Every April 26, World Intellectual Property Day invites us to celebrate the critical role that intellectual property (IP) plays in enabling the technological innovation that drives human progress. This year’s theme is the intersection of music and IP.
Behind every beat, chart-topping hit, and creative breakthrough is a foundation of strong IP protections. Copyrights, patents, and trademarks all help musical artists turn their creative visions into reality — each playing a distinct but equally vital role.
Copyright protections are the legal backbone of the music industry. They protect original works from lyrics and compositions to recordings of performances, ensuring that artists can share their work with the world while protecting their rights. In the digital era, where people consume and share music across a variety of websites and apps, strong copyright protections are more essential than ever to ensure artists receive fair compensation for their work.
Patents, which protect inventions like new technologies, encourage the development of breakthroughs that make innovative music experiences possible. Think of immersive concerts or even the electric guitar. These experiences rely on breakthrough technologies whose development was incentivized by patent rights. Without patents, many of the inventions that shape how we create and experience music simply wouldn’t exist.
Finally, trademarks ensure that musical brands, including names, logos, and identities, remain distinct and protected from misuse. Trademarks assure fans that they’re supporting real artists, not imitators — enabling artists to grow loyal audiences and expand into merchandise, endorsements, and beyond.
Together, IP rights empower artists to take creative risks and help foster a thriving ecosystem for artists, producers, and other entrepreneurs. Thanks to these safeguards, artists small and large — from your favorite small-town band to global superstars — can sustain their careers and continue making the music we all enjoy.
By helping musicians thrive, IP protections also bring substantial benefits to our economy. Global recorded music revenues have surpassed $29 billion, and the music industry contributes around $170 billion to America’s GDP every year. To protect this flourishing industry and the millions of American jobs it supports, we need policies that continue to prioritize and strengthen the rights of creators in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Legislators should prioritize and enact legislation like the NO FAKES Act, which would prevent the unauthorized use of AI to mimic a creator’s voice or likeness. This bill would help protect creators’ rights while still allowing for innovative uses of AI.
The digital age has ushered in significant opportunities for creators, but also new risks to creative expression. The Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) remains committed to advancing policies that protect creators’ rights in this changing landscape. By championing a strong, balanced IP policy, the United States can ensure that innovators and artists alike can continue to thrive, creating works that inspire, entertain, and push society forward.
Learn more about World IP Day and this year’s theme here: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/ipday/2025/index#:~:text=From%20the%20rhythms%20that%20invite,vibrant%20and%20diverse%20music%20landscape.