WASHINGTON (September 19, 2024) — Today, the Inventors Defense Alliance, an advocacy organization dedicated to helping startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs defend their intellectual property rights and access capital, formally launched.
“American inventors are facing unprecedented threats from deep-pocketed companies who routinely steal their patented technology and designs,” warned Kristen Osenga, IDA’s chief policy counselor and professor at University of Richmond School of Law. “These giant companies figure that their smaller rivals can’t afford the long, costly lawsuits necessary to enforce those patents. And sadly, they’re often correct.”
The group’s board includes a highly regarded list of intellectual property experts: the Hon. Paul R. Michel, former Chief Judge of United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; Russell Slifer, former United States Patent and Trademark Office Deputy Director, Alan Heinrich, attorney and adjunct faculty member at the UCLA School of Law; and Earl “Eb” Bright, president and general counsel of ExploraMed Development, a venture-backed medical device incubator.
“Fortunately, in recent years, American inventors have found a way to fight back,” said Judge Michel. “By partnering with financial firms, they’re able to afford the steep legal bills associated with defending and enforcing their patents. Protecting this access to capital — and thus justice — is critically important. Without it, inventors will struggle to protect their intellectual property, bad actors will get away with infringements, and the entire economy will suffer.”
“Our educational and advocacy efforts will help ensure inventors have the policy environment and financial resources they need to thrive and drive economic growth,” said Alan Heinrich. “I look forward to engaging lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures across the country to champion the rights of U.S. innovators and help them pursue the American Dream.”
About the Inventor’s Defense Alliance: The Inventors Defense Alliance is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that works to build support for inventors’ rights, safeguard justice, and protect access to capital. Learn more at www.InventorsDefense.org.