WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The head of the 17,000-member American Intellectual Property Law Association is stepping down.
Q. Todd Dickinson, the executive director of the AIPLA, the national bar association for intellectual property lawyers, made the announcement Tuesday.
Dickinson, who previously served as the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from 1999 to 2001, spent nearly six years with the AIPLA.
He advocated for the enactment of the America Invents Act, or AIA, and, most recently, testified on Capitol Hill about patent troll abuse.
“It has been a great honor for me to serve as executive director of AIPLA,” Dickinson said in a statement.
“I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past six years, and I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with many talented board members, volunteers and staff.”
Dickinson, who is rumored to be appointed to a post within the Obama administration, said he plans to continue working with the IP community.
“We want to thank Todd for his dedicated service and wish him well in his future endeavors,” AIPLA President Wayne Sobon said.
“AIPLA is a thriving organization and will continue its strategic efforts in member services, advocacy, global outreach and public education.”
Meghan Donohoe, chief operating officer, will continue to run the day-to-day operations as the search for Dickinson’s replacement begins.
Vincent E. Garlock, deputy executive director, will manage, among other duties, the association’s external advocacy efforts and communications.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at patents@legalnewsline.com.