A Thank You from IPWatchdog As We Celebrate 20 Years

The IPWatchdog Team L-R: Joe Compasso, Web Developer Andy Stratton (Sizable), Gene Quinn, Renee Quinn Eileen McDermott

On Thursday, October 10, 2019, IPWatchdog.com celebrated 20 years of continuously being on the Internet. In typical IPWatchdog style, we had a great celebration at The Park at 14th, in Washington D.C.  We are so grateful to have had so many of our colleagues and friends from all over the United States join us as we celebrated this special occasion. We want to also take this opportunity to say thank you to all our readers, authors, advertisers, sponsors, friends and colleagues. We truly appreciate all of the support we have had over the years; we know that we could not do what we do without all of you.

We would also like to send a special thank you to our Specialty Drink Sponsors. Our Sponsors all selected and named their drinks on the menu.  Our Sponsors included  Sterne Kessler with the The Madrid Protocol Mojito, LexisNexis IP with the Patent Punch Moscow Mule, Carmichael IP with the IP Arrrr Captain Morgan Mai Tai, and John White, LLC with the High Stability Vodka Martini. Gene and I also named a drink.  Gene’s drink of choice was the Alice in Wonderland Manhattan and I went with the Two Pesos Margarita (named with the help of Gene of course).

Finally, we would like to thank our photographers from TMD Enterprises, Tom & Charles.  With their help, we were able to capture so many great images from the event, many of which we’d like to share with you!  So without further ado…

 

L-R: Greg Sidak, Scott Kieff, Kevin Noonan, Judge Pauline Newman, Jeff Kichaven, Renee Quinn, Michael Sabino, Gene Quinn, Nick Bagnolo, & Scott Zimmerman

Judge Pauline Newman & Gene Quinn

Gene Quinn with Judge Pauline Newman of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Gene Quinn & Chief Judge Randall Radar (CAFC, ret.)

Gene Quinn and Chief Judge Randall Radar (CAFC, ret.) stand in front of the 8-foot IPWatchdog banner.

L-R: Renee Quinn, Andrei Iancu, and Joe Compasso

USPTO Director Andrei Iancu poses with Renee Quinn and Joe Compasso.

L-R: Samantha Aguayo (IPO), Marla Grossman (ACG), Eileen McDermott (IPWatchdog) and Laurie Doppman.

L-R: Gene Quinn and mediator Jeff Kichaven

Gene Quinn poses with mediator Jeff Kichaven.

Joe Compasso & Hannah Shaw

IPWatchdog Business Development Associate, Joe Compasso & Hannah Shaw

Gene Quinn chats in the background with USPTO Director Andrei Iancu (back to camera), Chief of Staff Chris Shipp and Paul Fucito (USPTO Communications). In the foreground is the USPTO’s Elizabeth Dougherty chatting with Renee Quinn & Eileen McDermott.

L-R: Paul Fucito, Renee, Quinn, Elizabeth Dougherty and Cathy Kirik

Renee Quinn poses with the USPTO! Paul Fucito (left), Elizabeth Dougherty, and Cathy Kirik (formerly of the USPTO). Back Left is USPTO Chief of Staff Chris Shipp.

Gene Quinn poses with from L-R: Laurie Doppman, Eileen McDermott & Raymond Van Dyke.

L-R: Joe Compasso, Judge Pauline Newman, Renee Quinn & Hannah Shaw

L-R: Joe Compasso, Judge Pauline Newman, Renee Quinn & Hannah Shaw.

L-R: Carlo Cotrone, Josh Malone & Kris Paul

L-R: Carlo Cotrone, Josh Malone & Kris Paul.

L-R: Joe Berenato, Tamara Fischer-White, Audry Berenato, Alexander White and Daniel Wicklund

L-R: Joe Berenato, Tamara Fischer-White, Audrey Berenato, Alexander White & Daniel Wicklund.

L-R: Sameer Vadera, Sam Hayin & Christopher Thomas (Kilpatrick Townsend).  In the background left is Scott McKeown (Ropes & Gray)

Bottom center is former GSK Chief Patent Counsel Sherry Knowles chatting with Patent Docs’ Kevin Noonan and former Solicitor General Seth Waxman (now WilmerHale); also in the conversation is David Korn (PhRMA). Top left is businessman and attorney Terry Fokas, chatting with inventor Paul Morinville. Top right is Josh Malone (inventor of Bunch O’ Balloons) chatting with INCA President Kris Paul and Carlo Cotrone (Baker Hughes).

