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8
Aug

Association of Intellectual Property Firms (AIPF) 2012 Annual Meeting Information

Posted by ipelton on: August 8th, 2012

The 2012 Annual Meeting of the Association of Intellectual Property Firms (AIPF) is coming up in a few weeks (October 1-2) in Washington, DC.  I will speaking on both “Trademark Bullying” and “Networking Across Generations: In-Person vs. Online Strategies .” There are many other interesting presentations and panels, and the event feature attendees from boutique IP law firms from around the world.

The meeting is titled “Intellectual Property as a Corporate Asset” and features not only a discussion of global IP issues, but also practical advice for IP firms to manage and grow their practices.  The mission of the Association of Intellectual Property Firms is to ensure that the IP boutique law firm is the preferred choice by clients, corporate in house decision makers and business owners for all IP legal matters.

For more details, see the program below or visit the AIPF website.

Annual Meeting 2012 Program

14
Jun

Erik Pelton interviewed for “A Defiant Dude” documentary about Eat More Kale, Chick-fil-A, & abusive trademark litigation

Posted by ipelton on: June 14th, 2012

Filmmaker James Lantz is making a documentary movie, A Defiant Dude, about Bo Muller-Moore – the “Eat More Kale” guy – and his trademark dispute with Chik-fil-A®.

The film project was launched via Kickstarter, with nearly 2,000 people having pledged a total of $89,000 to help fund it. See a trailer for the film project here.

I was interviewed earlier this week by James and his crew for nearly 2 hours. We held the interview at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack®, a local Falls Church small business owned by my wife Rebecca Tax and her brother David Tax. Below are some photos from the film shoot.

Regardless of what you think about trademark bullies and about the Eat More Kale situation, one thing is for sure: Eat More Kale, with a Facebook page featuring thousands of followers and now a crowd-sourced film project , is an example of how social media has the potential to affect trademark disputes.

The story and the issues at play are important, and it looks like James is committed to telling the story in an in-depth and informative manner. I can’t wait to see the film and share with you more of what I said about trademark bullies, small businesses, and the value of trademarks.  Stay tuned!

 

1
Jun

Anatomy of a new slogan: MAKING TRADEMARKS BLOOM SINCE 1999

Posted by ipelton on: June 1st, 2012

I recently created and launched a new slogan. MAKING TRADEMARKS BLOOM SINCE 1999™. [Wordpress has a ™ symbol character available and a ®, but not one for 'SM'] 

This slogan does not replace an old one. Our other slogan – Experience is our trademark. Trademark is our experience. – gets rave reviews and it on business cards, letterhead, website, etc. 

So why a new slogan? I recently decided to created some promotional products to share with clients, prospects, and other trademark attorneys. Then I found a great product, one that I thought would likely be unique in the field of trademarks: flower seeds.

So I ordered some custom seed backs with our firm logo, contact information and my photo. And I wanted to add something about being in business since 1999. And it hit me: Making trademarks bloom since 1999.

Here are the steps I took in creating, launching and protecting our new slogan:

- We decided that adding a slogan to some marketing materials – specifically the promotional seed packets – which communicated something about our service for more than a decade would be a nice addition to the materials.

- I quickly brainstormed possible slogan ideas that touched on the message. Ultimately, I settled on the slogan making trademarks bloom since 1999.SM   The slogan excited me because it capture growth, energy, positive feelings, and more than a decade of history. And it tied in perfectly with the seed packets.

-  I searched to make sure no one was using a similar slogan in our field, and we searched the USPTO trademark records to make sure no one had registered or filed for anything similar.

- I made sure to use proper trademark notice as we began using the slogan – using ‘SM’ on the right should and bold or italics when using it amidst other text to make it stand out. The seed packet maker did not have the capability to but the SM on the packaging, so I have to make sure to use the ‘SM’ when possible in print and online.

- I filed to register the slogan with the USPTO and received application Serial No. 85625428.

Related post:

24
May

Veteran-owned small businesses eligible for pro bono trademark services from Erik M. Pelton & Associates

Posted by ipelton on: May 24th, 2012

Erik M. Pelton & Associates, PLLC (“EMP&A”), an experienced boutique trademark law firm in Falls Church, Virginia is proud to announce a new pro bono initiative in connection with the upcoming 2012 National Veteran Small Business Conference, in Detroit, Michigan, where EMP&A founder Erik Pelton will speak about “Trademark Basics for Small Businesses.”

Through this pro bono initiative, EMP&A will donate its time and U.S. trademark application services to as many as 25 veteran-owned small businesses during the months of May and June 2012.[1]

National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo

According to Mr. Pelton, the goal of the pro bono initiative will help veterans who have transferred their skills from the battlefield to the business world leverage the value of their intellectual property. “Through their service and sacrifice, veterans have proven that they have the leadership and drive necessary to succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Mr. Pelton. “Strong brand protection is critical for small businesses, yet it is often difficult to commit sufficient time and resources toward investments in trademark registration and other intellectual property protections. Our goal is to help veteran entrepreneurs protect their trademarks, so they can stay focused on growing successful businesses.”

Veteran-owned businesses that wish to take part in this pro bono program should complete and submit the form below[2]:

Veteran-Owned Small Business Pro Bono Trademark Initiative from Erik M. Pelton & Associates

[1] Participating businesses will be responsible for any government filing fees.

[1] All decisions regarding participation shall be at the sole discretion of EMP&A. No attorney-client relationship shall exist prior to the signing of a retainer agreement.

11
May

Washington, DC – an INTA conference photo journal

Posted by ipelton on: May 11th, 2012

The INTA® annual meeting in Washington, DC ended earlier this week. More than 9,500 attendees were officially registered, and many others converged on Washington for all things trademark. The event for me was a tremendous success — meeting with colleagues from around the world, seeing old friends from the USPTO and the trademark community, and co-hosting a great party (“Meet the Bloggers”) with some of the most talented minds in trademark law and and trademark blogging.

During the conference and the events surrounding it in Washington, DC I found many interesting logos and trademarks – see the pictures below [click photos to enlarge].

For photos of the “Meet the Bloggers” see posts on TTABlog® here and here, as well as Likelihood of Confusion® here.

 

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