During the World Intellectual Property Day week, the Mason Enterprise Center at George Mason University hosted an event for women innovators who are using intellectual property (IP) protection to make an impact in various industries.

The event, held on Wednesday, April 24, featured participants such as Serene Almomen of Attune IOT, Christiane Maertens of DoGoodery and Valor Bebidas, Ingrid Vanderveldt of EBW Global Inc. and EBW Distributor, and Soma Saha of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

World Intellectual Property Day is an annual celebration that emphasizes the importance of IP rights in driving innovation and creativity.

This year's theme is "IP and the SDGs – IP as a Solution," which focuses on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations.

These goals aim to promote affordable and clean energy, climate action, gender equality, and more, for the betterment of people, peace, prosperity, and the planet.

On April 26, the United States Patent and Trademark Office also celebrates World IP Day by raising awareness of how patents, copyrights, trademarks, and designs impact daily life and by acknowledging the creativity and contributions made by creators and innovators.

Every year, the celebration focuses on a particular aspect of IP. For 2024, the global theme will be "IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity," which will explore how IP, IP offices, and IP stakeholders worldwide can contribute to or support each SDG.

On May 1, an in-person gathering at the U.S. Capitol will highlight this year's theme of "IP and the SDGs."

The event will be attended by Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office; Shira Perlmutter, director of the U.S Copyright Office; Rep. Darrell Issa, chair of the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet; and representatives from USPTO partner organizations, including the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

The USPTO will assess how IP initiatives, programs, or outcomes have furthered the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the United States, such as supporting quality education (SDG 4), supporting industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), creating new partnerships for the goals (SDG 17), improving access to IP information (SDG 10, "Reduced Inequalities"), and instituting paperless procedures (SDG 12, "Responsible Consumption and Production").