WIPO Report Highlights Surge in Intellectual Property Use in Sports Sector Ahead of World IP Day 2026

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has released a comprehensive report detailing the booming use of intellectual property (IP) in the sports industry, coinciding with World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2026. The report, part of WIPO’s Technology SPARK series, underscores how IP-backed innovation is fueling growth in the multi-billion dollar sports sector and enhancing both athletic performance and fan engagement.

Between 2016 and 2025, more than 65,700 sports-related patent applications were filed globally, alongside over 1.25 million trademark registrations and upwards of 70,000 design filings. These figures reflect a robust expansion in IP activity within sports, outpacing growth rates observed across all industries.

Specifically, sports-related patents increased at an annual rate of 7.6%, compared to 4.4% for all patent filings worldwide. Trademark registrations in sports grew by 6.1% annually, nearly double the overall trademark growth rate, while design filings surged by 8.3%, significantly exceeding global averages.

Geographically, Asia dominates patent and design filings in the sports sector, accounting for 63% and 76% respectively. North America follows with 22% of these filings. Europe leads in trademark registrations, representing 43% of sports-related trademarks, a reflection of the continent’s dense network of sports brands and clubs.

The report identifies golf, swimming, and racket sports as the most patent-intensive disciplines. This trend is driven by continuous innovation in equipment, materials, and performance-enhancing technologies. In contrast, gym and fitness technologies lead in design filings, emphasizing the importance of product design and user experience in consumer markets. Leading design filers in 2025 include Srixon, Decathlon, and Callaway.

Major sports brands such as Titleist and PING are at the forefront of patent activity, alongside global giants Nike and Adidas. The top sports-related trademark owners illustrate the sector’s commercial breadth, featuring not only sports entities like the NBA, WWE, and Decathlon but also non-sports corporations including Disney, Apple, and Amazon.

WIPO Director General Daren Tang highlighted the integral role of IP in sports, stating, “Sports is not just about muscle and bone but also about ideas and intangible assets. The club logos that fans are passionate about, the sponsorship deals that link brands with athletes, the technology driving athletic performance, the broadcasting deals that bring sports events to billions of viewers – none of it is possible without IP.”

The report also explores how emerging technologies are reshaping sports. Innovations such as wearable devices, data analytics, smart equipment, and officiating technologies are enhancing athletic performance, fairness, and fan engagement. Many of these technologies are crossing over into other sectors, including health, entertainment, and consumer products.

Recognizing the growing importance of IP in sports, WIPO has established a dedicated workstream on IP and Sports. This initiative aims to assist athletes, sports associations, and member states in leveraging IP assets effectively, with a particular focus on emerging areas like e-sports.

In conjunction with World IP Day, WIPO announced the winners of its 2026 Video Competition, which attracted 182 submissions from 43 countries and engaged over 11,000 voters who cast 46,175 votes. The competition invited participants to create 90-second videos on the theme “Game Changers: IP Powering Sports Innovation.”

The first prize was awarded to Kang Cheng of China for “Sound of Victory: Bridging the Esports Frontier through Accessible Patents,” a video showcasing how innovative technology enables athletes with vision impairments to participate in esports. The second prize went to Charlotte Terryn of France for “I am not a great athlete... Unfortunately,” which highlights how IP fosters creativity and supports inventors in sports. The third prize was awarded to Thekrayat Abu Samra of Jordan for “Behind every stroke... creativity worth protecting,” emphasizing the role of IP in supporting innovation and the future of sports.