2022 World IP Day Celebration

3:00 Introduction

3:05 Scott Williams, LES President
         Dr. Raymond Damadian, Chairman, FONAR Corporation, the Inventor of the Field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

3:10 Dr Gary Michelson

3:30 USPTO Director Kathi Vidal

3:45 Former Directors and Kathi Vidal, including Andrei Iancu, Bruce Lehman, Jon Dudas (with Michelle Lee, David Kappos and Jim Rogan)

4:25 Former Federal Circuit Chief Judge Randall Rader

4:40 Frank Cullen 

4:50 Brian Fried

Dr. Raymond Damadian, Chairman, FONAR Corporation, the Inventor of the Field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Dr. Raymond Damadian is a medical practitioner and researcher, and inventor of the world’s first MR (Magnetic Resonance) Scanning Machine.  While a postdoc, Dr. Damadian's research into sodium and potassium in living cells led him to his first experiments with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) which caused him to first propose the MR body scanner in 1969. Damadian discovered that tumors and normal tissue can be distinguished in vivo by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) because of their prolonged relaxation times, both T₁ (spin-lattice relaxation) or T₂ (spin-spin relaxation). Dr. Damadian was the first to perform a full-body scan of a human being in 1977 to diagnose cancer. Dr. Damadian invented an apparatus and method to use NMR safely and accurately to scan the human body, a method now well known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).  Dr. Damadian founded the first MRI company, FONAR, where he remains Chairman.  Hehas received several prizes. In 2001, the Lemelson-MIT Prize Program bestowed its $100,000 Lifetime Achievement Award on Dr. Damadian as "the man who invented the MRI scanner." He went on to collaborate with Wilson Greatbach, one early developer of the implantable pacemaker, to develop an MRI-compatible pacemaker. The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia gave its recognition of Dr. Damadian's work on MRI with the Bower Award in Business Leadership.  He was also named Knights of Vartan 2003 "Man of the Year". He received a National Medal of Technology in 1988, was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1989 an has received numerous other awards for his many accomplishments.  His current research involves using MRI to image cerebrospinal fluid flow and detect disruptions to the CSF flow, which manifests into a variety of diseases.

Kathi Vidal, USPTO Director

Kathi Vidal is the new Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and agency Director, a role in which she will provide leadership and oversight to one of the largest intellectual property (IP) offices in the world and serve as principal advisor to President Biden through U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on domestic and international IP policy.  Prior to joining the USPTO, Director Vidal helped harness and protect innovation at all levels. Throughout her career, she has represented new innovators and startup companies with limited resources. She has also represented many of our country’s most successful and well-known companies. She was most recently a managing partner and Executive Committee member at Winston & Strawn LLP, where she represented both patent holders and defendants in U.S. district courts and the International Trade Commission. She has also been deeply involved in practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, argued numerous Federal Circuit appeals, and led amicus efforts on important cases before the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court. She has received many awards as a top litigator and was inducted into the Litigation Counsel of America, a society of the leading American trial lawyers. Before joining Winston & Strawn, she led a litigation group of 270 attorneys in 11 global offices at Fish & Richardson and sat on the firm’s Management Committee.  Director Vidal began her career as a systems and software design engineer with General Electric and Lockheed Martin, where she designed one of the first artificial intelligence systems for aircraft, as well as aircraft and engine-control systems that continue to keep our military safe today.

Director Vidal has spent her career championing the importance of mentoring and expanding opportunities to include more individuals from underserved communities. She has played an active role on the advisory board of ChIPs (women in policy, law, and technology) and on other boards and committees focused on diversity and inclusion, and has mentored diverse women across the globe as part of the Fortune-U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program. Director Vidal worked as a law clerk for Judge Alvin Anthony Schall on the United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit. She holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Binghamton University, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Syracuse University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania where she was Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Director Vidal grew up in a career military family and spent her informative years on military bases in the United States, Panama, Germany, and the Azorean Islands (Portugal). An avid marathoner and golfer, Director Vidal has also competed in crew, equestrian polo, and played volleyball at the collegiate level, among her many athletic accomplishments.

