International Trademark Association’s 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting Goes Virtual

New York, New York—May 20, 2020—The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced today that it will be transforming its 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting in November into an all-virtual event, in response to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

In April, INTA announced that it would hold a first-ever combined Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting on November 16–20 in Houston, Texas, but that it would continue monitoring COVID-19 to determine the viability of an in-person event. Earlier, when the health crisis first emerged, the Association postponed the original 2020 Annual Meeting in Singapore, which would have taken place last month.

With the virtual format, the Annual Meeting will remain November 16–20; during the prior week, on November 11–13, committee meetings and Leadership Meeting sessions for INTA volunteers will be scheduled. Registration will open in early July.

In switching to the online event, like with earlier changes, INTA continues to prioritize the health and safety of members, staff, sponsors, exhibitors, and the community. It has also taken into consideration members’ budget and travel restraints and concerns, among other factors.

“Cancelling the Annual Meeting has not been an option for us,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. “While the path here has come with a heavy heart, we believe this forward-looking approach is the safest option right now and keeps registrants’ best interests in mind. Moreover, we are excited about the prospect of not only bringing our community together again, but doing so in a new and innovative way, on a secure and engaging platform.”

The virtual meeting will include live, simulated-live, and on-demand educational sessions, multiple networking opportunities, an interactive Exhibit Hall, and many of the same features registrants have come to expect at INTA’s in-person gatherings, such as Table Topics and Speed Networking.

Mr. Sanz de Acedo noted that the new format “aligns with INTA’s digital transformation and pioneers a future that incorporates virtual offerings into our in-person events.”

Watch the video announcement here.

About the International Trademark Association
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, visit inta.org.