Public Knowledge hosts the Annual IP3 Awards to celebrate the work of those who have made significant contributions in the three areas of IP: Intellectual Property, Information Policy, and Internet Protocol. The awards help champion the advocates working diligently on behalf of the public interest to help everyone connect and communicate.
In 2023, we presented the Information Policy Award to Rep. Yvette Clarke, Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security. As a national leader and daughter of Jamaican immigrants, she proudly represents the community that raised her by co-chairing the Congressional Caribbean Caucus and working to foster relationships between the United States and the Caribbean community. Congresswoman Clarke also serves as the Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
We presented the Intellectual Policy Award to Betsy Rosenblatt, Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University Law School. Over a teaching career spanning many institutions, Professor Rosenblatt has taught courses including Copyright, Trademark, Patent, Intellectual Property, Video Game Law, Civil Procedure, and Law Review. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Prof. Rosenblatt practiced intellectual property litigation at the firm of Irell & Manella in Los Angeles, where she litigated copyright, trademark, and patent matters. In addition to being a professor, she is currently of Counsel to the firm of Kesselman Brantly Stockinger LLP and the (volunteer) Legal Chair of the Organization for Transformative Works, a nonprofit that advocates for fans and fanworks. You can watch her acceptance speech below.
Finally, we presented the Internet Protocol Award to Francella Ochillo, an attorney and public interest advocate who works to ensure that all Americans can benefit from advances in technology regardless of geography or income. Her work at Next Century Cities highlights the importance of making digital equity a foundational principle in broadband access and adoption program development. During her tenure as executive director, Francella elevated community-based perspectives in Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration proceedings, memorializing the local impact of federal policy proposals.
In 2023, we also commemorated the work of Sherwin Lee Siy, a pillar of Public Knowledge for nearly 10 years and a passionate advocate for the openness of information in the digital era. His openness and enthusiasm as a mentor to young advocates left a lasting mark across the entire field. Please help us honor Sherwin Lee Siy’s legacy of activism and mentorship by supporting the next generation of policy advocates through an endowed fellowship in his name. With this fellowship, we intend to build upon Sherwin’s life work and to fundamentally transform how advocates in our field represent the growing diversity within this country. You can watch our video celebrating the Sherwin Lee Siy Memorial Fund below.
Learn more about past recipients of the Annual IP3 Awards or reach out to Michele Ambadiang, our Events and Development Manager, to become an official sponsor. View our photo album to experience more of this momentous event.
