World Intellectual Property Day 2026 in the sign of sport

21. April 2026.

"Intellectual Property and Sport – Ready, Set, Innovate!"

(Image: WIPO)

Every year on 26 April, World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated, recognizing the importance of intellectual property rights in fostering creativity and innovation to enable new jobs and overall progress. In 2026, the focus is on one of the most dynamic areas of human activity – sport. Under the slogan "Intellectual Property and Sport – Ready, Set, Innovate!", the world discusses how patents, trademarks, design and copyright are transforming the way we play, follow and enjoy sport.

Why is intellectual property important for sport?

Sport is not just a game. State-of-the-art equipment, team identity, broadcasts of unforgettable sporting moments and more: intellectual property is essential to protect and promote inventions, designs, brands and stories that drive the world of sport, inspire athletes and unite fans around the world, keeping the spirit of sport alive, dynamic and accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Without intellectual property rights and their enforcement, investments in sports equipment, training technology and media broadcasts would not have legal certainty. Intellectual property allows clubs and associations to build recognizable brands, while giving innovators recognition for technical solutions that push the boundaries of what's possible.

Behind every great sporting achievement are creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs who use intellectual property to turn ideas into action. Bosnia and Herzegovina's sports teams and individuals also recognize the value of protecting their identity and innovation through the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Trademarks in sports

In BiH, the most recognizable form of protection in sports are trademarks. They protect the visual identity of the clubs – their crests, colors and slogans.

Most of the leading football clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as Borac, Sarajevo, Velež, Zrinjski and Željezničar, have protected their historical crests as trademarks. This gives them the exclusive right to sell official merchandise (jerseys, scarves, props) and prevents their name from being misused for commercial purposes.

The trademark of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina is also protected, which ensures that revenues from the sale of equipment go directly to the development of the national sport.

Brands are crucial for creating business value, and the sports business is no exception. Strong sports brands ensure customer loyalty and a higher price range which makes them a valuable asset that drives the company's revenue and growth. They are central to many sports business transactions, especially in sponsorship deals and product sales. The most important means of strengthening and building a brand is the registration of a trademark with the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

How to protect a trademark in BiH (pdf)

A trademark can protect a sign that represents, for example, the logo of a product and thus prevents another natural or legal person from marking products with the same or similar sign or name and making a profit.

IOC/Olympic Games: protects "Olympic", "Paralympic", the symbol of the five rings, the torch, anthems, slogans and city/year combinations such as "Paris 2024" or "Milan Cortina 2026".

FIFA: protects "FIFA", "World Cup", World Cup trophy, logos, official emblems, and mascot names (e.g., "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022")

Patents and sport

In the intellectual property system, new and revolutionary sports technologies and equipment are protected by patents.

Innovators and manufacturers are channelling their ingenuity, creativity and expertise to develop better and safer equipment and enable as many people as possible to participate in sporting activities.

Image: Paralympic games (Facebook)

Paralympic inventions are specialized, high-tech and adaptive equipment designed to improve athletic performance and enable the participation of athletes with disabilities.

Innovative methods for the rehabilitation of athletes or specific exercise equipment, which are being developed at sports faculties, can be protected by a patent if they represent a new technical solution to the problem.

There are also more demanding sports that require more technically complex equipment for practicing them. Innovator Zoran Dujković from Banja Luka is the inventor of an underwater charger of gaseous or liquid media, which allows divers to fill a diving bottle with oxygen underwater when speleodiving. The patent application has been filed with the Institute for Intellectual Property of BiH:

BAP213447A

Patent protection of sports inventions is essential to secure exclusive innovation rights, allowing companies to manufacture and sell unique, secure, and high-performance equipment while preventing unauthorized copying.

How to Protect a Patent in Bosnia and Herzegovina (pdf)

Industrial Design & Sports

The sports equipment market is very competitive. In such a market, innovative product designs that enhance sports performance and create visually appealing products are key in building brand value.

Manufacturers invest large sums of money and expertise in developing state-of-the-art sports equipment designs that respond to the changing needs of athletes and their performance standards. By registering the design of sports products through the protection of industrial design rights, companies can defend themselves against imitators and counterfeiters.

(Image created with assistance of Gemini AI)

Several intellectual property rights can protect a sports shoe:

Patents protect the technology used to develop the sneaker;
Designs protect the "look" of the sneaker;
Trademarks distinguish the sneaker from similar products and protect the "reputation" of the sneaker (and the company that manufactures it);
Copyright and related rights protect all works of art and audiovisual works used to promote the sneaker.

Through the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sportswear designers can use industrial design protection to ensure that their unique cuts and aesthetic solutions are not copied in the market.

How to protect industrial design in BiH (pdf)

Copyright and Related Rights in Sports

Copyright and related rights in sport protect valuable intangible assets, including broadcasting, photography and marketing materials, which are essential for generating revenue. Although the sports game itself is not protected by copyright, related rights protect audiovisual and promotional content, ensuring the commercial interests of clubs and broadcasters.

TV companies and platforms invest significant funds in the purchase of licenses to broadcast sports events. Without the protection of copyright and related rights, unauthorized transmissions (piracy) would directly jeopardize the survival of sports journalism and the income of clubs.

Image: FIFA World Cup (Facebook)

Intellectual property and sport as the theme of this year's World Intellectual Property Day aims to encourage all people, especially young people, to think about sport not only as a physical activity, but as a field for innovation and protection of intellectual property rights. Whether it's an invention, a new design of sports shoes or branding a local club – your creation deserves protection because in the world of intellectual property, just like on the sports field, fair play and respect for the rules are the key to long-term success!

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(Source: WIPO)