Gene Quinn and Megan Carpenter

Gene speaks with Franklin Pierce Law School Dean Megan Carpenter. Back left is Unified Patents CEO, Kevin Jakel.

L-R: Adam Mosoff, Greg Sidak and Dr. Urska Petrovcic

Economics guru Greg Sidak (center) chats with Dr. Urska Petrovcic (right) and Professor Adam Mossoff (George Mason).

Gene Quinn enjoying his conversation with young fans L-R: Nolan Braman, Nancy Braman, & Ted Rand.

Dr. Kate Gaudry (Kilpatrick Townsend) speaks with Arthur Daemmrich (Smithsonian Institution).

Dr. Kate Gaudry (Kilpatrick Townsend) speaks with Arthur Daemmrich (Smithsonian Institution).

Bill Frymoyer, Rocky Berndsen, Brian Pomper & Bill Wichterman

On the left is Bill Frymoyer (Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association) chatting with Brian Pomper (Akin Gump) and Bill Wichterman (Covington). In the background is Rocky Berndsen.

L-R: Michael Gulliford, Fanny & Matteo Sabattini

On the left is Michael Gulliford (Soryn IP) who chats with Matteo Sabattini (Ericsson) and his wife Fanny.

L-R:  Aziz Burgy, Chris Gallo, Justin Wilcox, Jim Carmichael & Taniel Anderson

L-R:  Aziz Burgy, Chris Gallo, Justin Wilcox, Jim Carmichael & Taniel Anderson

 

Gene is speaking with Patrick Kilbride of the U.S. Chamber, as well as Sam Hayim & Christopher Thomas (back to camera), both of Kilpatrick Townsend.  Behind them is quite the crowd!

Peter Harter Ray Van Dyke

Peter Harter (The Farrington Group) with Ray Van Dyke (Van Dyke Law).

L-R: Cathy Karik Kris Paul & Stephen Key

L-R: Cathy Kirik of the UIA, INCA President Kris Paul & Stephen Key, founder of patentKey

Renee Quinn with her two favorite inventors! Paul Morinville (left) and Josh Malone (right).

Renee Quinn with her two favorite inventors! Paul Morinville (left) and Josh Malone (right).

Elizabeth Rader of Calliope Legal and her husband Steve Sloane

Todd Van Thomme (Nyemaster Goode) and his wife Kari Van Thomme

Rocky Berndsen (Harrity & Harrity) and his wife Jennifer Berndsen

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Gene took a moment during the festivities to thank all of our guests for their support over the years.  He said he was humbled by the sheer number of people who attended the celebration with us, many of whom flew in from all over the United States just for this occasion.

Right before I came over here tonight, I read an article that so many of you in this room contributed to.  You said all of these wonderful things about me and IPWatchdog and #1 they are now officially on the record, so you can’t run from them.  And #2, they were extraordinarily humbling.  IPWatchdog was more of a belief than a plan when it first started.  It’s been so much of my life; almost a generation.  One of the things that everyone kept saying over and over again, was that I put things in terms that anyone can understand.

The one thing that I have always tried to do is to explain what I do to people in a way that they can understand what I do and pass it along.  I always used to joke about it, that maybe I’m not particularly bright and I don’t get it on the level that a lot of you in this room do, so I have to dumb it down.  I always used to tell people when I was an electrical engineer that I wasn’t going to set the world on fire… unless I was actually going to set the world on fire as an electrical engineer.  {laughter} So that was why I had to go into law.  And then I read what you all wrote today about what so many of you have been telling me for a while and that is that its sometimes harder to explain to others what we all do and love and care about.  So maybe that’s where my talents do really lie.

And then I read what Art from the Smithsonian said and I just about fell out of my chair.  I’m a fan of history and many of you who have known me for a long time knows that I am as likely to be at home late at night watching the history channel or the Smithsonian channel with a glass of wine or more likely with some Irish Whisky, and to hear Art talk about IPWatchdog being “historic” and putting innovation in terms that people can understand and will understand for the future, was more than humbling.

And I was worried nobody was going to show up tonight.  {laughter}  So I’ll just leave it at this. Thank you all for coming, the bars are going to remain open and I love you all so very much!  And one final thought.  The best IS yet to come, I promise you!

