Page 25 - 2017 INTA Annual Report

Why connect with non-IP audiences? Consumers are increasingly brand conscious. However, a lack of knowledge of the correlation between brands and trademarks is one of the primary reasons why trademarks often are misunderstood by the public. Much to the benefit of our IP stakeholders and non-IP audiences, our messaging conveys that trademarks protect consumers, promote freedom of choice, enable quick and safe purchasing decisions, fuel competition, drive innovation, support well-paying jobs, and fuel global economic growth.
To advance these types of communications, INTA formed a dedicated Communications Group as part of the Association’s new committee structure adopted for the start of the 2016–2017 committee term. The Communications Group consists of the long-standing INTA Bulletins Committee and Public Information Committee, and several committees newly established at the start of the term: the Building Bridges Committee, the Impact Studies Committee, the Public and Media Relations Committee, and the Unreal Campaign Committee.
In 2017, through the activities of each of these committees and other efforts, INTA made significant progress in demystifying trademarks and communicating their value on a broader scale.
Elevating Thought Leadership
There is no doubt that successful advocacy goes hand in hand with effective messaging. In 2017, the publication of three studies stemming from
the Impact Studies Committee afforded INTA additional resources to back up our stances and helped elevate INTA as a thought leader within the global trademark community and beyond.
Recognizing the usefulness of these studies, the Association widely disseminated them to provide both the public and policymakers with data that support the value of trademarks. For example, INTA implemented a comprehensive communications strategy to publicize the release of the Committee’s latest study, The Economic Contribution of Trademark-Intensive Industries in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
With the assistance of the Asia-Pacific office, the Association held a series of press conferences in all five of the countries highlighted in the regional report, and, as a result, garnered coverage in both IP and mainstream media. We also formally announced the study in letters sent to IP offices around the world, providing policymakers with solid statistics to utilize when drafting legislation and regulations. Further, we shared a concise look at the study results in social media posts and infographics.
Among other efforts within the Communications Group, the Public and Media Relations Committee—charged with alerting non-IP media to the important role of brands, trademarks, and related IP—made inroads to bring practical issues to the attention of consumers, entrepreneurs, and others. In 2017, several Committee members drafted, submitted, and/or placed articles in
various types of publications, including one piece on the catchy topic of whether “Black Friday” can be trademarked.
Engaging Business Sectors
Providing an opportunity to raise the profile of trademarks to yet another sector, INTA introduced the Pro Bono Trademark Clearinghouse in July. The Pro Bono Trademark Clearinghouse connects eligible individuals and nonprofit organizations in need of trademark legal assistance with trademark attorneys who are looking for pro bono opportunities to assist those in need of professional services.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners focused on growing their businesses often overlook the role of trademark protection in the early stages of business development. The same can be said about nonprofits concentrating on their causes. As such, the Clearinghouse presents a unique opportunity to promote early trademark registration and protection, and, in doing so, also to support economic growth, innovation, and worthy nonprofit organizations.
INTA began this new service as a two-year pilot program in Germany and the United States, with
Expanding Our Legal Resources
The Association now offers 69 fact sheets on our website. In 2017, the fact sheets received more than 185,000 views.
Another one of INTA’s most widely used resources, Trademark Basics: A Guide for Business, was accessed nearly 200,000 times this year.
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