Dolores Hanna RIP

As the 2018 IP Hall of Fame induction process gets underway, we are sad to report that Dolores Hanna, one of the Hall's 2008 inductees, died earlier this month at the age of 90.

The first female president of the International Trademark Association, and an inspiration to countless generations of IP practitioners in the US and further afield, Ms Hanna had a long and distinguished career. As well as her work with the INTA she was probably best known for chairing the Trademark Review Commission, which was set-up to conduct the comprehensive review of US federal trademark law that led to the Trademark Law Revision Act of 1988.

One personal anecdote that demonstrates just how respected and loved Ms Hanna was comes from her induction in Chicago in 2008. We have never had so many people wanting to be at the induction ceremony to support an inductee as we had for her that year. There must have been over 20 there who specifically requested a ticket so that they could see her get the award – and they made quite a noise! Linked here is a photo of her with some of them.

A full obituary of Dolores Hanna has been posted on the Chicago-Kent College of Law website. She will be greatly missed. All of us at IAM extend our condolences to her family and friends at this difficult time.  

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