World Book and Copyright Day

April 23 is celebrated worldwide World Book and Copyright Day — an event that brings together authors, publishers, librarians, and scholars in over 190 countries. This celebration emphasizes the significant role of the book as a source of knowledge, cultural development, and intellectual growth of society.

The tradition of celebrating originates in Spain, where on Saint George’s Day, April 23, it is customary to give books and roses. The rose symbolizes the courage and self-sacrifice of the saint, and the book is a remembrance of outstanding writers, in particular Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, whose lives are connected with this date. In Cervantes’ homeland, this day is celebrated with a continuous reading of the novel “Don Quixote”: participants take turns, and the reading lasts for 48 hours.

At the international level, the holiday was established by the UNESCO General Conference, which called to honor authors and books, promote reading among young people, and uphold respect for intellectual work.

The Ukrainian book tradition has deep historical roots. Among the oldest monuments are the Reims Gospel, taken to France by Anna Yaroslavna, as well as the Ostromir Gospel, the “Sviatoslav’s Izbornik,” and the Peresopnytsia Gospel. With the development of printing, the first printed works also appeared: in particular, the work of Yuriy Drohobych “Prognostic Assessment of 1483,” published in Rome, as well as Ivan Fedorov’s “Apostle,” printed in Lviv in 1574.

The formation of the modern understanding of copyright began in the 18th century with the adoption in Great Britain of the “Statute of Queen Anne,” which enshrined the rights of authors and established a balance between authors and publishers. Subsequently, the relevant legislative norms spread worldwide, covering various types of creative activities and laying the foundation for the protection of intellectual property.

Despite the development of digital technologies, the book remains a key carrier of systematized knowledge, especially in the field of science. It is scientific publications — monographs, encyclopedias, professional journals — that provide a deep understanding of information and contribute to the development of the academic environment.

Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine plays an important role in supporting and developing scientific publishing. The university actively engages in publishing activities, in particular releasing scientific monographs and other scholarly works. The academic and teaching staff of the institution are authors of numerous studies dedicated to issues of copyright and intellectual property, thereby making a significant contribution to the development of legal science and the formation of a culture of respect for intellectual labor.

Press Center KUL NASU