2008-02-21

Understanding the Engine of Creativity in a Creative Economy: An Interview with John Howkins

Creativity permeates our daily lives from the moment we wake up in the morning to the time we retire in the evening. In modern 20th century society, this creativity and invention follows us throughout our day as we make our way to work, during our shopping sprees, at the groceries, and in the evenings as we catch the latest blockbuster movie at our favorite cinema.

To understand creativity and the significance of intellectual property in seeking to exploit private property for profit, we turn to the book on The Creative Economy: How People Make Money From Ideas by the author John Howkins2. Published in 2001, the book has become a point of reference for those seeking to merge creativity with business acumen.

Mr. Howkins, who was recently in Geneva to attend the second World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Inter-sessional Intergovernmental Meeting on a Development Agenda, (June 20 to 22, 2005) took time to meet with me to elaborate on the growing importance of creative economies.

More: http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/documents/cr_interview_howkins.html

By Donna Ghelfi, Program Officer, Creative Industries Division, Office of Strategic Use of Intellectual Property for Development, WIPO