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As Microsoft Corp.'s corporate vice president, IP Policy and Strategy, Marshall Phelps is responsible for setting the global Intellectual Property Strategies and Policies for Microsoft Corporation. In addition, Phelps interfaces with governments, other companies in the technology industry and outside institutions to broaden awareness of intellectual property issues.
Before transitioning to his current position in 2006, Phelps served as the deputy general counsel for intellectual property in Microsoft’s Legal & Corporate Affairs group, where he supervised Microsoft's intellectual property groups, including those responsible for trademarks, trade secrets, patents, licensing, standards and copyrights. He oversaw the company's management of its intellectual property portfolio, which comprises some 13,000 patents issued and more than 12,000 trademark registrations worldwide.
Phelps joined Microsoft in June 2003 after a 28-year career at IBM Corp., where he served as vice president for intellectual property and licensing. Phelps was instrumental in IBM's standards, telecommunications policy, industry relations, patent licensing program and intellectual property portfolio development. Also, Phelps helped establish IBM's Asia Pacific headquarters in Tokyo and served as the company's director of government relations in Washington, D.C.
Upon retiring from IBM in 2000, he spent two years as chairman and chief executive officer of Spencer Trask Intellectual Capital Company LLC, which specialized in spinoffs from major corporations such as Motorola Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp. and IBM.
Phelps holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum College, a Master of Science degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a doctorate from Cornell Law School. He is an Executive-in-Residence at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, and also serves on the Board of Visitors. He has also recently been asked to advise Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on IP matters. And he was elected to the initial class of the Intellectual Property Hall of Fame, in 2006.
He and his wife, Eileen, divide their time between New Canaan, Conn., and Kirkland, Wash. They have two adult children.
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