The 2021 International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Annual General Meeting is almost upon us. To say we’re excited is a bit of an understatement. In the past, .SUCKS has been an active participant at the conference, giving away made-to-order t-shirts and displaying NSFW banners among other hijinks—so we were pretty bummed when INTA, which brings together the world’s trademark and intellectual property (IP) lawyers, was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While this year’s event may not be happening in person (it’s transitioned to a mostly virtual format), the itinerary is as jam packed as ever. Here are the keynotes, sessions and workshops from INTA’s Virtual Program that we’re most looking forward to.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Brands Doing Good
When: Monday, November 15, 11:55am–1:00pm EST
At .SUCKS, we keep a close eye on brands’ CSR initiatives—and are often among the first to comment on any missteps. Why? Because we want companies to own up to their mistakes. If you feel the same way, tune into this session to hear from brands (Rodan & Fields, Virgin, BBC) that have tried and succeeded at pursuing the right thing instead of the profitable thing, and learn how legal practitioners can help.
From Cost Center to Front-and-Center: How to Understand (and Explain!) the Value of Your Brand
When: Tuesday, November 16, 9:25–10:30am EST
How do you speak about the value of a brand when “value” can be so many things? This crash course will help you understand the true value of your business—and how to effectively communicate it. The fact that this session will cover “the importance of brand reputation in any brand value analysis” is what really caught our eye, but we’re also excited to learn about the impact of industry secretary and size, IP and taxation, and cross-department collaboration.
The Holistic Brand Lawyer: Stretching Your Practice Beyond Trademarks
When: Tuesday, November 16, 12:00–1:00pm EST
There’s more to brand protection than intellectual property. Today’s brand lawyers need to understand and spot the PR risks related to advertising, privacy and regulatory issues, among other things. In this session, representatives from Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal and Mars, Incorporated look beyond trademarks and share their best advice for practitioners.
2021 Anticounterfeiting Workshop—Best Practices to Combat Online Counterfeiting: Leveraging Your Online Investigations
When: Wednesday, November 17, 10:45am–2:00pm EST
We talk about mitigating the risks of counterfeiting a lot. It’s something that nearly all brands struggle with, particularly in the era of convincing online fakes. This two-part workshop will bring together brand representatives, digital commerce service providers and government officials for a holistic brainstorming and learning session around a complex and ever-changing topic.
Note: Attendance is limited and pre-registration is required.
What Is Expected from a Leader?
When: Thursday, November 18, 9:25–10:30am EST
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust leaders into the spotlight. For this panel discussion, INTA has rounded up a handful of business execs to share their insight about leading through change, including:
- Toe Su Aung, Co-Founder and Director, Elipe Limited (U.K.)
- Batur Oktay, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Rad Power Bikes (U.S.)
- Mei-lan Stark, Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property, NBCUniversal Media (U.S.)
- Zeeger Vink, Intellectual Property Director, MF Brands Group (C.H.)
With top brands like Rad Power Bikes and NBC in the mix, we expect attendees to walk away with some of the best leadership tips and tricks in the biz.
Emerging Technology is Changing the Nature of Goods and Services—How Do We Provide the Right IP Counseling?
When: Thursday, November 18, 12:15–1:15pm EST
Keeping up with technology is tough, but keeping up with IP law is even tougher—especially for companies in emerging industries. This session will discuss the effects financial technology, gaming and animation have on intellectual property law, and how IP consultation needs to adapt as a result. With “deep fakes” being more convincing than ever, this seminar is a must-see.
Carpe Diem: New Laws that Impact the IP Ecosystem
When: Friday, November 19, 11:00am–12:00pm EST
How are laws changing the IP ecosystem as we know it? Social and political events can have a lasting impact on how organizations understand brand protection and trademark law. This session invites speakers from Bangladesh, Dubai, Egypt, India and Mexico to explain how new rules and regulations are creating new challenges for brands.
The Takeaway
Alongside the typical trademark talk, INTA has also planned tons of cool virtual events like Speed Networking sessions, a Pet Corner and Table Topics discussion groups. It promises to be a fulfilling experience on many fronts—even though you won’t be able to get your hands on a custom .SUCKS tee.
Are you attending the INTA annual general meeting this year? Connect with us on Twitter, and share what you’re most looking forward to—or learn more about how .SUCKS domains can protect your brand’s intellectual property.
Photo credits: Vadym Pastukh / Shutterstock
