The IC² Institute hosted a visit by Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) David Kappos, on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in August 2010, Kappos’s major goal is to enhance technological advancement and commercialization, provide protection for entrepreneurs and investors as they create jobs and opportunities, and manage deception in the marketplace of American innovation.
Mr. Kappos conducted a roundtable discussion with local small business start-ups, entrepreneurs, investors, and Intellectual Property lawyers to hear about their experiences with USPTO and gather ideas about how to better serve their interests. Discussions covered structural changes that are taking place in the office to enhance the overall process of Intellectual Property protection for start-up companies and established companies, and global issues of Intellectual property protection.
John Sibley Butler, Director of the IC² Institute, said, “Robert Peterson (Associate VP for Research) and I found it a pleasure to partner with the Austin Chamber of Commerce and Hulsey, P.C. and host this historic occasion. Secretary Kappos plans to use suggestions from these meetings to help implement future policies at the USPTO.”
