In today’s world of sport, victory is not defined by speed, strength or endurance alone. It is driven by original ideas. By technology. By brands. By everything created beyond the playing field that ultimately shapes what happens on it. Intellectual property lies at the heart of this dynamic.
This is the focus of Ukrainian Intellectual Property Week 2026 (IP WEEK 2026), organized by the Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO/IP Office) under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine to mark World Intellectual Property Day on April 26. This year, the World Intellectual Property Organization has chosen to spotlight sports with the theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.”
Ukraine’s take on this global theme – “IP and Sports: Create, Protect, Win” – highlights the full IP journey in sport: from the spark of an idea to its protection, implementation and commercial impact.
Taking place from April 20 to 26, IP WEEK 2026 will bring together a diverse programme of events, educational initiatives and special projects exploring the intersection of sport and IP.
Among them is an interactive visual project that uses a single sports match image to reveal just how many IP assets are involved in the game – from trademarks and equipment design to broadcasting rights and innovative inventions.
The practical dimension of IP WEEK 2026 includes a dedicated “IP in Sports” checklist – designed as a hands-on tool for athletes, clubs and managers. Communication initiatives will also play a key role, including the “Inventive.UA – Sports Edition” series highlighting sports-related IP created by Ukrainians, as well as a curated selection of legal cases demonstrating how IP rights are protected in practice.
In addition, a new series of video interviews with Ukrainian athletes and legal experts will premiere, offering insights into how intellectual property is shaping modern sport.
The programme features events tailored to a wide range of audiences. These include a student-focused event on the protection and enforcement of athletes’ rights and a webinar within the “Talking about my idea” project exploring the role of data, feedback and IP in advancing sports technologies.
IP Academy will host a series of online lectures for school and university students, aimed at building awareness of intellectual property in the sports context.
The highlight of the week will be the SPORT & IP Forum, held on April 23 in a hybrid format. The forum will bring together stakeholders from across the sports ecosystem – industry representatives, public institutions, innovators and legal professionals – to discuss IP commercialization in sport, the use of AI and data, innovations in athlete recovery and the protection of rights in sports broadcasting.
IP WEEK 2026 is open to a broad audience: athletes and coaches, sports managers, lawyers and patent attorneys, students and young professionals, as well as anyone working at the intersection of sport, technology and the creative industries.
Ukrainian Intellectual Property Week 2026 offers a fresh perspective on sport – as an industry where intellectual property is a key driver of growth.
Follow the updates and be part of IP WEEK 2026.
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