How the intellectual property is perceived around the world – a survey by WIPO

According to a major new survey on consumer perceptions of intellectual property (IP), two-thirds of consumers have a favorable view of the function that IP plays in their economies.

The findings of WIPO Pulse, the world’s first global survey of general awareness of and attitudes toward intellectual property, are based on responses from 25,000 (non-IP specialists) people aged 18 to 65 years old across 50 countries.

The report reveals that in all geographic regions of the world, the positive impact of IP on the economy is recognized and understood, with IP seen as a key tool for ensuring fair income for individual innovators, creators, authors and designers.

About two-thirds of respondents, or 66%, mostly from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, have a positive perception of the role that IP plays in their economies.

The world’s consumers demonstrate the highest awareness index scores amongst all types of IP for copyright, surpassing those for trademarks, geographical indications, patents and designs.

Consumers from Eastern European states have the highest awareness index scores for patents, copyright and geographical indications compared to all other regions. However, when it comes to designs, Latin American and Caribbean as well as African states share the highest awareness index scores.

The survey further indicates that consumers in African and Latin American and Caribbean states have high awareness index scores and perception of IP regarding copyrights and trademarks.

The single highest index score (64%) was for awareness of copyright amongst Eastern European respondents.

In general, people aged 18 to 24 years old demonstrate significantly lower awareness of IP compared to the rest of the general population, with fewer than two out of ten knowing about patents and designs.

Consumers in Asia-Pacific states demonstrate lower awareness scores, while at the same time they attach greater importance to products that have IP rights associated with them.

WIPO hopes that the findings will inform and inspire policymakers, researchers, educators and others involved in promoting IP rights and raising IP awareness globally.

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