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THE CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY UNDERSTANDING INC
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY · EIN 811868933 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE A33 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · understandingip.org
revenue
$44K
expenses
$44K
net assets
$65K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

THIS ENTITY IS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ON INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES. IT TRACKS ATTITUDES TOWARDS PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS, AND SEEKS TO CONVEY ACCURATE INFORMATION AND FACILITATE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARENESS. CIPU PROVIDES AND EDUCATION FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING FOR HOW IP RIGHTS ENCOURAGE SHARING, PROMOTE FAIR COMPETITION AND CREATE JOBS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) is an educational nonprofit dedicated to increasing public awareness of intellectual property (IP) rights, including patents, copyrights, and trademarks. It works to convey accurate information about how IP encourages innovation, promotes fair competition, and supports job creation. CIPU provides educational resources and collaborates with a broad network of partners to advance IP literacy among individuals, businesses, and institutions.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

IPBasics.org
Free online portal providing essential information about intellectual property for entrepreneurs, students, educators, and professionals. Curated by CIPU to improve public understanding of IP rights.
Ideas Matter
Initiative promoting understanding of intellectual property rights in Europe and globally, focusing on the benefits of IP for innovation, creativity, and economic growth.
National High School Policy Debate Topic – Intellectual Property Rights
Collaboration with the National Speech and Debate Association to make "Intellectual Property Rights" the national debate topic for 2024–25, fostering youth engagement and public discourse on IP.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
    • Advocating for improved intellectual property understanding and policy
      Engages in public advocacy by speaking at external events, testifying before U.S. Congress on patent legislation, authoring opinion pieces in outlets like The New York Times and Forbes, and working to improve public perception of IP rights. Focuses on dispelling misinformation and highlighting IP’s role in investment, job creation, and innovation.
  • Industry Research and Benchmarking 1 activity
    • Conducting research on intellectual property education and public understanding
      Produces original research on intellectual property literacy, including studies on IP education in MBA programs, entrepreneurship curricula, and cross-national comparisons. Publishes reports on public attitudes, media coverage of IP, and the role of IP in innovation ecosystems. Research has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and federal appellate courts.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Hosting IP Awareness Summit events
      Organizes and hosts the annual IP Awareness Summit® in partnership with a co-host organization, bringing together leaders from multiple sectors to discuss intellectual property rights and their societal impact. Events have reached at least 1,500 attendees.
  • Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
    • Operating public education platforms on intellectual property
      Manages IPBasics.org as a free, accessible information portal providing essential IP knowledge to entrepreneurs, educators, students, creators, and investors. The platform emphasizes digital accessibility through clear navigation, keyboard accessibility, alternative text, and responsive design, with ongoing improvements.
  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Producing multimedia educational content on intellectual property
      Creates and distributes the "Understanding IP Matters" podcast series, which has generated over 18,000 downloads, and maintains a YouTube channel with over 25,000 streams. Content translates complex IP concepts into practical understanding for diverse audiences.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Supporting IP education in academic institutions
      Provides educational tools and resources to instructors integrating intellectual property education into academic curricula. Collaborates with 35 partner and affiliate organizations to expand reach and impact.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$44K
Contributions & grants$44K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$44K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$69K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$65K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +15.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 6
  • ADAM MOSSOFF — Director
  • BRIAN HINMAN — Director
  • MANNY SCHECTER — Director
  • MICKIE VOGES-PIATT — Director
  • TERRANCE HART — Director
  • TIFFANY NORWOOD — Director
relationships · 39

