Industry Veteran Jim Harlan Joins TIP-X as CEO

Dallas, TX – Marking a major milestone in its continued growth and innovation, TIP-X, the Professional Licensor Platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Harlan, JD, MBA, a veteran IP dealmaker with over 25 years of experience, as its new Chief Executive Officer. 

A Proven Track Record 

Jim is a licensed patent attorney who has built his career at the intersection of innovation, intellectual property, and global technology markets. Most recently, he spent a decade at InterDigital, where he served as senior director of licensing and was instrumental in driving significant business growth—helping increase licensing revenue from $425 million in 2021 to $869 million in 2024. During this time, Jim personally closed multiple major licensing agreements and contributed to more than $3.6 billion in cumulative contract value.

His career also includes senior roles at BlackBerry, PanOptis, and Siemens, where he developed deep expertise across the IP ecosystem and built relationships with stakeholders throughout the industry. 

Global Standards and Policy Leadership  

Prior to his licensing work at InterDigital, Jim led the company's global Standards and Competition Policy function beginning in 2015. He represented InterDigital in regulatory and policy discussions with governments, standards bodies, and industry associations worldwide, addressing critical issues such as antitrust enforcement, FRAND licensing, and the appropriate use of injunctions in SEP disputes. His work included direct engagement with policymakers, regulators, and enforcers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. 

A Strategic Leader  

"This is a major industry milestone for TIP-X and we are looking forward to Jim's leadership based on his many years in the industry understanding the issues of licensors, licensees and policymakers at this critical time for the professional licensing industry," says Elvir Causevic, Co-founder and Managing Director. 

Jim's approach centers on deal-making and problem-solving—connecting licensors and licensees, experts and policymakers, and industry and government stakeholders to find pragmatic solutions that advance innovation and fair competition. 

Education and Expertise 

Jim holds a J.D. from Wayne State University Law School, an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, and degrees in Computer Science and Chemistry from Wayne State University.  

Please join us in welcoming Jim to TIP-X. We look forward to the leadership and strategic vision he brings as we enter our next phase of growth.