ABOUT THE MIPLA

About

The Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA) is an association of intellectual property attorneys, patent agents, and law students from across the State of Michigan who are interested in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property issues.

The purposes of the MIPLA, as stated in the bylaws, are:

·    To promote the advancement of industry, commerce and the fine and useful arts by the creation, maintenance and improvement of intellectual property rights, including patent, trademark and copyright
protection;

·    To develop and disseminate information concerning matters affecting and of interest to inventors, manufacturers and the patent profession;

·    To maintain a high ethical standard among practitioners dealing with patent, trademark and copyright matters;

·    To foster good fellowship and to promote communication among its members; and

·    To consider and take appropriate action concerning matters of mutual interest  

The MIPLA started as the Michigan Patent Law Association and was formed about 1913 by nine Detroit patent attorneys:

Stuart Barnes
Otto Barthel
Edward Pagelson
Ralzemond Parker
Elliott Stoddard
Milton Tibbetts
Prescott Tulbert
James Whittemore
Laurence Whittemore

In 1994 the MIPLA was incorporated as a Michigan not-for-profit corporation. The MIPLA is now recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(6) professional organization.