Microsoft Corp. today announced the appointment of Marshall C. Phelps Jr. as its new corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for intellectual property. Phelps comes to Microsoft with more than 30 years of legal experience helping companies manage intellectual property investments.

At Microsoft, Phelps will be responsible for supervising Microsoft's intellectual property groups, including those responsible for trademarks, trade secrets, patents and copyrights. He will lead the company's work to manage its intellectual property portfolio, including approximately 3,000 U.S.-issued patents and over 11,000 trademark registrations worldwide. Microsoft's intellectual property portfolio has grown markedly in recent years in conjunction with its increasing research and development (R&D) investments and commitment to basic research. Phelps also will help lead Microsoft's ongoing work with other companies in the technology industry to promote a broader awareness of intellectual property issues.

Phelps joins Microsoft after a 28-year career with IBM Corp., where he was vice president for intellectual property and licensing and played a key role in building IBM's standards, telecommunications policy, industry relations, patent licensing program and intellectual property portfolio development. In addition to his legal work, Phelps established IBM's Tokyo headquarters and served as director of government relations in Washington, D.C. Phelps holds a bachelor of arts degree from Muskingum College, a master of science degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a degree from Cornell Law School.