International Trademark Association Podcast Looks Inside Some of the World’s Largest and Most Innovative Intellectual Property Offices

New York, New York—July 16, 2019—The International Trademark Association’s Brand & New podcast series takes a more specific focus over the next few episodes with a look inside several intellectual property (IP) offices from different parts of the world—providing practical illustrations and forward-looking insights that can help brand owners, legal professionals, and new stakeholders advance their own strategies.

In engaging and transparent conversations, current and former heads of IP offices open up about key topics. They include incorporating innovation to modernize processes and enhance efficiency and quality, balancing human and technological interactions, and how IP offices may morph in the future.

This special lineup kicked off on July 2 when Brand & New welcomed Daren Tang, chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, one of the world’s most innovative offices; and it continues on July 16 with an interview with Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the world’s largest IP office. 

Keeping to this theme, other guests in July and August are Benoît Battistelli, former President of the European Patent Office; and David Kappos, who served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO from 2009 to 2013. In addition, two members of the Kenya Parliament, David Ochieng and Alice Muthoni Wahome, will focus on IP-related legislative, enforcement, and advocacy efforts in Africa.

Since its premiere last November, Brand & New has interviewed inspiring and influential individuals to help brand owners, IP lawyers, marketing and finance professionals, and others adapt to the shifting and increasingly complex legal and business environment. The podcast—the first-of-its-kind produced by the International Trademark Association (INTA)—has primarily been focusing on the impact of innovation on IP. Topics have included cybersecurity, climate change, artificial intelligence, tech startups, and the Internet of Things from various perspectives, such as social and economic in addition to IP.  

In the upcoming episodes over the next two months, “we’re turning our attention to intellectual property offices because they are a staple and robust force in the IP landscape,” said Audrey Dauvet, the host of Brand & New and an attorney specializing in IP. “IP offices oftentimes lead the innovation conversation, and their operations and forward thinking can set the tone for the current and future state of IP in a region.” 

In his interview, Mr. Iancu shares what is on his to-do list to advance the USPTO. “Overall, as leaders in the IP ecosystem in the United States, we want to make sure that we broaden the innovation and entrepreneurship and intellectual property ecosystems,” he says. 

“And we’re doing a lot of engagement, both internal and external, to surface the very best ideas,” he adds. “I think that is going to help us stay up to date and, actually, hopefully leapfrog the up to date game-changing tools and focus on the future.”

Last December, Brand & New featured Maximiliano Santa Cruz, the former General Director of the National Institute of Industrial Property of Chile.

Giving the floor to additional IP offices in other regions aligns with another INTA initiative: a task force is exploring “The IPO of the Future” and will make recommendations on how these offices can stay relevant. In general, Brand & New reflects INTA’s 2018–2021 Strategic Plan, which includes embracing innovation and change, and promoting the value of trademarks and brands. 

The free podcast has been garnering rave reviews from listeners who have hailed it as “perspective changing,” “highly relevant,” and “compelling.” INTA posts a new episode every other Tuesday and maintains an archive; subscribe to Brand & New on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

According to Ms. Dauvet, “In these fast-changing times, brands and other stakeholders must think innovatively as well as strategically. Our dynamic guests transfer knowledge and insights that can help motivate this type of thinking—and propel action.” 

For more information about Brand & New, visit www.inta.org/brandandnew.

About the International Trademark Association (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 7,200 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. For more information, please visit www.inta.org.