Episode 4: David Kappos

In this episode of the Clause 8 podcast, host Eli Mazour sits down with David Kappos. Mr. Kappos is the former head of intellectual property (IP) at IBM, former Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and now serves as a partner at Cravath. Eli and Mr. Kappos discuss Mr. Kappos’s career at IBM, his time as the director of the USPTO, and his advice for the current administration with regards to IP.

As the conversation unfolds, Mr. Kappos shares his own story beginning in law school. He shares about how his dream for a career in patent writing and prosecution surprisingly morphed into executive opportunities at IBM. Then, Mr. Kappos provides some excellent advice on team development and leadership, specifically how to use delegation to improve yourself and your entire team. He also provides specific advice for a variety of IP counsel.

Next, Mr. Kappos talks about how he ended up with his position at the USPTO and the changes he implemented to greatly improve the USPTO.

Finally, as the conversation closes, Mr. Kappos comments on how the current administration is handling IP issues. He expresses gratitude for the current USPTO leadership from Director Iancu. However, he ends the conversation by calling for the White House to release a formal paper in support of policies that will help the rise of 5G technologies. All in all, Eli and Mr. Kappos’s dialogue covers a plethora of topics and is saturated with wisdom for professionals of all calibers to hear.

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Book “Tailspin” Mentioned in Podcast: https://amzn.to/2NrQVl0