The ABA’s Intellectual Property Law Section cosponsored a reception June 19 to celebrate the issuing of U.S. Patent Number 10 million by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent covers “Coherent Ladar Using Intra-Pixel Quadrature Detection” and symbolizes the breadth of American invention with applications in such varied fields as autonomous vehicles, medical imaging devices, military defense systems, and space and undersea exploration. The system was invented by Joseph Marron and is owned by Raytheon Company. The reception and commemorative signing of the patent were held on the grounds of George Washington’s Grist Mill and Distillery near Mount Vernon, recognizing not only President Washington’s role in signing the first patent, but also the fact that the grist mill received one of the first patents ever granted (#X3). Commissioner for Patents Drew Hirshfield (left) joined members of the ABA IP Law Section’s Leadership in front of the new patent cover design: Section Chair-Elect Mark Dickson, Section Chair Scott Partridge, and Section Vice-Chair George Jordan. Also attending the event were IP Section Council Members Sharon Israel, Chris Katopis and Jon Sick, as well as several other section members and ABA staff.