Join the debate about IP and innovation in our first Twitter Q&A

We will be running these as guest blog posts over the coming weeks and months (you can see the first – Florian Mueller’s views of the Apple-Samsung ex-USA litigation settlement – here).

But we also want to engage some of our top 50 in some real-time dialogue about IP issues. So on Tuesday September 23 we will be hosting a Twitter Q&A with Rosa Wilkinson, the UK IPO’s Director of Innovation (pictured).

This is what we said about her in this year’s top 50 list:

“There must be something in the water in Newport, Wales. The twitter account of the UK IPO (which is based in the town) has a whopping 40,000 followers (more than those of the EPO, USPTO and OHIM combined). The Office’s Innovation Director Rosa Wilkinson is a little way behind that figure, but her twitter account is a compelling mix of advice, trivia, links and images, arguing the case for robust IP policy and its role in economic growth.”

We will be asking Rosa about how IP rights can spur innovation (or whether they can hinder it), and whether IP offices offer enough support to SMEs. We will also be asking her about the impact of the Unitary Patent on national IP offices in Europe, and how the UK IPO is preparing for it.

We would like the debate to be as wide as possible, so do join us on the day by following @managingip (it will begin at 4pm BST/11am EST). You can also send us questions in advance, or on the day by emailing mloney@euromoneyplc.com or gnelson@euromoneyplc.com. Remember to use the hashtag #MIP50.

It is also appropriate that our first live Q&A is with a leading woman in IP. This year saw the launch of our Women in IP network, which brings together women (and men) in the profession to share best practices for developing female talent through web seminars, and a series of conferences and breakfast/drinks events. If you want more information about the network please call Melanie Petch on +44 20 7779 8836 or email mpetch@euromoneyplc.com. You can also download the brochure. The network is free to in-house counsel.