Intellectual property in sports is a surprising way to innovate
- Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre
Innovation is often considered to be the purview of entrepreneurs and scientists, but sport has untapped potential too.
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Innovation Centre (WIC), under the leadership of the Innovation Support unit, hosted a successful event in celebration of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day on 08 May 2026 at the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Library Lawns. It explored this topic under the global theme ’IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate’.
Beyond athletic competition, sports intersect with various sectors such as fashion, entertainment, media, health, gaming, and consumer goods. Intellectual property rights — including patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights — play a critical role in stimulating innovation, enabling this cross-industry collaboration, and driving economic growth.
The event brought together researchers, students, representatives from the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), and invited guests, including a specialist attorney in Sports Law who served as the keynote speaker.
During his opening address at the local event, the Director of the WIC, Letlotlo Phohole, reflected on the significance of the topic within the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University context and how it resonates deeply.
“We are not only a place of academic excellence; we are a powerhouse of sporting excellence and innovation,” he explained. “For over 100 years, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Sport has produced legends — Springboks, Olympians, and national representatives across rugby, football, hockey, basketball, and many other sporting codes.”
Phohole further congratulated the FNB Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Blues rugby team for their outstanding achievement in securing the 2026 Varsity Shield title through an unbeaten campaign, earning promotion to the Varsity Cup.
Lindiwe Mashimbye is responsible for the funds and incentives management directorate at NIPMO. She shared how NIPMO supports innovation through different incentives and organisational support, like capacity building in the form of IP management training, internships, and the WIPO–SA Summer School.
Professor Lynn Morris, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½, highlighted the growing role of sports and innovation at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University, particularly through the development of the new Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex, a flagship centenary project currently nearing completion. Some of the research activities taking place at the centre may generate IP which may be eligible for protection, utilisation and commercialisation.
The facility will include state-of-the-art sports science and exercise medicine research laboratories, high-performance gyms, aquatics centres, and elite athlete residences, further positioning Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ as a leader in sports research and innovation.
The keynote speaker, Farai Razano, specialises in sports and entertainment law and has represented a wide range of clients, including professional athletes, sports clubs, sports associations, and production companies within the film and television industries.
During his talk, Razano shared valuable insights into the commercialisation of image rights and the importance of intellectual property protection for athletes and sports professionals.
“Protecting your image rights is not sufficient on its own. It is equally important to ensure that you have watertight contracts that complement and strengthen those rights,” he advised.
is an international initiative led by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to recognise the importance of ideas, innovation, and creativity in driving social and economic progress.
The day aims to raise awareness about intellectual property rights and their role in fostering an environment where innovation can flourish, and where creators and innovators are acknowledged and rewarded for their contributions to society.
The celebration also highlights the significance of intellectual property in everyday life and promotes a culture of creativity, collaboration, and sustainable development.
The local event successfully reinforced the importance of intellectual property in sports and innovation while encouraging students, researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs to recognise and protect the value of their ideas and creative contributions.