Back to Intellectual Property News
Licensing Executives Society International Announces Continued Commitment to Promoting IP Licensing & Tech Transfer; Supports New USPTO Patents for Humanity Initiative
Friday, February 10, 2012
Alexandria, VA -- The Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), today announced their continued commitment to the promotion of intellectual property (IP) licensing and technology transfer for the betterment of mankind.
Earlier this year, LESI hosted two groundbreaking first-ever events – the Global Technology Impact Forum (GTIF) and the Invent for Humanity™ Technology Transfer Exchange Fair.
GTIF is an annual event developed to coordinate and publicize the efforts of premier global non-profit and non-governmental organizations dedicated to the promotion of IP licensing and technology transfer for the betterment of mankind. Invited organizations are representative of three interest groups: IP Protection & Harmonization; Trade & Economic Development; and Technology Transfer & Standards.
Created by the Center for Applied Innovation, Invent for Humanity is a community, a marketplace, and an annual event facilitating Appropriate Technology transfer for the betterment of mankind. Invent for Humanity showcases field-ready sustainable innovations – appropriate technologies – and leverages the experience of professionals in IP and licensing in order to effectively match and structure the transfer of such technology to meet the needs of organizations working to benefit developing economies.
Edward Elliott, Expert Adviser, Office of Policy and External Affairs for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), presented an early look at the USPTO’s new Patents for Humanity program. Mr. Elliott’s presentation was given as part of a panel session held at GTIF in January. The panel, which focused on the diffusion of technology to developing nations, featured presentations from the International Chamber of Commerce, the World Intellectual Property Organization, Global Access in Action, Qualcomm, General Electric, and the World Health Organization.
On February 8, 2012, senior White House Administration officials announced a series of new initiatives to promote game-changing innovations to solve long-standing development challenges.
USPTO Director Dave Kappos launched the Patents for Humanity pilot program, which creates business incentives for patent holders to engage in humanitarian issues. Under the new program, inventors who do the most to apply their technologies to pressing global challenges will be rewarded with a certificate that can be redeemed to accelerate a patent application, an appeal, or an ex partereexamination proceeding before the USPTO.
Through this initiative, the USPTO seeks to reward inventors who show that they have used their patented technologies to significantly address public health quality or to advance scientific research on neglected humanitarian issues. Such technologies may include life-saving medicines and vaccines, medical diagnostic equipment, more nutritious or heartier crops, food storage & preservation technology, water sterilization devices, cleaner sources of household light and heat, or information devices promoting literacy and education, among others. Awardees will be chosen by judges selected from academia for their expertise in medicine, law, science, engineering, public policy, or a related field.
About the LESI Global Technology Impact Forum (GTIF)
The LESI Global Technology Impact Forum (GTIF) is an annual event, hosted by the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI), developed to coordinate and publicize the efforts of premier global non-profit and non-governmental organizations dedicated to the promotion of IP licensing and technology transfer for the betterment of mankind. Invited organizations are representative of three interest groups: IP Protection & Harmonization; Trade & Economic Development; and Technology Transfer & Standards. Visit GTIForum.org for more information.
About the Licensing Executives Society International, Inc. (LESI)
Founded in 1972, the mission of the LESI is to function as a non-profit professional organization supporting LES member societies in: setting and maintaining global professional standards for licensing executives; facilitating professional networking between members of LES societies; providing quality educational content for member societies; and serving as liaison between leading global organizations and policy forums concerning the significance and importance of licensing and other transfer of technology and intellectual property rights. LESI represents more than 12,000 individual members in over 90 countries. Visit LESI.org for more information.
About Invent for Humanity
Organized by the Center for Applied Innovation (CAI), the Invent for Humanity™ Technology Transfer Fair will take place in tandem with the LESI Global Technology Impact Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, January 24- 25, 2012. Invent for Humanity showcases field-ready sustainable innovations, known as “Appropriate Technology”, leveraging the experience of licensing professionals to match and structure the actual transfer of such technology to meet recognized needs of emerging market economies. Visit InventForHumanity.org for more information.
Back to Intellectual Property News
