23 April – the day when books around the world finally get their moment in the spotlight! And while there may not be a red carpet (although they totally deserve one), it's the perfect occasion to celebrate those magical worlds bound between covers—and to remind ourselves why copyright matters.

Why 23 April?

World Book and Copyright Day didn’t just appear out of thin air – or over coffee at a publishing house meeting. Its origins go back much further... and are, dare we say, rather romantic.

The idea of celebrating books on 23 April was born in Catalonia, Spain, all the way back in 1926. Why this date? Because Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega – three literary legends, three languages, three worlds – were either born or passed away on this very day.

In Catalonia, the day is also known as Día de Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day). Traditionally, a man would give a woman a rose, and she would give him a book in return. Literature and love, hand in hand. What’s not to adore?

UNESCO steps in

In 1995, UNESCO officially declared 23 April as World Book and Copyright Day, with a clear mission:

• To encourage reading, especially among young people;
• To support the publishing industry and access to books worldwide;
• And to raise awareness of copyright, without which creativity might wither.

Since then, the day has been celebrated in over 100 countries, often with book fairs, reading marathons, awards, and (of course) book swaps and recommendations. In many cities, libraries transform into festive hubs filled with exhibitions, storytelling hours, and literary magic.

Books rule. Legally, too.

Let’s talk copyright for a second. On this day, we can't ignore the legal glue that holds the world of literature together.

Copyright protects creators – it gives authors, translators, illustrators, and editors the freedom to keep creating. Without it, anyone could just copy their neighbour’s poem, translate a bestseller using ChatGPT, and claim to be the next Shakespeare. (Spoiler: they’re not.)

So, next time you read “All rights reserved,” know it’s not just a boring legal line – it’s the foundation of creative freedom. And those of us living and breathing language and translation know just how vital it is to respect intellectual work.

Let's end with a beginning

World Book Day isn't just about reading – it’s about recognizing all the people behind the books: the writers, translators, illustrators, editors, designers… all the “invisible” heroes who make books happen.

So let’s support local authors, buy the book, don’t photocopy textbooks (naughty!), and yes – come visit our blog, where every word is crafted with care… and copyright.

And now a question for you:
What’s the last book that completely hooked you – so much so that you finished it in one sitting and then recommended it to at least three friends? Tell us! Who knows – maybe it’ll make it onto our next reading list.