Dr. Gary Michelson, Founder and Co-Chair at Michelson Philanthropies

Dr. Gary K. Michelson is a board-certified orthopedic spinal surgeon, revolutionary inventor of medical technologies, self-made billionaire, and philanthropist.  Retired from medical practice, he now focuses on catalytic opportunities to progress in the fields of intellectual property, education, medical research, and animal welfare.  His foundations include Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, Michelson 20MM Foundation, Michelson Medical Research Foundation, and Michelson Found Animals Foundation.  Find out more about all of his philanthropic work at MichelsonPhilanthropies.org.

Randall R. Rader, former Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2010-2014) Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1990-2010) Federal Trial Judge, United States Claims Court (later Court of Federal Claims) (1988-1990) Chief Counsel, Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittees (1980-1988) Counsel, House of Representatives, Interior and Ways and Means Committees (1975-1980) For over 25 years, Judge Rader has been a thought leader in the field of intellectual property law and jurisprudence. His work as Chief Judge, his publications and his work teaching patent law globally to students, judges and government officials has left an indelible mark on the field of IP law and the protection of IP rights throughout the world. Judge Rader was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 and assumed the duties of Chief Judge on June 1, 2010. He was appointed to the United States Claims Court (now the U. S. Court of Federal Claims) by President Ronald W. Reagan in 1988. Before appointment to the Court of Federal Claims, former Chief Judge Rader served as Minority and Majority Chief Counsel to Subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From 1975 to 1980, he served as Counsel in the House of Representatives for representatives serving on the Interior, Appropriations, and Ways and Means Committees. Since leaving the bench in 2014, Judge Rader has founded the Rader Group, initially focusing on arbitration, mediation, and legal consulting and legal education services. Judge Rader has presided over a major arbitration under ICC rules in Paris; conducted mediations to settle ongoing litigation; joined law faculty at Tsinghua University; conducted full-credit courses at leading law schools in Washington, D.C., Seattle, Santa Clara, Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Munich; consulted with major corporations and law firms on IP policy and litigation; and advised foreign governments on international IP standards. He continues to advocate improvements in innovation policy through speaking engagements worldwide.

Michelle K. Lee is a technology executive, corporate board director, former chief executive of a large governmental agency, digital transformation strategist and leading intellectual property expert.  Ms. Lee has distinguished herself at the top levels in technology, law, business and government and has spent most of her professional career advising and building some of the country’s most innovative companies.  Ms. Lee is the current Vice President of the Machine Learning Solutions Lab at Amazon Web Services.  In this role, she leads a global business whose mission is to work with companies across all industries to solve their most pressing business challenges using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data.  Prior to Amazon, Ms. Lee served as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where she led one of the largest intellectual property offices in the world with ~13,000 employees and $3+ billion budget.  In this role, Ms. Lee served as the principal advisor to the President through the Secretary of Commerce on intellectual property policy.  Among the initiatives during her tenure, she led the Agency’s efforts to pass the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, defined the vision for the first regional offices of the USPTO and stood up 3 of the 4 offices in Denver, Dallas and the Silicon Valley, and led the USPTO’s focus on enhancing patent quality.  Ms. Lee is the first woman to hold the position in our country’s 220+ year history.  Ms. Lee was also the Herman Phleger Visiting Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, Deputy General Counsel at Google, and a partner at the law firm of Fenwick & West, where she focused on intellectual property and litigation matters.  Ms. Lee clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  She also worked as a computer scientist at the Hewlett-Packard Research and the MIT Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratories.  Ms. Lee holds a B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, where she graduated at the top of her class, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.  For her contributions to her field and profession, Ms. Lee has received numerous honors including the “Champion of Intellectual Property Award” from the District of Columbia Bar Association’s IP Section, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board Bar Association’s inaugural award in 2017, the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology’s IP Award for public service improving the nation’s patent system, the National Law Journal’s “Intellectual Property Trailblazer and Pioneer” award, recognition by Politico as one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Visionaries in American Public Policy,” induction into the ChIPs Hall of Fame, Legal Momentum’s Women of Achievement Award, the ICAS Liberty Award for professional distinction and important contributions to the ideal of great American values, recognition by Intellectual Asset Management in their Top 50 who helped shape the intellectual property landscape as well as others Ms. Lee currently serves on the MIT Corporation, the board of trustees and governing body of MIT, and was a corporate board director for alarm.com (NASDAQ: ALRM) and Nauto, Inc.  She also is emeritus board member of ChIPs, a non-profit organization Ms. Lee co-founded, whose mission is to support the advancement of women and girls in technology, law and policy.  Ms. Lee speaks frequently on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation, intellectual property and diversity.

