Every year on April 26 we observe World Intellectual Property Day, which is a time for intellectual property owners to reflect on the value of patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets to the continued success and innovation in the entertainment, technology, and services sectors. This year, however, most of the world spent the day celebrating without even realizing it.
In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the use and enjoyment of digital content have dramatically increased. The sudden transition to being at home has resulted in worldwide use of digital technologies and services. Telework, distance learning, entertainment services, telehealth, online financial services, shopping, and food delivery are now essential for people worldwide. And mobile apps are at the center of providing for these important services. So, while citizens in countries around the globe didn’t celebrate World Intellectual Property Day with grand celebrations, they did by downloading, accessing, and using digital technologies and services to help them get through the new normal of restricted living.
The ability of the mobile app industry to meet the needs of people and consumers during this time of crisis has its foundation in strong legal protection for intellectual property. The rights granted to owners of protected works provide the incentives and resources to continue innovating new and improved ways to make life better, even in a pandemic.
But, with increased downloads and use of mobile applications, the risk of piracy or illegal access and use is also likely to rise. Infringement and theft of intellectual property present a major threat to the success of App Association members and, in turn, the billions of consumers who rely on these software-based digital products and services. Pirate and counterfeit apps can lead to customer data loss, interruption of service, revenue loss, and reputational damage—each alone is a risk to the future viability of a small app development company.
These bad actors are taking increasingly novel and dynamic approaches to piracy by phishing, spoofing, selling, and distributing pirate copies, and creating counterfeit apps that look and act like the real app but instead steal ad revenue or—worse yet—install malware to access user data. That is why the App Association, in the United States and abroad, continues to fight for strong protections for IP while balancing the ability to properly use the intellectual property created by others.
The App Association continues to reinforce how crucial intellectual property is to our members in meetings with Members of Congress and their staffs and with staff in the executive branch of the federal government. We also work collaboratively with other intellectual property industries to find private and legislative solutions to our shared goals. On the international stage, we work with organizations such as the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to protect our members’ brands and trademarks in the Domain Name System.
The App Association and its members celebrate World Intellectual Property Day on April 26 and every day of the year. Our innovative members’ livelihoods depend on robust protection of their creative works. And now, more than ever, their customers need reliable and safe mobile applications to meet the important challenges of life. Intellectual property and the ability to protect it is what makes that happen for both developers and customers. Toast to IP in an online meeting today!