Mission

IP awareness is everyone’s business

The purpose of intellectual property, like copyrights and trademarks, is unclear to most people. A better understanding of how IP works — and how it impacts business and society — benefits everyone.

Our Mission

The Center for Intellectual Property Understanding is an independent non-profit that raises awareness about the impact of IP on people, business and society. CIPU provides outreach to improve IP literacy and promote sharing. 

The Center facilitates discussion of IP and shares information about the impact of IP rights – patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets.

CIPU helps audiences understand how invention rights and creative expression facilitate innovation, support commerce and improve society. The organization monitors IP attitudes and seeks to improve IP’s reputation.

Within everyone’s grasp

With access often a little more than a tap away, many images and ideas appear to be there for the taking – or feel as if they should be. IP rights can be a barrier to entry or a bridge to success. CIPU helps audiences overcome confusion about what IP rights cover and why.

CIPU’s audiences include creators, educators, students, investors, consumers and IP professionals. 

IP users and creators come in all manor, shares and sizes. They can be businesses, individuals or even nations. Knowing how to respond to IP is not intuitive, but it can be readily learned.