Conference to Explore Design Rights as Critical Part of Global Business Strategy

New York, NY—January 16, 2018—Given a growing recognition that companies must include design rights in their global intellectual property (IP) strategy, the International Trademark Association (INTA) will hold its 2018 Designs Conference: The Power of Design in London on February 26 and 27, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. The conference will delve into design protection and the importance of harnessing the power of design in a competitive marketplace.

Protecting valuable design assets in a global marketplace is becoming increasingly important to brands of all sizes and in all industries. According to a 2016 European Patent Office (EPO)-European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) report, design-intensive industries generated 18 percent of GDP and created 38.7 million jobs in the European Union in 2013. Beyond economic impact, design protection continues to garner widespread attention as a result of political changes such as Brexit, and developments in innovation like three-dimensional (3D) printing.

At the conference, leading business and legal experts and government officials will address effective strategies and best practices for protecting design rights, as well as current and future global design challenges. Speakers include Grégoire Bisson, World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO (Switzerland); Sheila Henderson, Richemont International Limited (United Kingdom); Lisa Ritchie, Philip Morris International Management SA (Switzerland); Laura Bonnes, Philips Intellectual Property & Standards (Netherlands); and Klaus Hoffmeister, Central Customs Unit for IP (Germany).

Sessions will cover hot topics such as leveraging design rights in anticounterfeiting efforts; multi-national design enforcement; design protection tactics to preserve and grow your business; and how to best navigate the global design filing maze, including filings under the Hague System. This conference is designed for IP and trademark professionals, in-house counsel, and members of the design industry across sectors; and it provides numerous opportunities for networking.

As design laws evolve, INTA’s global advocacy initiatives continue to be at the forefront of change. Recently, INTA developed Model Design Law Guidelines, which serve as the standard for INTA analysis and comment on national and regional design laws and regulations. INTA also recently released a Brexit Position Paper outlining the impact of Brexit on IP rights—including design rights. Additionally, INTA’s 3D Printing Report identifies emerging legal issues and opportunities for change.

To register for the 2018 Designs Conference: The Power of Design, visit www.inta.org/2018London.

About INTA
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include more than 7,100 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from 187 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. Visit www.inta.org.

For media inquiries, contact:

Sari Schwartz
Senior Strategist, Communications, INTA
+1-212-642-1774
[email protected]