The 2017 inductees into the IP Hall of Fame are revealed

Following a nomination process that began back in January, today we officially announce the four individuals who have been selected by the IP Hall of Fame Academy as this year’s inductees into the IP Hall of Fame. They are:

• Antonio Campinos:  Executive director of the EUIPO since 2010, Campinos has revolutionised the office, providing a more efficient and engaged service. A number of tools and systems have been implemented under Campinos’ leadership to make intellectual property more accessible and user-friendly for SMEs. He continues to work tirelessly on both the national and global level towards the harmonisation of IP registration and enforcement.

• Charles Gielen: A world-leading patent and trademark litigator, Gielen is an active member of both the INTA and the AIPPI, and has been the recipient of the INTA President Award and appointed Member of Honour of AIPPI. Gielen was a member of the standing advisory committee to the Dutch Government on trademark and design law; is a part-time professor, and the author of numerous IP handbooks and articles.

• Carl Horton: Horton led the IP team at GE for many years - securing global protection for GE solutions, counselling over 40 acquisitions and many more disputes - until his passing in December 2016. Deeply committed to improving IP systems, he worked tirelessly with the IPO and 21st Century Coalition to ensure the adoption of the America Invents Act, and – most recently – led efforts to modernise trade secrets law in both the US and Europe.

• Philip S Johnson: Johnson has recently retired from his position as senior vice president and chief IP counsel at Johnson & Johnson whom he served for more than 40 years.  He played a key role in both the drafting and passage of the America Invents Act and was subsequently appointed a member of a six-person committee formed by director of the USPTO to make recommendations on regulations to implement the inter partes review and post grant review proceedings that were established by the Act. Johnson has served numerous industry organisations during his career, including as president of the IPO.

Responding to the news, this year’s inductees and GE’s chief IP counsel & GC for global research, Buck de Wolf, had the following to say:

"I am very grateful to have been elected to join the IP Hall of Fame; it is a wonderful honour which is due in no small part to the fact that I lead a vibrant, forward-looking organisation that is entirely committed to, and driven by, its users." Antonio Campinos

"I am very glad and feel extremely honoured to have been chosen for this very prestigious award. Looking at those who became a member of this illustrious group earlier, I realise what a privilege it is to belong to this group. It also is a great pleasure to see so many good friends among the members." Charles Gielen

“We are so proud of the recognition that Carl has so rightly received. He had an enormous impact on GE, on his team and the field of intellectual property. But what he will be most remembered for is his impact on each of us individually through his energy, effort and example.”  Buck de Wolf, chief IP counsel & GC for global research, GE

“I am honored to have been selected by the IP Hall of Fame Academy for induction into the IP Hall of Fame in 2017.   The Hall of Fame’s roster of members is second to none, and induction into this membership is now rightly considered to be the highest international honor in the intellectual property profession.”  Philip S Johnson

Earlier this year members of the global IP community were invited to nominate individuals who they felt had “made an outstanding contribution to the development of intellectual property law and practice” and to supply supporting paragraphs giving their reasons. The nominees were then presented to the IP Hall of Fame Academy members, who voted on who should be inducted.

Established in 2006, the IP Hall of Fame honours those who have helped to establish intellectual property as one of the key business assets of the 21st century. The aim is not only to acknowledge the vital role played by these innovators in fostering today's vibrant IP environment and ensuring its continued health, but also to show how central IP is to the global economy and to the well-being of people across the world. The full list of previous inductees can be found here.

The inductees will be honoured during this year’s IPBC Global in Ottawa in June.