WHEREAS, intellectual property (IP) is a cornerstone of innovation and entrepreneurship, protecting the rights of creators and inventors while encouraging investment in new technologies, creative works, and cutting-edge solutions that fuel economic growth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia is home to a thriving innovation ecosystem, supported by leading research universities, federal laboratories, national security assets, technology companies, and IP-intensive industries that lead the nation in invention disclosures, patents issued, and start-up creation; and

WHEREAS, organizations such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, located in Alexandria, Virginia, play a central role in advancing the nation’s IP infrastructure, and contribute to Virginia’s leadership in fostering a strong environment for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property; and

WHEREAS, educational institutions across the Commonwealth, including Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, George Mason University, and others, are preparing the next generation of innovators, legal experts, and entrepreneurs through research, innovation, and IP education programs; and

WHEREAS, Virginia-based organizations and regional coalitions, including the DC, Maryland, and Virginia Intellectual Property Alliance, promote collaboration between creators, legal experts, policy advocates, and industry leaders to expand equitable access to the tools and protections of intellectual property; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s leadership in intellectual property is vital to protecting brand identity, safeguarding technological advancements, promoting economic competitiveness, and strengthening industries ranging from defense and cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing, bioscience, and the arts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize October 2025, as INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.