Drew Hirshfeld is performing the functions and duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  Mr. Hirshfeld's permanent role is Commissioner for Patents, where he manages and leads the Patents organization as its chief operating officer. He is responsible for managing and directing all aspects of the organization that affect administration of patent operations, examination policy, patent quality management, international patent cooperation, resources and planning, and budget administration. During his time as Commissioner, Mr. Hirshfeld has led the Patents business unit by emphasizing both transparency and collaboration. He has managed efforts to ensure the consistency and reliability of patent grants. Mr. Hirshfeld has further played a lead role to ensure that the examining corps is provided with updated examination guidance and training. Prior to serving as Commissioner for Patents, Mr. Hirshfeld held the positions of Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy and Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. Mr. Hirshfeld began his career in 1994 as a Patent Examiner and became a Supervisory Patent Examiner in 2001. He was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in 2008 as a Group Director in Technology Center 2100.  Mr. Hirshfeld received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Vermont and a J.D. from Western New England College School of Law.

David J. Kappos, Partner, Cravath

David J. Kappos is a partner at Cravath. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost leaders in the field of intellectual property, including intellectual property management and strategy, the development of global intellectual property norms, laws and practices as well as commercialization and enforcement of innovation-based assets. Mr. Kappos supports the Firm’s clients with a wide range of their most complex intellectual property issues, including those pertaining to blockchain and financial technology (FinTech).  From August 2009 to January 2013, Mr. Kappos served as Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In that role, he advised the President, the Secretary of Commerce and the Administration on intellectual property policy matters. As Director of the USPTO, he led the Agency in dramatically re-engineering its entire management and operational systems as well as its engagement with the global innovation community. He was instrumental in achieving the greatest legislative reform of the U.S. patent system in generations through passage and implementation of the Leahy Smith America Invents Act, signed into law by President Obama in September 2011.  Prior to leading the USPTO, Mr. Kappos held several executive posts in the legal department of IBM, the world’s largest patent holder. From 2003 to 2009, he served as the company’s chief intellectual property lawyer. In that capacity, he managed global intellectual property activities for IBM, including all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection. Mr. Kappos joined IBM as a development engineer. During his more than 25 years at IBM, he served in a variety of roles including litigation counsel and Asia Pacific IP counsel, based in Tokyo, Japan, where he led all aspects of intellectual property protection, including licensing, transactions support and mergers and acquisitions activity for the Asia/Pacific region.  Mr. Kappos has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the field of intellectual property, including, among others, the 2014 Global Agenda Council Vision Award for the Intellectual Property Council’s pro bono initiative from the World Economic Forum, the 2014 Jefferson Medal from the New Jersey Intellectual Property Law Association (NJIPLA), the 2013 Board of Director’s Excellence Award from the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the 2013 Champion of Intellectual Property Award from the District of Columbia Bar Association and the 2013 North America Government Leadership Award from Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI). He was named one of the “Top 25 Icons of IP” by Law360, one of the “50 Most Influential People in Intellectual Property” and the “Outstanding Practitioner of the Year in IP Transactions” by Managing IP, one of the “Top 50 Intellectual Property Trailblazers & Pioneers” and one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal, “Intellectual Property Professional of the Year” by the Intellectual Property Owners Association and inducted into the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame by Intellectual Asset Management Magazine in 2012. Mr. Kappos was also recognized as a leading lawyer by IAM Strategy 300, IAM Patent 1000, World IP Review, The Legal 500 US, Who’s Who Legal: Patents, Lawdragon, Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. He is a frequent speaker and has authored many published articles on various intellectual property, innovation and leadership topics. Mr. Kappos serves on the Boards of Directors of the Partnership for Public Service, the Center for Global Enterprise and the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation. He is the Chair of the Advisory Council of the Naples Roundtable, and the U.S. Chair of the U.S.-China IP Cooperation Dialogue. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches copyright litigation, and Cornell Law School, where he teaches legal advising for the start-up general counsel.  Mr. Kappos was born in Palos Verdes, California. He received a B.S. summa cum laude in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Davis in 1983 and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990.