Who they work with

  • Center for Science and Industry (COSI) Partner — Co-hosted the IP Awareness Summit® with CIPU.
  • Columbia University Partner — Co-hosted the IP Awareness Summit® with CIPU.
  • Copyright Alliance Partner — Collaborates with CIPU in promoting IP awareness and certainty.
  • Copyright Alliance Partner — Member of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Copyright Alliance.
  • Council for Innovation Promotion Partner — Collaborates with CIPU in advancing policies that strengthen intellectual property as a driver of innovation and economic growth.
  • CreativeFuture Partner — Collaborates with CIPU in advocating for strong copyright protections for creative industries.
  • Cycle Capital Management Partner — Works with venture partners from Cycle Capital Management, as noted in a testimonial.
  • Dolby Laboratories Partner — Co-hosted the IP Awareness Summit® with CIPU.
  • Dolby Laboratories Partner — Engages with IP professionals from Dolby Laboratories, such as Diane Gabl, in its programs and community initiatives.
  • Dolby Laboratories Partner — Partner organization collaborating with CIPU on IP awareness initiatives.
  • Glendale Community College Partner — Supports educators at Glendale Community College in integrating IP education into business and marketing courses.
  • Global Innovation Policy Center Partner — Collaborates with CIPU to champion innovation and creativity through strong intellectual property standards.
  • Heritage Foundation Partner — Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
  • Hudson Institute Partner — Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and chairs its Forum for Intellectual Property.
  • IBM Partner — Former senior IP executive from IBM is a supporter and endorser of CIPU’s mission.
  • IEEE-USA Partner — Served as past Chair of the IP Committee of IEEE-USA.
  • IP CloseUp Partner — Partner organization providing insight on intellectual property trends in collaboration with CIPU.
  • IPBasics.org Partner — Information portal designed and curated by CIPU to provide essential IP information to the public.
  • Ideas Matter Partner — Collaborates with CIPU to promote better understanding of intellectual property rights in Europe and globally.
  • Illinois Intellectual Property Alliance Partner — Collaborates with CIPU to improve the utilization of intellectual property for the benefit of Illinois citizens.
  • Institute for Business Innovation (IBI) Partner — Partner organization collaborating with CIPU on innovation and intellectual capital management.
  • InterDigital Partner — Former senior IP executive from InterDigital is a supporter and endorser of CIPU’s mission.
  • International Trademark Association (INTA) Partner — Collaborates with CIPU to support trademarks and related intellectual property to foster consumer trust and innovation.
  • Kellogg School of Management Partner — Collaborates with CIPU through its Center for Research in Technology & Innovation to address challenges in innovation and IP.
  • Lemelson-MIT Inventor Education Program Partner — Collaborates with CIPU to expand invention education opportunities and promote equity in invention and IP protection.
  • Licensing Executives Society, Silicon Valley Chapter Partner — Partner organization collaborating with CIPU on intellectual property, technology transfer, and innovation management.
  • Microsoft Government — Engages with former senior licensing executives from Microsoft, indicating institutional connections.
  • National Speech and Debate Association Partner — Collaborates with CIPU to provide platforms for youth voices on public speaking and debate, including IP-related topics.
  • Northeastern University Partner — Co-hosted the IP Awareness Summit® with CIPU.
  • Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management Partner — Co-hosted the IP Awareness Summit® with CIPU.
+ 9 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Accessible and Inclusive IP Education
    methodology: accessible_ip_education
    By making intellectual property concepts clear, balanced, and accessible to non-experts through innovative content and digital platforms, we expand public understanding, because reducing complexity and bias enables broader societal participation.
  • Multi-Stakeholder Convening for IP Literacy
    methodology: multi_stakeholder_engagement
    By convening diverse stakeholders—including innovators, policymakers, and institutions—we build shared understanding of intellectual property, because cross-sector dialogue fosters broader ownership and more effective education.
  • Reframing IP as an Enabler of Innovation
    methodology: ip_as_enabler
    By presenting intellectual property not as a restrictive legal tool but as a catalyst for collaboration, creativity, and societal benefit, we shift public perception and encourage broader engagement, because positive framing increases adoption and constructive use.
  • Research-Driven Public Education
    methodology: research-driven_education
    By generating original research and data on public attitudes toward intellectual property, we increase societal understanding of IP's role, because evidence-based insights are more persuasive and actionable for policymakers, educators, and creators.