Volunteers Recognized for Outstanding Contributions
INTA honors volunteers for service to Association and the trademark community
NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2007 – The International Trademark Association (INTA) today announced its Volunteer Service Awards which honor the dedication and commitment of the Association’s volunteer work during the last year.
The awards are given out in three main categories, which include the Advancement of Trademark Law, the Advancement of Committee or Subcommittee Objectives, and the Advancement of the Association.
There is also a special distinction for recipients of the President’s Award.
The recipients of the award for the Advancement of Trademark Law are: Thilo Agthe and joint winners Ronnie Hoffer and Melanie Martin-Jones.
Thilo Agthe
Thilo, one of INTA’s expert Security Interests Subcommittee members, has demonstrated strong leadership and an exceptional understanding of the complex issues involved with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Thilo has raised INTA’s visibility at UNCITRAL and exercised exemplary diplomacy and enthusiasm while working with members and government representatives worldwide.
This year’s joint winners are Ronnie Hoffer and Melanie Martin-Jones
Ronnie, chair of the Examination Guidelines Subcommittee of the Trademark Office Practices Committee, and Melanie, Subcommittee member, have led a critically important initiative that will raise INTA’s profile in many different countries and move us a big step closer to our strategic goal of harmonization.
Their work on the revision of the INTA Model Examination Guidelines has brought this valuable reference tool up-to-date with the most current global practices and best examination issues.
The recipients of the award for the Advancement of Committee or Subcommittee Objectives are: Jeffrey Becker, Bruce Longbottom and Joseph (Casey) Mangan.
Jeffrey Becker
Jeff has been instrumental in his work developing the Adjunct Professors’ Special Interest Group. Jeff was able to effectively identify an INTA constituency otherwise not well represented in programming or committee work and formed a new and valuable group. This group now meets at INTA’s Annual and Leadership Meetings and has become a model for other committees.
Bruce Longbottom
Bruce has been the driving force behind a report that focuses on the critical intersection of counterfeiting and the Internet. Bruce’s report on Internet counterfeiting is currently being finalized and it is expected to be completed by the end of December 2007.
Joseph (Casey) Mangan
This past year, Casey has dedicated himself to the Leadership Transition Project Team of the Leadership Development Subcommittee, and has laid the foundation for an online communication tool that will improve the efficiency of the dialogue within and among committees and staff, and enhance their overall operation and participation.
The winners of the award for the Advancement of the Association are: Xuemin Chen, Susie Middlemiss and Kristina Rosette
Xuemin Chen
As Chair of the China Trademark Office subcommittee, Xuemin was responsible along with Bill Seiter, a volunteer service award winner from last year, for the preparation of INTA’s comments on the third revised draft of the new China Trademark Law, and the good relationship that he personally maintains with that office ensures that INTA’s comments get a full hearing.
Xuemin also co-chaired last year’s program in Brussels on doing business in China and this year’s China Forum, which unfortunately had to be canceled at the last minute due to the belated scheduling of the Chinese Communist Party Congress during that week. As importantly, Xuemin is the volunteer most frequently called on by INTA’s office in Shanghai and by New York, as well as to help us out on special assignments and just last week he represented INTA at the U.S. Ambassador’s Roundtable in Beijing.
Susie Middlemiss
This year, Susie played an instrumental role on behalf of our Association as she spearheaded the submission of INTA’s amicus submission in the L’Oreal v. Special Effects case. Susie’s contribution marked the first time INTA appeared before the United Kingdom Court of Appeal, which subsequently approved INTA’s participation in the case and allowed us to appear for oral argument. Her work was highlighted when INTA’s position was favorably referenced in the Court’s decision.
Kristina Rosette
Kristina has been working on the Registration Practice and DNS Administration Subcommittee of the Internet Committee, and took on the responsibility of representing the IP Constituency within the Generic Supporting Names Organization of ICANN. Kristina has provided outstanding and enthusiastic representation of trademark owners this year and continues to be a leader in this new and changing area of IP protection.
The winners of the 2007 President’s Award are: David Moyer and William Finkelstein.
David Moyer
David is an accomplished INTA volunteer who has served INTA in many ways, starting from his first introduction to trademarks at Proctor & Gamble and following through with his committee work, committee leadership, Board service and his mentoring of the many P&G volunteers who have served INTA.
David has spent his career with INTA making sure great ideas turn into positive practice, and our members have benefited immensely from his contributions and selfless philosophy of giving and sharing knowledge.
After serving INTA as a member of the Board, David still found numerous ways to give back through his leadership on the Industry Advisory Council, the Anti-Counterfeiting and Enforcement Committee, and the Trade dress Committee.
David also volunteered to head up the 2005 Leadership Meeting Task Force and successfully put the task force’s innovative recommendations into practice by chairing the 2006 Leadership Meeting. He has proven to everyone at INTA who knows him that knowledge is something to be shared, and that the best ideas are the ideas that make it past planning and into reality.
William Finkelstein
Bill has provided a lifetime of service to INTA as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Board Member; Chair of the Management, Nominating, Finance and PTO Committees, and active member of numerous other committees. Bill was the creator of INTA’s ADR committee and is a member of its Panel of Neutrals.
Bill also wrote the ADR in Trademark and Unfair Competition Disputes books, and has moderated and spoken on behalf of INTA at many of our meetings. Bill is a distinguished corporate and private practice attorney and has devoted his life’s work to the protection and advancement of trademarks and intellectual property.
Congratulations to all of the 2007 Volunteer Service and President’s Award winners.
For more information on the protection of trademarks, please visit www.inta.org.
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About INTA The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a worldwide association of member companies and firms that support and advance trademarks and intellectual property as elements of fair and effective global commerce.
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