AIPLA/USPTO Women Entrepreneur Mentoring Program
March 13 to May 9, 2024
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The USPTO and AIPLA partnered to provide mentorship to AIPLA members and participants of the USPTO's Empowering Women's Entrepreneurship - a community-focused, collaborative, and creative initiative to encourage and empower more women founders across America. The program included three webinars and one concluding networking event, on March 13, March 20, April 11, and May 8, focusing on Intellectual Property law topics, advice from AIPLA's women entrepreneurs, and the opportunity to participate in a mentoring group of women with varying skills and experiences.
Miss a session? View the recordings here:
Webinar 1 Recording: Patents and Trade Secrets
Webinar 1 Resources: IP_Checklist_for_Startups
Webinar 2 Recording: Copyright/Trademark
Webinar 2 Resources: Presentation Slides
Webinar 3 Recording: Women Tell All
Mentoring Clusters
AIPLA is organizing mentoring clusters to offer mentorship to mentees identified through the USPTO’s Women Entrepreneur Initiative (a cluster is a group of 3-4 people, including both mentors and mentees).Apply here if you’d like to participate as a mentor.
Speakers
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Karpinia, Randi L.
Sagacity Legal, PLLC | Founder
Randi Karpinia, founder of Sagacity Legal PLLC, helps small business and entrepreneurs minimize their legal risks. With over twenty years of experience, Ms. Karpinia is a recognized expert in all aspects of business legal management with a focus on intellectual property, legal operations, and online legal protection. Ms. Karpinia’s credentials include a B.E.E, with honors, from Georgia Institute of Technology; a M.E.E. from Florida Atlantic University; and a J.D. Magna Cum Laude from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Karpinia is admitted to practice law in Florida and before the USPTO and is a Florida Bar Board Certified Intellectual Property Lawyer. -
Anderson, Maria
Knobbe Martens | Partner
Ms. Anderson joined the firm as a partner in the Seattle office in January 2008. Ms. Anderson has extensive experience in comprehensive, strategic client counseling in all aspects of intellectual property. She has been very active in the prosecution of patent applications in the computer science and ecommerce fields since 1993. -
Herman, Michele
JusTech Law, PLLC | Founder
Michele’s practice at JusTech Law focuses exclusively on legal and business issues affecting technology development and commercialization such as technology standards, open source software, and intellectual property transactions. -
Sullivan, Kelu
Kelly IP, LLP | Of Counsel
Kelu Sullivan is a skilled trademark and copyright lawyer who focuses on providing practical and realistic advice to help clients make strategic decisions in sync with their business goals. -
Lord, Miriam
US Copyright Office | Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education
Miriam Lord is the Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education for the United States Copyright Office. Lord oversees the Office of Public Information and Education (PIE), which provides authoritative information about copyright law to the public, implements the Office’s communications plan, publishes comprehensive written and audiovisual materials, develops education and outreach programs and strategic collaborations, and responds to public inquiries about Office policies and practices. She is an expert copyright attorney and one of four legal advisors to the Register of Copyrights. -
Bald, Stephanie
Kelly IP | Partner
Stephanie Bald focuses her practice on trademark litigation, disputes, and strategic counseling. She represents clients in federal courts across the country and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). She also handles domain name disputes under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and has significant experience managing global trademark portfolios and advising clients on the selection, use, registration, enforcement, and licensing of trademarks.
News
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AIPLA Comments on Proposed Thai Patent Law
February 5, 2025
Arlington, VA. January 30, 2025 –The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted comments to the Department of Intellectual Property of Thailand on the New Draft Patent Law being considered for adoption. The comments focus on many issues in the proposed law relating to patent registration, subject matter eligibility, patent term extensions, and enforcement, among other matters. -
AIPLA and IPO Issue Joint Letter to Congress Urging Action to Reduce Patent Backlog
February 4, 2025
In a joint letter, AIPLA and IPO urged Congress to ensure the USPTO has the resources and flexibility needed to address its patent application backlog, which has reached 826,000. The letter notes that timely patent examination is essential to US innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness, yet recent executive actions—such as a hiring freeze, return-to-office mandates, and employee buyouts—may impact the USPTO’s operations. Unlike other agencies, the USPTO is funded by user fees, not taxpayer dollars, and must retain resources to process applications efficiently. Restrictive policies could slow innovation, weaken IP protection, and harm US economic leadership. Secretary of Commerce nominee Howard Lutnick has acknowledged the urgency of reducing delays, and we support efforts to strengthen the USPTO’s capacity. AIPLA and IPO welcome the opportunity to work with Congress on legislative and administrative solutions that support American inventors and businesses. -
Updates on the Forthcoming USPTO Patent Fees
January 17, 2025
On November 20, 2024, the USPTO published its final rule, “Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2025,” which will take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Since the April 3, 2024, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish or increase certain patent fees, AIPLA has actively engaged with its members by gathering feedback, submitting written comments, meeting with USPTO officials, and hosting informational webinars to keep members informed of the changes. As the implementation date approaches, members have raised additional questions, prompting AIPLA to seek clarification from the USPTO. Read below the results of our outreach with the Office. -
AIPLA Comments to Trump Transition Team on IP Priorities
January 6, 2025
Arlington, VA. December 23, 2024 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted a letter of recommendation on IP priorities for the Trump Transition Team emphasizing the critical role of IP in driving innovation and economic growth. -
AIPLA Files Amicus Brief in EcoFactor, Inc. v. Google LLC
December 2, 2024
Arlington, VA. November 26, 2024 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) filed an amicus brief in EcoFactor, Inc. v. Google LLC, in support of neither party.