Treating the three categories of IP (trademark, copyright, and design patent) as individual strategies is one way of protecting your IP however these same three categories can be used synergistically to create a cohesive IP policy that will provide greater protection overall.

Learn from Craig Morris, Managing Attorney for Trademark Outreach United States Patent and Trademark Office as he kicks off the Trademark, Copyright, and Design Patent Boot Camp on February 14th. Craig will give a general overview identifying the differences between the three categories as well as domain names and business registrations. He will discuss the basic process and strategy for protecting each, review basic considerations for each, and discuss how they should be used collectively for maximum protection.

Additional Topics: •To register or not to register •How to enforce? •Importance of selecting a strong mark, that is, both federally registrable and legally protectable •Whether an attorney should be used when doing the initial search •Potential grounds for the USPTO to refuse registration •What may happen if another trademark owner believes it has stronger rights •How to avoid scams perpetrated by companies the request fees for services not required by the USPTO

Concluding Craig Morris’s overview there will be three breakout sessions which will focus on how each category applies to one product, i.e. iPod, Nike shoes, Coke bottle, etc. The outcome of the sessions is to demonstrate how a design patent can and should be linked to trademark and copyright.

Small Group Breakout Sessions Design Patents Session: Leads: Katie Maksym, Nike and Brenna Leggard, Lane Powell LLP •How best to cover a product design with a design patent •What strategies can be employed to broaden and maintain coverage through small design iterations? •Strategies for extending coverage for functional features through the use of decorative features •Aspects of the design patent process that can tie in trademark or copyrights and how this can provide enhanced coverage of the product

Trademark Session: Leads: Jay Rafter, Stoel Rives LLP and Nate Moceri, Stoel Rives LLP •How best to integrate trademark into the actual product design •Can the design itself be a trademark? •Explanation of product configuration trade dress •What strategies can be employed to broaden coverage and maintain coverage over time? •Aspects of trademark that can tie in design or copyrights and how this can provide enhanced coverage of the product

Copyright Session: Leads: Jay Smith-Hill, Lane Powell LLP •Now that you have a design and trademark, how do you tell the world about it? •How can the use of copyrights extend the reach of a design over multiple media outlets (website, marcom, YouTube videos, etc.)? •Aspects of copyright that can tie in design or trademark and how this can provide enhanced coverage of the product

Who should attend?

• Engineers new to the IP System
• Engineering managers
• Marketing professionals
• Managers having IP responsibility
• Small business owners and entrepreneurs

Event Details: When: Thursday, February 14, 2013 Time: 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. - Networking and Breakfast 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Program, break-sessions and Q&A Where: TBD, Portland, OR Cost: $75 Members | $150 Nonmembers

Supporting Sponsor:
OTBC