After Gene spoke, I took the opportunity to present him with a surprise gift.  Two weeks before the celebration, a friend of Gene’s who would not be able to attend the event asked me if he could write a letter to Gene.  This gave me an idea for the perfect gift to present to Gene at our 20th Anniversary celebration: Letters for our (former) editor. I began reaching out to Gene’s friends and colleagues, one by one, in an effort to keep it a secret, asking for those interested to send in a letter expressing their thoughts on how IPWatchdog has impacted the industry and/or themselves personally. In only 10 days, I was able to collect more than 80 letters in a three-ring binder that I presented to Gene during the celebration. I am still collecting letters for the book, which will be seen by Gene and I only. If you would like to send in a letter addressed to Gene, IPWatchdog or even me, please email me for details.

L-R: Steve Kunin & Gene smaller Optimized

Gene Quinn catches up with longtime friend and one of his earliest interviews, former Deputy Commissioner for Patents Steve Kunin (currently with Maier & Maier).

Richard Lloyd (facing center) shares a laugh with Matteo Sabattini of Ericsson.

Richard Lloyd (facing center) shares a laugh with Matteo Sabattini of Ericsson.

IPWatchdog Editor in Chief, Eileen McDermott enjoys conversation with Deborah Kunin (Left) and Stephen Kunin (right). In the background are L-R Kassidy Morinville, Paul Morinville, and Gene Quinn.

L-R: James Edwards, Adam Duda, Ricard Lloyd, Jeff Kichaven Michelle King & Patrick Kilbride

James Edwards (ELITE Strategic) chats with mediator Jeff Kichaven (back to camera). On the left is Todd Dickinson (former PTO Director, currently with Polsinelli). Richard Lloyd is shown in the center background. Patrick Kilbride (U.S. Chamber) is far right).

Marketing Director for longtime IPWatchdog Sponsors, LexisNexis® IP, Elisa Rodgers, (right) enjoying the celebration with Gail Martin (LexisNexis® IP) and her brother Grant Martin (BB&T)

IPWatchdog Freelance Writer, Michelle Sara King and Patrick Kilbride (U.S. Chamber). Behind them is Scott Zimmerman

David Korn of PhRMA (center) chats with Scott Kieff and Patent Docs’ Kevin Noonan. Back left is former Deputy Commissioner for Patents Bruce Kisliuk (now of Wilson Sonsini) with Stephen Key.

Jennifer Baligan & Mark Kokes

Jennifer Baligan and Dr. Mark Kokes (Chief Intellectual Property Officer at NantWorks).

Grant Martin & Gail Martin (LexisNexis® IP)

Gail Martin (LexisNexis® IP) enjoying the celebration with her brother Grant Martin.

Andy Stratton and Renee Quinn meet in person for the first time after working together for nearly 8 years

Wen Xie (Global IP Counselors) and Kevin Koernig

L-R: Ted Rand, Nancy Braman, & Nolan Braman

IPWatchdog freelancer and Franklin Pierce 2L, Nancy Braman (center) husband Nolan Braman (right) and fellow Franklin Pierce 2L Ted Rand (left).

Renee Quinn (left) with Frank Cullen (right) and Matteo Sabattini (Ericsson) and his wife Fanny Carlet.

Renee Quinn (left) with Frank Cullen (right) and Matteo Sabattini (Ericsson) and his wife Fanny Carlet.

Elizabeth Dougherty greets Megan Carpenter amidst a large crowd!

L-R: Michael Sabino, Adam Duda, Nick Bagnolo, and Scott Zimmerman

Gene catches up with Megan Carpenter of Franklin Pierce/UNH (left).

L-R: Paul Morinville, Kassidy Morinville & Terry Fokas (Parallel Networks LLC)

John White and Stephen Kunin

L-R: Jonathan Stroud, Joseph Forcherio, Brian O’Shaughnessy, Brad Watts, Steve McCann, Todd Dickinson, Pat Walsh, Dr. Urska Petrovcic, Michael Gulliford & Adam Mossoff

L-R: Cecile Pham, Tran Pham, Shane Trent, Patrick Kilbride

L-R: Cecile Pham and her sister Tran Pham, speak with Patent Agent Shane Trent.  Behind them to their left is Patrick Kilbride

From all of us at IPWatchdog.com, thank you, for all of your support over the years!

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Join the Discussion

16 comments so far.

