Intellectual property rights — copyrights, patents and trademarks — provide the legal framework necessary for creative enterprise like commercial software development to flourish. But it is widely assumed that most people view IP rights as business and legal concepts with little relevance to their daily lives. That’s why the World Intellectual Property Organization and its 184 member states designate April 26, the anniversary of the Convention establishing WIPO, as World Intellectual Property Day.
BSA has recently conducted public-opinion research that finds some cause for optimism, though. Consider: 71 percent of the world thinks innovators should be paid for the products and technologies they develop, because it provides incentives for more technology advances.
This finding comes from a global survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, one the world’s leading public-opinion research firms, as part of the 2010 BSA Global Software Piracy Study, which is set to be released soon. (more…)