Inventors of the Year

Erin and Lee Hanson, Founders of Guardian Sports will receive the Inventor of the Year award in December. Jessica Landacre, IPO Executive Director commented that “their journey exemplifies the power of intellectual property to drive progress and inspire change. IPO Education Foundation celebrates their commitment to sports safety and improving our way of life.” In 2010, Lee and Erin established Guardian after creating the Guardian Cap, a revolutionary soft-shell helmet cover that has since become mandatory in NFL practices and used by the NCAA. This innovation marked the beginning of Guardian’s impactful journey, expanding their product line to include PEARL lacrosse balls, the LOOP headband, Guardian Chinstrap, and Guardian Infill. “This award underscores the importance of protecting your ideas,” said the Hansons. “Without intellectual property, our partnership with leagues like the NCAA and NFL wouldn’t have been possible. IP gave us the foundation to grow and the confidence to collaborate at the highest level. We’re honored by this recognition from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation and excited for what’s ahead for Guardian.”

IP Champions

IPO Education Foundation’s IP Champion award recognizes extraordinary leadership in advocating for the value of intellectual property to stimulate the progress of innovation. The 2025 honorees are Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), who have been strong bipartisan advocates for the value of intellectual property rights, working together to modernize and strengthen the U.S. IP system in support of American innovation. They co-sponsored the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), which they intend to provide more clarity and consistency in determining patent subject matter eligibility. They also co-sponsored the PREVAIL Act to reform the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), seeking to ensure the rules that govern patent review proceedings at the USPTO are fair and aligned with the standards for district court litigation. As leaders in the IP policy space, Senators Tillis and Coons have championed initiatives that seek to protect creators, encourage investment, and secure the United States’ global leadership in innovation.

For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Kristen Lurye.

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For more information about the 2025 event, please contact foundation@ipo.org.

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For Questions

Contact Foundation Deputy Executive Director
Kristen Lurye, klurye@ipo.org or 202-507-4500