  • [Avatar for Renee C. Quinn]
    Renee C. Quinn
    October 22, 2019 03:57 pm

    Charles E. Miller @14,

    Thank you so much for your comment. We appreciate all of the support we get for all of you. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

  • [Avatar for Renee C. Quinn]
    Renee C. Quinn
    October 22, 2019 03:57 pm

    EG @ 13.

    Sorry you couldn’t make it as well. We did have a great time! Still accepting letters! Just Saying! = )

  • [Avatar for Charles E. Miller on behalf of The Associaton of Amicus Counsel]
    Charles E. Miller on behalf of The Associaton of Amicus Counsel
    October 22, 2019 09:39 am

    Dear Gene, Renee, Eileen and the rest of the IPWatchdog team —

    All of us in the Association of Amicus Counsel congratulate IPWatchdog on reaching a significant milestone of service to the IP profession and we send you our best wishes for continued success in the good work that you do !

  • [Avatar for EG]
    EG
    October 21, 2019 04:25 pm

    To the IPWatchdog Crew,

    Looks it was a great celebration. Sorry I couldn’t make it.

  • [Avatar for Renee C. Quinn]
    Renee C. Quinn
    October 21, 2019 10:39 am

    Concerned @ 10,

    Thank you for . your message. That is exactly why we do what we do!

  • [Avatar for Renee C. Quinn]
    Renee C. Quinn
    October 21, 2019 10:37 am

    David Stein @5, Thank you for joining us. We were truly blessed to have so many of you come and celebrate with us. It was so nice to meet you and we hope you can join us at other events as well. Perhaps Dallas in March?

  • [Avatar for concerned]
    concerned
    October 20, 2019 10:20 pm

    I am a layman inventor that got lucky with one invention.

    I have learned a lot from IP Watchdog and its many contributors. Thank you and your staff for the information and the fight for inventors.

  • [Avatar for Gene Quinn]
    Gene Quinn
    October 20, 2019 05:30 pm

    Pro Say @2-

    Yes. I do fight for inventors, and that is not going to change. Inventors are the backbone of the system. Without inventors there is no point to a patent system. Abraham Lincoln had it exactly right, and so too did our founding fathers — Washington and Madison. We need to get back to that philosophy!

    Cheers to you!

  • [Avatar for Gene Quinn]
    Gene Quinn
    October 20, 2019 05:28 pm

    Grant @1

    Thank you for your support! I really appreciate our relationship with the EPO, and you in particular. I’m sorry you weren’t able to make it to this event, but I’m sure out paths will cross soon enough. Stay well in the meantime.

    -Gene

  • [Avatar for Paul Cole]
    Paul Cole
    October 20, 2019 02:50 pm

    How I wish I had been able to attend, but it is a long way from London. Congratulations on a superb occasion.

  • [Avatar for Paul Morinville]
    Paul Morinville
    October 20, 2019 01:25 am

    David Stein. Dallas in March.

  • [Avatar for David Stein]
    David Stein
    October 19, 2019 10:22 pm

    Such a great evening – the cast of attendees is testament to the importance of the work being done here and the constitutional rights at stake. I loved every minute and will look forward to attending the next IP Watchdog community event. (Please tell us that we won’t have to wait another ten years!)

  • [Avatar for Renee C. Quinn]
    Renee C. Quinn
    October 19, 2019 06:46 pm

    Thank you Pro Say. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. We had such an amazing time. And Gene was quite choked up as he spoke those words right from the heart!

  • [Avatar for Renee C. Quinn]
    Renee C. Quinn
    October 19, 2019 06:44 pm

    Thank you Grant, we truly appreciate your support. We are sad you could not join us as well, but completely understand. We did have an amazing turn out.

  • [Avatar for Pro Say]
    Pro Say
    October 19, 2019 04:44 pm

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful, very special occasion Renee; including via all the great photos. The next best thing to being there.

    “The one thing that I have always tried to do is to explain what I do to people in a way that they can understand what I do and pass it along.”

    I can answer this question in just four words Gene:

    You. Fight. For. Inventors.

  • [Avatar for Grant Philpott]
    Grant Philpott
    October 19, 2019 03:59 pm

    Hi Gene and Renee,
    Great to see that you had such a wonderful gathering to celebrate 20 years of IPWatchdog, and a really poignant speech there from Gene in that easy, flowing style we have all come to appreciate. Sorry I was unable to join, but it looks like more than enough guests turned up!
    Many thanks for continuing to keep us Europeans so well informed about IP activities in the US.
    All the best,