The International Trademark Association (INTA) this week opened registration for its 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+—the world’s largest event for brand owners and professionals that takes on a unique hybrid format this year. Set for November 15 to 19, it will feature five days of robust educational sessions, Business Development opportunities, and social activities on a virtual platform, as well as one-day in-person mini-conferences in four cities on different days that same week.
In opening registration for members today, the Association is encouraging early sign-ups to obtain “the best price and the best experience,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. “Excitement is building around this event. Our community is eager to get together and to look to the future, and we’re presenting an innovative opportunity to do so virtually as well as in person.”
During Premium Access registration, which runs through August 13, members can benefit from a lower price, compared with pricing tiers subsequently in effect; access to INTA’s matchmaking and appointment tool to schedule meetings; and other perks. In addition, early registration will help members secure a spot at sessions with limited attendance on the virtual platform and at the first-come, first-served in-person mini-conferences. Attendees must register first for the virtual meeting in order to register, at an additional fee, for a mini-conference. Non-members can register for the Annual Meeting Virtual+ beginning August 16.
INTA today also released the educational programming schedule for the virtual platform. Each day will feature a track with a central theme: Building a Better Society Through Brands, The Business of Brands, Enforcement and Anticounterfeiting, Innovation and the Future of IP, and Regional Updates. The format will include panel sessions, Capsule Keynotes, workshops, and Idea Exchanges. Business Development opportunities will include some small group discussions that will build on the daily tracks, as well as other activities that are conducive for networking and achieving other business goals.
The in-person mini-conferences will take place in Hong Kong, SAR, China on November 15; New York, New York on November 16; Berlin, Germany on November 17; and Los Angeles, California, on November 18. Offering the opportunity to reconnect in person, each mini-conference will feature educational programming, organic networking opportunities, and a reception.
Continuing its emphasis throughout the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and safety of its members and society, INTA also today published health policies and safety precautions for the in-person mini-conferences. The Association noted: “We’re dedicated to creating and maintaining a healthy and safe environment in compliance with the guidelines from the World Health Organization, the relevant local governmental agencies, health authorities, and best practices recommended by the facilities in locations where we will be hosting our mini-conferences. In some instances, we have gone above and beyond these health and safety guidelines.”
INTA President Tiki Dare praised the Association volunteers and staff for developing an outstanding format and program for the 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+. “INTA continues to shine as an organization that is forward-thinking and adaptable, and offers tremendous value to the intellectual property community,” she said. “This is one event that we’re all looking forward to.”
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 nearly 6,500 organizations, representing more than 34,350 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 185 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 Beijing, Brussels, Santiago, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and a representative in New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.
