What is the IPO?

Well, first, Andy, let me extend our thanks to you and to Tories for your outstanding membership over these many years.

So what is IPO? The short answer is we are the preeminent trade association for IP professionals.

We advocate for effective and affordable intellectual property rights and provide networking, professional and business development opportunities, as well as educational resources.

The longer version of the story is that IPO is an international trade association now over 50 years old, representing a big tent of diverse companies, law firms, service providers, and individuals in nearly all industries and fields of technology.

With over 135 companies spanning over 40 countries and a board comprising of 50 of some of the largest companies in the world, we are the voice of owners.

In addition to serving as a community for IP professionals, we're an advocacy organization.

And that maybe leads us to a great topic segue again, which is, you know, aside from hosting an excellent annual meeting and fun activities and informative sessions, can you talk a little bit more about some of the major initiatives and achievements of the IPO as an organization over the past year? And then looking forward, what are some of the key goals for 2026 and 2027?