:30-3:00pm)
• Patent and Trademark Librarian Missy Murphey (1:00-3:00pm)

What is World Intellectual Property Day?

World Intellectual Property Day is a time to celebrate creativity. Ideas lead to inventions, art, designs, trademarks, and literary works, to name a few categories, all of which are considered intellectual property. This intellectual property is then protected under laws. Laws such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights guard works from being stolen or counterfeited.

What is a patent? Patents protect the rights of innovators who have come up with new inventions. No one may make or use the invention without the patent owner’s permission.

What is a copyright? Copyrights protect creators’ rights to their literary or artistic works. Creators have these rights as soon as the works are in tangible form. Unless they give these rights away, they have exclusive rights to use and distribute the works. Copyright does not extend to simple words or phrases. This is where trademarks come into play.

What is a trademark? Trademarks are words, signs, or symbols that identify goods or services with the respective owners. Registering a trademark protects the owners’ authority to use their marks. This promotes recognition of their products.

You can read more about World Intellectual Property Day here.

Have any other questions? Ask Sarah Norris about copyright or Missy Murphey about patents and trademarks.

We hope to see you on April 26!

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