Andrei Iancu focuses on intellectual property litigation and counseling. He previously served as the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a position to which he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. As head of the USPTO, Andrei oversaw one of the largest IP offices in the world, an agency with approximately 13,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $3.5 billion. He also served as the administration’s principal advisor on domestic and international IP issues. Among Andrei’s initiatives as director was the creation of the National Council for Expanding American Innovation, a group of industry, academia and government leaders tasked with helping the USPTO develop a comprehensive national strategy to broaden participation in the innovation ecosystem demographically, geographically and economically. Prior to his government service, Andrei spent two decades at Irell and served as the firm’s managing partner from 2012 to 2018, the maximum allowable tenure. In his time at the firm, he represented clients in a variety of high-profile matters in district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. International Trade Commission and the USPTO. In addition to litigation, Andrei was involved in all other aspects of IP practice, including prosecution, due diligence and licensing. He represented plaintiffs and defendants across the technical and scientific spectra, including those associated with medical devices, genetic testing, therapeutics, the internet, telephony, TV broadcasting, video game systems and computer peripherals. Throughout his career, Andrei has been widely recognized for his work, earning accolades from publications including Chambers USA, International Asset Management, Managing IP, Daily Journal, California Lawyer, Los Angeles Business Journal, Legal 500, and many others. Most recently, he received the “Excellence Award” from American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). In 2019, Andrei received the “IP Champion Award” from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation for “his extraordinary leadership in advocating for the value of intellectual property to stimulate the progress of innovation.” Andrei also received the 2020 IEEE-USA “Award for Distinguished Public Service” for “his achievement of restoring balance and confidence in the U.S. patent system.” In 2021, Andrei co-founded the Renewing American Innovation Project at the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He previously taught patent law at UCLA School of Law, and he is a sought-after speaker and writer on issues related to IP and innovation. Prior to law school, Andrei was an engineer at Hughes Aircraft Co. where he received several honors including the “Malcolm R. Currie Innovation Award.” He is still licensed as a Professional Engineer in California.

Frank W. Cullen Jr. is vice president of U.S. intellectual property (IP) policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Innovation Policy Center. Cullen directs the center’s domestic programs in promoting and protecting IP rights in both the online and physical markets. He guides the efforts to advance IP enforcement and deter trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy.  Cullen began his career in Los Angeles, working as a consultant and later vice president for FCA Company, a full-service public affairs and government relations firm. In 1989, he was appointed public relations director for the city of Palm Springs, California, and conceived and implemented a promotional campaign featuring then-Mayor Sonny Bono. Subsequently, he served as director of Bono for U.S. Senate ’92, as well as provided consulting services to a wide array of clients in the Palm Springs region. When Bono was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, he asked Cullen to join him to direct his communications shop, a position he held until Bono’s untimely death in 1998. Then, he joined Rep. Mary Bono as her communications director. After one year, he was promoted to chief of staff, a position he held for 15 years.  An accomplished communicator and writer, Cullen appeared as a guest on numerous TV and radio shows, including the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning,Larry King Live, ABC Radio, CBS Radio. Cullen provided political analysis and election coverage for KESQ TV, KMIR TV, and The Desert Sun newspaper and guest editorials that appeared in newspapers in California and Washington, D.C.  Cullen also worked for legendary director Francis Ford Coppola at his Zoetrope Studios in Hollywood, California, and continues to have an avid appreciation for cinema and the performing arts. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, with a B.F.A. degree from the School of Cinema and Television. He resides in Vienna, Virginia, with his wife, Sonia, and their children, Taylor Anne and Wil.

