National Trademark Expo October 21-22
Guest blog by Commissioner for Trademarks Mary Boney Denison
I am pleased to invite you to attend the 2016 National Trademark Expo on Friday October 21st and Saturday October 22nd in Washington, D.C. The two-day event is free and designed to educate the public about the instrumental role that trademarks play in business development and the value of trademarks for growth in the global marketplace.
The theme of the 2016 Expo is “Movement and Energy.” Highlighting key themes such as “Unusual Trademarks” and “Brand Evolution,” the Expo will offer a variety of educational seminars including “Trademark Basics,” “Applying to Seek Federal Registration” “What Happens After Registration,” and “Why Buy Legit.” A number of our country’s leading corporations, small businesses, and governmental agencies will also be on site, highlighting their trademarks and providing information on the benefits of federal trademark registration.
We’re very excited that this year’s opening ceremony, which takes place on Friday October 21st at 10 a.m., will feature the U.S. Army’s Continental Color Guard wearing replica 1784-style infantry uniforms as well as a singing of our National Anthem. This year, the guest speaker at the Expo’s opening ceremony will be Kevin Haley, Under Amour’s President of Category Management & Innovation, who will discuss the importance of Under Amour’s federal trademark registrations.
The Expo will also feature children’s workshops and guided tours of educational content and exhibits. Costumed characters, led by our very own T. Markey, will be introduced during the opening ceremony and make appearances throughout both days of the Expo, and inflatable characters will be on display. This year’s Expo will feature exhibits and display cases of authentic goods alongside counterfeit goods, including a display by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Losses to U.S. businesses from counterfeiting of trademarked consumer products are estimated at billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs annually and create serious public health risks and safety hazards. The Expo is part of the Trademark organization’s continuous efforts to educate the public on the role of trademarks. The last several Trademark Expos attracted thousands of visitors of all ages and I encourage you to bring your friends and family.
If traveling by metro, the auditorium is a short walk from the Federal Triangle Metro station, or if driving, view directions and parking information. For additional information, please visit the Trademark Expo page of the USPTO website.
Posted at 09:51AM Oct 17, 2016 in trademarks |