This past September I went to Washington, D.C. as an Honorary Guest and Panel Participant to attend the 6th Annual Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) Summit – Today’s Idea, Tomorrow’s Solution: Innovating Our Way Forward at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. At the IP Summit, the GIPC also launched the “Faces of IP” which Messy Face® received this honorary recognition representing the State of Minnesota.
Meeting with Dr. Mark Esper, Mr. Chris Connelly, and other inventors, we discussed IP’s role in generating economic growth and jobs to increase U.S. competitive advantage in today’s global economy. Keynote speakers included Mr. Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as well as Ambassador Ron Kirk whom echoed President Obama’s speech on fostering Innovation as the foundation of our future U.S. economy.
Participating in the Inventor’s Panel, I answered questions representing the independent inventor, concerns around first to invent versus first to file, domestic manufacturing, as well as issues around piracy of IP (which, I really resonated and respected Dan Glickman, President and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America’s piracy position).
Like Jimmy Stewart’s character, Mr. Smith, going to Washington, D.C. meant for me to stand up for independent inventors, small business owners, entrepreneurs, domestic jobs, local and national economies, protecting inventions, trademarks, and copyrights, all while moving forward with the spirit of the American dream.
