Today is World Intellectual Property Day. And tonight is CopyNight. The first is a promotion of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which says that the objectives of the day are:

WIPO has tailored its 2005 World Intellectual Property Day message and publicity material towards young people. The over-arching objectives are:

  • To encourage young people to recognize their own ability to create;
  • To increase understanding of how protecting IP rights helps to foster creativity and innovation;
  • To raise awareness of the importance in daily life of patents, copyright, trademarks and designs

.

On the other hand,

CopyNight is a monthly social gathering of people interested in restoring balance in copyright law. We meet over drinks once a month in many cities to discuss new developments and build social ties between artists, engineers, filmmakers, academics, lawyers, and many others.

And there is a CopyNight in Raleigh which is sponsored by old friend and theremin player, Steve Burnett, but somehow I’m just finding out about it.