Yesterday the Illinois Intellectual Property Alliance (ILIPA) held its’ inaugural retreat. During the session, the group of leading intellectual property market participants throughout the state of Illinois discussed a framework for a five-year vision for the organization focused on Education & Awareness-building, Ecosystem Development, Value Creation for the State of Illinois, along with near term objectives to be accomplished throughout 2021.
The Illinois IP Alliance is a diverse set of market participants, including intellectual property creators, protectors, and enablers united by our desire to:
Support programs that educate Illinois citizens on the role IP plays in innovation.
Support programs that expand participation from creators, protectors, and enablers of IP
Foster connections that promote innovation and create economic and social impact for Illinois.
Ocean Tomo chief executive James E. Malackowski served as moderator of a group exploring how the Illinois IP Alliance can support value creation for Illinois. Illinois has a proud history of IP development and protection, including the first patent law firm and the earliest patent bar association. The State consistently ranks in the Top 10 for patent issuance and has placed in the Top 3, depending on the year.
Illinois should celebrate the work of IP creators, enablers and protectors that originates within its borders. ILIPA is committed to assisting the Governor and various organizations throughout the state to get the message out.
Ocean Tomo testifying expert Robert McSorley joined the conversation around how the Illinois IP Alliance can advance value creation for Illinois. Ideas that originated from the ILIPA retreat included meeting with the Governor or the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Activity to develop message points for the state and grass-root programs to celebrate inventors. One program idea universally embraced at the ILIPA retreat was for the State to create an “Inventor” license plate, similar to that which exists to showcase support for the city’s professional sports franchises. All inventors would be entitled to apply for such a plate and request their US patent number be displayed. Other ideas discussed included partnership with an Illinois chartered bank to issue an inventor credit card, celebrating discovery with every purchase.