Founding Partner, Bruce A. Lehman, is an American attorney with over 40 years of experience in all aspects of intellectual property law and policy. His public service includes serving as International Intellectual Property Institute, Chairman of the Board, Acting Chair for the National Endowment for the Humanities, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents & Trademarks, Counsel for the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of Representatives, and Member, WIPO Policy Advisory Commission. The International Intellectual Property Institute (IIPI), is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, based in Washington, D.C. which he founded in December 1998. The Institute is a think tank and development organization that promotes the creation of modern intellectual property systems and the use of intellectual property rights as a mechanism for investment, technology transfer and economic development. IIPI has engaged in capacity building programs in more than 30 countries in all parts of the world.

Brian Fried, Inventor, Speaker, Coach, Author, Radio & TV Host, Founder

Brian Fried is a serial inventor, Inventor Coach and sought-after celebrity guest speaker with multiple inventions sold at major retailers. He has been inventing for over 20 years, and he is the recipient of the prestigious Innovator of the Year award. Brian Fried has been helping other inventors realize their dreams with advice about product development for more than 15 years. He also represents inventors as a licensing agent to secure deals. Through his virtual Learn How to Make Money with Your Invention course, he presents a step-by-step process to show inventors how to bring their ideas from inception through licensing or manufacturing. Brian Fried is the Founder and President of the National Inventor Club, one of the largest in the nation. Guest speakers focus on patents, trademarks and copyrights; crowdfunding; prototyping; manufacturing; and licensing in various industries. He has been featured in media including the New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Inventors Digest, CBS News and Nicole Richie’s Candidly Nicole VHI show and has been a guest judge and host for various TV shows and pilots. He is a regular guest speaker at major trade shows, schools and the US Patent & Trademark Office. Brian Fried was an on-air guest on QVC representing his own inventions and those of others. As host of Got Invention Radio, he interviewed over 150 high profile, successful inventors, and resources including Shark Tank’s Lori Greiner and representatives of the US Patent and Trademark Office. His Got Invention Show is seen on RokuTV, Amazon Fire and Apple TV, and his podcasts are heard on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts. Brian is the author of several books, including You and Your Big Ideas, Inventing Secrets Revealed and in 2022, his next book will be released. Brian Fried is the Chief Invention Officer of Inventor Smart  inventorsmart.com for resources and guidance through the invention process. Learn more about becoming a successful inventor at inventorclass.com, and show the world you are an inventor with merchandise from inventormart.com. Check out Brian Fried’s latest inventions and schedule a call with Brian at brianfried.com, and connect with Brian on LinkedIn by visiting linkedin.com/in/brianfried.

Raymond Van Dyke, Attorney, Van Dyke Intellectual Property Law

Raymond Van Dyke is an IP/Patent Attorney and Educator. In his practice he helps a variety of clients in their IP matters. He specializes in patent and trademark matters in various technologies, litigation, licensing, and procurement. After being a partner in big firms, he started his own IP consultancy in Washington, DC, with diverse domestic and international clientele and technologies, handling matters at the USPTO, Federal Circuit and local State and Federal courts. He teaches IP courses for engineers, business people and other professionals at the University of Maryland and George Mason University.  He has also taught at Southern Methodist University, American University, and across the world.  Ray also teaches at NIH and other institutions. He is the Senior Vice President of Special Events at LES and Chair of the LES DC Chapter; an AIPLA Fellow and former Chair of a number of Committees; Chair of the Montgomery County Bar Association IP Section, former Board Member of the DC Chapter of the ACM, former Board Member of ITechLaw (Computer Law Association); and continues his involvement in IPO, the MSBA, AIPPI, ABA, BIO, IEEE and other legal and technical organizations. Ray got his BS, MS in Computer Science and law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is licensed to practice in DC, MD, NY, NJ and TX, as well as the USPTO, and is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court, Federal, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Circuit Courts and a number of District Courts, Court of International Trade and Federal Court of Claims.  Ray also continues in his efforts to fight on behalf of the small inventor community in protecting the principles of the patent system.