U.S. Copyright Office Joins Message on International Women’s Day 2022

The U.S. Copyright Office has joined with national and regional intellectual property offices from around the world as well as with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to issue a message in support of women creators and innovators. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow.”

Joint Message:

This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is “Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” We commit to work together to support increased contributions from women in developing, commercializing, and distributing innovations and creative works in order to achieve a more sustainable and hope-driven future.

Women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change—United Nations figures indicate that 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. Yet their contributions are crucial in creating new technologies, products, and processes for mitigating its impact. Their entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity also foster economic growth and enrich cultures.

In many countries, women are underrepresented in the intellectual property (IP) system. Around the globe, patent, trademark, and copyright offices provide resources and support for innovators and creators of all genders, helping them to navigate and access the IP system. Through these and other programs, we are committed to working together to reach gender equality throughout our economies.

Equality can only be achieved when the gender mix of those engaged in innovation and creativity and using our IP systems reflects the gender mix of our society. This will lead to a more sustainable, healthy, and balanced society, enriching life for everyone.

Business and Intellectual Property Authority of Namibia, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, European Patent Office, Intellectual Property Office of Australia, Latin American Network on Intellectual Property and Gender, National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI)—Republic of Argentina, National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI)—Republic of Chile, Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC)—Republic of Colombia, National Registry of the Republic of Costa Rica, National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI)—Republic of Ecuador, Japan Patent Office (JPO), Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property, National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI)—Republic of Peru, Intellectual Property Protection Department of Qatar, National Office of Industrial Property of the Republic of the Dominican Republic (ONAPI), National Directorate of Industrial Property of the Republic of Uruguay (DNPI), South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, United States Copyright Office, United States Patent and Trademark Office, World Intellectual Property Organization

Statement from Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, U.S. Copyright Office:

“We are proud to join intellectual property offices from around the world in celebrating this International Women’s Day. Women creators are cornerstones of culture and scientific progress in every area, from music, literature, film, and art to science and technology. We all benefit when more women are able to engage their creativity and express their voices. At the Copyright Office, we are committed to increasing access to the copyright system for all members of society, enhancing knowledge and enriching the cultural landscape.”