A webinar presented by the IBA Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee
This webinar will explore the practical intellectual property (IP) considerations that shape today’s global sports industry, organised in celebration of World Intellectual Property Day (WIPO), celebrated on 26 April, in alignment with WIPO’s official 2026 theme, ‘IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!’.
As we enter a year marked by two major international sporting events − the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 Winter Olympic Games − the sports sector faces heightened legal, commercial and reputational challenges that require careful attention to IP rights. These include athlete image rights, licensing and merchandising practices, sponsorship exclusivity, anti‑counterfeiting actions, broadcasting rights and the regulation of the commercial use of sports‑related assets. By bringing together viewpoints from athlete representatives, major sports organisations and global sponsors, this session will provide a broad and practical examination of how IP considerations operate across different layers of the sports ecosystem.
The discussion will highlight how stakeholders manage their rights, protect brand value, mitigate legal risks and navigate complex commercial environments − especially during high‑visibility global competitions. The webinar aims to give attendees actionable insights into the real‑world implications of IP in sports, reinforcing the relevance of these issues during a year where the world’s attention is firmly centred on global athletic events.
