"Protect Your Brand: What Every Businessperson Should Know about Trademarks"

The North Bay iHub and the United States Patent and Trademark Office invite you to a special event for all business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and business advisors.  Speakers will be followed by Q&A and a networking reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres served.  Topics covered will include:

• The differences between trademarks, copyrights and patents
• Comparing between trademarks, domain names and business name registrations
• The importance of selecting a strong mark
• How to pick a trademark that won’t get you sued
• How to pick a protectable trademark
• Whether to hire a trademark attorney and how to select one
• The trademark registration process
• What to do if you get a "cease- and-desist" letter
• How to avoid trademark scams
• International trademark registration and enforcement issues

Speakers

Craig Morris has been with the USPTO since 1983, currently as the Managing Attorney for Trademark Outreach in the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks. For fourteen years prior, he was the Managing Attorney for the Trademark Electronic Application System, focusing on making the Trademark Operation a total e-government environment.

Carole Barrett is Senior Counsel in the intellectual property practice group of Arnold & Porter LLP, with over 30 years of experience in representing clients on intellectual property matters.  She has been recognized as one of the top trademark professionals in California by World Trademark Review and other publications.