** IIPSJ 2022 Recap

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As we close another successful year, we want to highlight some of the impact of your contributions for 2022:

The Nexus of Social Justice and Intellectual Property

• Our monthly newsletters (https://iipsj.org/latest-news/) provide readers with timely and relevant recent developments in intellectual property law that have particular impacts on diverse communities and the concept of social justice.
• IIPSJ stayed ahead of the curve by showcasing the new processes involved with the Case Act implementation (https://youtu.be/Vi7Xx90I0R4) through a discussion at the 19th Annual IP Social Justice CLE program. During the program, presenters discussed an in-depth look at the Case Act and the Copyright Claims Board (CCB), the new small claims court for copyright claims said to be a lower cost alternative to filing in federal court.
• Working with our various academic partners, IIPSJ organized the eighth annual IP MOSAIC Conference, where we created a space for IP scholars, political activists, practicing attorneys, community organizers, and policy makers to discuss papers and collaborate on various topics of IP empowerment. (https://iipsj.org/programs/ip-mosaic/) The theme was Access for All? The Role of IP in Equity, Power, and Democracy in Challenging Times.

Diversifying the Legal Field and the Intellectual Property Bar

• For almost two decades, the IIPSJ IP and Social Justice CLE (https://iipsj.org/programs/2022-program/) program has provided a venue through which to showcase minority and women IP attorneys. The 19th Annual IP & Social Justice CLE virtual program (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpjeDSnL4i4lEMJf0N-48iqiZYF-CBvSb) explored the latest developments in IP law, including the relevant social justice impacts, strategies, and opportunities for enhancing the social efficacy of the IP legal regime. 
• We also worked alongside a number of other institutional partners such as the U.S. Intellectual Property Association to participate in similar programming (https://iipsj.org/latest-news/) around the country. 
• In conjunction with Howard University School of Law and Wikimedia, IIPSJ launched the Wikimedia Race and Knowledge Equity (WRKE) Fellowship Program (https://iipsj.org/article/september-2022-ip-and-social-justice-newsletter/) , a one-year full-time fellowship designed to explore the intersections between racial equity, free knowledge, and the intellectual property ecosystem and to promote sound policy for achieving social justice through these channels. Shreyanka-Mirchandani Changaroth was chosen as the inaugural fellow for the 2022-2023 academic year.
• IIPSJ was able to host three summer interns chosen from historically black colleges and universities (https://iipsj.org/blog-post-2022-summer-interns/?mc_cid=c3ac5e10cb&mc_eid=c4885901f0) . All rising 2L students, the interns were able to work on various projects including research for future intellectual property public education efforts and thought leadership related to pressing intellectual property topics. Our interns were as follows: + Phoebe Ogunwobi- North Carolina Central School of Law. + Leandre’a Scott- North Carolina University School of Law + Leeandria Williams – Southern University Law Center

Advocacy for Participation in the Intellectual Property System

• In June, Lateef Mtima and Steve Jamar participated in this year’s WIPO- U.S. Summer School on Intellectual Property hosted by George Mason University Scalia Law School. The Summer School program provides an opportunity for students, young professionals, and government officials from all over the world to acquire deeper knowledge of United States Intellectual Property.
• IIPSJ proudly co-sponsored and participated in the Innovator of Diversity Pilots Conference, a kick start event co-organized with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Community Outreach that Empowers Creators of Color to Share, Protect, and Monetize Their Work

• IIPSJ was able to launch our Intellectual Property for the People Series (https://iipsj.org/ip-education/) to help creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs from communities of color understand and explore the rights and resources available to them. The series will continue to run in 2023 with necessary topics such as name, image, and likeness in collegiate sports.