Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation—it thrives where ideas are protected, shared, and valued. 

Professor Dongil Lee giving opening remarks during the World IP Conference at KDI School

Students from the Master of Intellectual Property and Development Policy (MIPD) program, together with Professor Dongil Lee, MIPM Program Chair, organized  the school’s first Intellectual Property (IP) Conference at KDI School on April 24, 2026 in celebration of World Intellectual Property Day, observed annually on April 26. 

Clara Tumwine (left), Judge Young-gi Kim (center), and Dionne Mc Nicol Stephenson (right) during the event

The conference was designed to bridge the gap between seemingly abstract and complicated intellectual property concepts to real-world applications and make IP easier to understand and relatable to students across different academic backgrounds. According to one organizer, Dionne Mc Nicol Stephenson (MIPD, 2026) and WIPO trainer from Trinidad and Tobago, “We feel very strongly that IP education shouldn't be limited to the MIPD students. By opening the conference to students from the other Master’s and PhD programmes, we wanted to build a broader community of people and minds who are aware of and engaged with IP issues.” 

Celebrating World Intellectual Property Day at KDI School this year is a timely reflection of the institution’s commitment to connecting public policy education with global development themes. Raun Seo (MIPD, 2026), another organizer explained, “World IP Day aims to raise awareness and recognize how intellectual property shapes innovation, creativity, and development. All of these themes are deeply connected to KDIS School’s mission.” 

Raun Seo (left) and Judge Young-gi Kim (right) delivering their presentations at the conference

The 2026 WIPO theme, “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!,” provided an accessible entry point for participants, especially following KDI School’s Sports Day. Organizers emphasized that sports provide a universal language through which IP becomes easier to understand. Nichol further noted, “For a lot of people, IP can seem technical, which often keeps them from engaging with it. In fact, IP is around us. It affects our daily lives, creative work, and the overall economy. By facilitating student-led presentations in discussions of sports and adding interactive games where participants can actively engage with IP, we aimed to demystify IP, break down those barriers and make these concepts easier for people to connect with.”

The most important highlight of the conference was the student-led presentations that applied intellectual property concepts to real-world sports contexts. The event brought together a diverse range of speakers, from MIPD Class of 2026 representatives which included lawyers, administrators, economists and a WIPO Trainer, to Judge Young-gi Kim (MIPD, 2026) from the Korean IP High Court. With speakers’ extensive backgrounds in law, economics, and public administration, these presentations provided attendees robust and well-rounded perspectives on topics such as athlete branding, broadcasting rights, sports technology, and legal frameworks in sports industries.

MIPD students and organizers

Aishath Shahudha Abdulla (MIPD, Maldives) emphasized the economic importance of IP in emerging sports markets. “The intersection of intellectual property and sports is becoming increasingly important as sports evolve into a significant economic sector. This is particularly crucial in emerging economies like the Maldives.” Her presentation highlighted how IP systems can generate income and support sustainable sports development that benefits players and other stakeholders. She further noted that “by getting others more involved and informed, we can call on better rights, support, and more awareness to protect and encourage local talent.”

Clara Tumwine and her video entry, which placed among the top 20 entries in the recent World IP Day Video Competition.

Student reflections highlighted the importance of making intellectual property relatable and grounded in everyday life experiences. Clara Tumwine (MIPD, 2026, Uganda) emphasized, “People don’t ignore IP because it lacks value—they ignore it because it feels distant, too technical. Yet it’s everywhere: in the clothes we wear, the phones in our hands, the medicines we rely on and particularly this year, in our favourite sports teams and personalities.” The 2026 WIPO Youth Video Competition also provided Clara with an opportunity to combine her personal passion of content creation and IP. Through effective storytelling and engaging visuals, her video translated IP concepts such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights into visible creative content that people can actually see and understand. 

For the KDI School, organizers, and attendees involved, this conference marked more than an academic event. It demonstrated how intellectual property, when approached from more accessible and engaging perspectives, is indeed meaningfully connected to everyday life. By linking IP to sports, the conference showed that policy concepts are more impactful and appreciated when they are grounded in familiar experiences that people can relate to. Moving forward, the conversations initiated at KDI School point toward a more inclusive and applied approach to IP education, one that continues to bridge disciplines, connect communities, and inspire future policy thinkers. 

Ms. Seungmin Lee of the Copyright Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

IP Forum, MIPD students, and KDI School would also like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Seungmin Lee, the Deputy Director of the Copyright Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for taking part in this conference and sharing her insightful lecture which made this event more meaningful.