World IP Day 2023

Sponsored by: Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Location: Senate Visitor's Center Room 202/203

4:30 PM - Welcome and introduction of USPTO Director Vidal – Vincent E. Garlock, AIPLA Executive Director

4:35 PM - Opening Remarks, Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO

4:40 PM - Remarks from Members of Congress

4:45 - 5:55 PM - Panel Discussion on Women Innovators, Creators, Inventors Includes Q&A Session. -- Moderated by Samantha Aguayo, Deputy Executive Director & Chief Policy Counsel, Intellectual Property Owners Association and Brad Watts, Vice President for Patents and Innovation Policy, US Chamber Global Innovation Policy Center.

• Elizabeth Dougherty, USPTO, Empowering Women's Entrepreneurship (WE) – The Value of Her IP Initiative

• Maria Strong, Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs, US Copyright Office (invited)

• Rachel Kahler, General Mills  

• Renae Fossum, Research Fellow, The Procter & Gamble Company

• Rachel Lee, BlueFoot

• Casey Boshae Williams, The Gentle Pit 

5:55 PM - Closing remarks from US Copyright Office Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter and announcement of reception and exhibition.

Special Women in Innovation displays provided by:  Procter & Gamble, General Mills, and others.

The event is coordinated with the USPTO, and many thanks to the sponsors and supporting organizations:

For more information about the World IP Organizations efforts honoring World IP Day go to https://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/ipday/

There you can learn more about their World IP Day Gallery - Featuring women from around the world who are forging new horizons with their groundbreaking ideas, and learn about the winners of the World IP Day video competition.  The online public vote to select the winners will run from April 13 to April 23 at 23.59 (CET). Stay tuned to cast your vote and help choose the winners!  

This year’s global theme is “Women in IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity”. Under Secretary Vidal has worked throughout her tenure to increase the participation of women and underrepresented communities in the IP ecosystem through the Empowering Women's Entrepreneurship (WE) initiative. To increase the general public’s awareness about the importance and value of IP, the USPTO decided on the theme of “The Value of Her IP” which will feature prominent women with IP (creators, entrepreneurs, designers and inventors) and highlight common factors relatable to the general public that went into that woman creating and commercializing their IP. Check social media to see the featured innovators.