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 | Partner
Kelu Sullivan is a seasoned intellectual property attorney with Kelly IP, LLP, a trademark and copyright boutique based in Washington, D.C. with nearly two decades of experience in trademark, copyright, and domain name law. Kelu is particularly experienced in the management of global trademark portfolios and providing creative and practical business-focused intellectual property protection, licensing, and enforcement strategies. -
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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Letter in support for S. 1546, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act.
October 8, 2025
Arlington, VA. October 8, 2025 - The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted a letter in support for S. 1546, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act. -
AIPLA Comments on the UK IPO’s Standards Essential Patents Consultation
October 7, 2025
Arlington, VA. October 7, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted comments to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) regarding its Standards Essential Patents (SEP) Consultation published in July 2025. AIPLA expressed support for the UK IPO’s goal of improving predictability and efficiency in SEP licensing but emphasized the need for a balanced approach that protects both SEP holders and implementers. -
US Senate Confirms John A. Squires as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
September 18, 2025
On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed John A. Squires as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. -
AIPLA Files Amicus Brief in Cox Communications, Inc. v Sony Music Entertainment
September 5, 2025
Arlington, VA. September 5, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) AIPLA filed an amicus brief in support of neither party in Cox Communications, Inc. v Sony Music Entertainment, Supreme Court Case No. 24-171. -
AIPLA Comments on the OECD's Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade (WP-CIT) Draft Voluntary Guidelines
August 25, 2025
Arlington, VA. August 25, 2025 – The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted comments to the USPTO on the OECD’s Draft Voluntary Guidelines for Countering Illicit Trade in Counterfeit Goods on Online Marketplaces, highlighting best practices for governments, online marketplace operators, and rights holders.