June 16th marks a decade since the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding was established as a nonprofit focused on making the purpose and use of IP rights clearer.
CIPU’s co-founders and first supporters included Marshall Phelps, VP of IP Business at IBM and then Microsoft, which provided the seed funds to get CIPU up and running.
Early support was also provided by Judge Paul Michel, former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He encouraged me by saying if CIPU can properly explain the relevance of IP rights to investors, it will raise everyone’s consciousness.
Below is a link to my 10th anniversary letter. Once per decade I’m encouraged to do this. It summarizes CIPU’s accomplishments and shares its some of its plans. The letter will resonate with people interested in innovation, IP, AI or jobs.
10th Anniversary Letter – Read Here
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What people are saying about CIPU:
“Congratulations to Bruce and the CIPU team on a decade of doing what the IP community too often neglects: explaining why IP rights matter to people who don’t already believe it.
“In a world where misinformation about patents and copyrights travels faster than the facts, CIPU’s work — building literacy from the ground up, convening serious conversations, and reaching non-IP audiences — is more relevant now than when it launched. The AI moment makes it more urgent still. Here’s to ten more years of cutting through the noise.”
- Louis Carbonneau, Founder & CEO, Tangible IP; Former Senior Licensing Executive, Microsoft; Venture Partner, Cycle Capital Management; inventor
“Having spent my career at the intersection of intellectual property and technology commercialization, I strongly believe that innovation thrives when people understand the purpose and value of IP rights.
“The Center for IP Understanding has been instrumental in improving IP literacy, dispelling misinformation, and helping audiences appreciate how patents, copyrights, brands, and trade secrets support investment, job creation and transparency. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and intangible assets, CIPU’s mission has never been more important.”
- Brian Hinman, Former Senior IP Business Executive, Philips, IBM, Verizon, InterDigital; Member, IP Hall of Fame
“CIPU consistently brings together a wonderfully diverse group of people who care deeply about intellectual property. Regardless of their role in the IP ecosystem, CIPU’s programs and community offer a valuable opportunity to learn about IP and how it creates value in our society.”
- Diane Gabl Kratz, Director, IP Strategy and Operations, Dolby Laboratories; Board Member USIPA
“CIPU fills an important gap in the IP ecosystem by helping broader audiences understand not only what intellectual property rights are, but why they matter. Its work brings clarity, balance, and accessibility to a field that is often misunderstood or reduced to slogans.
“At a time when innovation, creativity, and AI are reshaping how intangible assets are created and shared, CIPU’s mission is more important than ever.”
- Daryl Lim, H. Laddie Montague Jr. Chair in Law, Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships, Penn State Dickinson Law; Founding Member of the Global IP Alliance
“As a community college professor, I have successfully integrated intellectual property rights education into my marketing, business communications, and advertising courses. Since 2018, hundreds of my students, many of whom are inventors and entrepreneurs themselves, have learned how IP protection is deeply linked to the evolution, funding, and stability of any enterprise.
“CIPU has been instrumental in providing me the tools and support to enhance my efforts in the classroom. By producing several IP Awareness Summits® and creating accessible platforms like IPBasics.org, the Understanding IP Matters podcast, and innovative data visualizations, CIPU has made the immense scale and value of intangible assets accessible.”
- Rafael Cardona, Adjunct Associate Professor, entrepreneurship and marketing, Glendale Community College
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“Congratulations Bruce and CIPU on ten extremely productive years. CIPU provides a critical voice to educate and explain IP and its importance to key stakeholders, and your achievements in this regard are second to none. Your ‘Understanding IP Matters’ podcast in particular is unique and makes a significant difference, and I personally very much enjoyed being on it.
“Thank you for everything you do for our intellectual property system, and keep up the good work.”
- Andrei Iancu, Undersecretary of Commerce and Director, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2018-2021 (ret); Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
“CIPU is the only organization that consistently puts IP awareness and education front and center. CIPU has provided multiple platforms, including conferences, blogs and a popular podcast series, that allow creators, entrepreneurs, and executives to understand the essential role IP rights play in driving business value and facilitating new ideas.
“As we look towards a future dominated by AI and rapid innovation, CIPU’s mission to bridge the gap between complex IP concepts and real-world impact is more essential than ever.”
- Efrat Kasznik, President, Foresight Valuation Group; Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business since 2011; past-President, Licensing Executives Society
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Aware of CIPU? Please share you experiences here, explore@understandingip.org.
Image source: CIPU
ipcloseup.com 