Events

Speaker:  Marshall Phelps JD '69, Corporate VP for IP, Policy and Strategy for Microsoft

Date/Time:  Wednesday, November 11, 12:20-1:20 pm

Location:  MacDonald Moot Court Room (Room 390), Myron Taylor Hall

Marshall Phelps is responsible for setting the global Intellectual Property Strategies and Policies for Microsoft Corporation. In addition, Mr. Phelps interfaces with governments, other companies in the technology industry and outside institutions to broaden awareness of intellectual property issues.  Before transitioning to his current position in 2006, Marshall served as the deputy general counsel for intellectual property in Microsoft's Legal & Corporate Affairs group, where he supervised Microsoft's intellectual property groups, including those responsible for trademarks, trade secrets, patents, licensing, standards and copyrights. Marshall joined Microsoft in June 2003 after a 28-year career at IBM Corp., where he served as vice president for intellectual property and licensing. Mr. Phelps holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum College, a Master of Science degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a doctorate from Cornell Law School. He is an Executive-in-Residence at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, and also serves on the Board of Visitors. He was recently asked to advise Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on IP matters, and, in 2006, was elected to the initial class of the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame. 


One of the nation's premier authorities on intellectual property strategy, Marshall will discuss his views on the value of IP in technological progress,  economic development and individual and small business entrepreneurship. His remarks will review the historical development of patent policy in the United States, discuss the current era of open innovation and the benefits of collaboration, and compare IP strategies that other countries like China and Korea have successfully employed to aid in their economic development. Marshall will touch on the paradigm shift that occurred at Microsoft toward institutionalized IP collaboration and cooperation under his leadership, and will introduce the new book he co-authored, Burning the Ships: Intellectual Property and the Transformation of Microsoft, which provides a detailed and candid account of what one analyst has called  "the biggest change Microsoft has undergone since it became a multinational company."  Directly following the lecture in the Myron Taylor Hall Foyer, Marshall will be available for a book signing.  Refreshments will be served. We hope you will take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity! 

Questions?  Please contact Chris Wais at cnw3@cornell.edu.