INTA Annual Meeting
See You In Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
As the 2011 INTA Annual Meeting marks its end with the requisite closing gala event, the folks at INTA are already looking forward to 2012.
This year’s event set the bar pretty high, though. As a speaker for two consecutive years and an attendee since 2005, my advice to the 2012 speaker faculty consists of three major points.
1) Keep your presentation relevant. As a benchmark, use a topic in the news during the week of the event that dovetails with your presentation. At my topic concerning personal branding for lawyers, I used an excerpt from an article in May 7th - May 13th issue of The Economist that focused on the “sophisticated branding” challenges facing law firms.
2) Take a time out. Conferences are events that consume your mornings, afternoons, and evenings. A little “me time” can minimize your stress. Work out in the hotel gym. Take a walk around the convention center. Listen to your iPod.
3) Have fun. Nobody said that work can’t be fun!
See you in D.C. for the 2012 INTA Annual Meeting!
david@davidkrell.com
As the 2011 INTA Annual Meeting marks its end with the requisite closing gala event, the folks at INTA are already looking forward to 2012.
This year’s event set the bar pretty high, though. As a speaker for two consecutive years and an attendee since 2005, my advice to the 2012 speaker faculty consists of three major points.
1) Keep your presentation relevant. As a benchmark, use a topic in the news during the week of the event that dovetails with your presentation. At my topic concerning personal branding for lawyers, I used an excerpt from an article in May 7th - May 13th issue of The Economist that focused on the “sophisticated branding” challenges facing law firms.
2) Take a time out. Conferences are events that consume your mornings, afternoons, and evenings. A little “me time” can minimize your stress. Work out in the hotel gym. Take a walk around the convention center. Listen to your iPod.
3) Have fun. Nobody said that work can’t be fun!
See you in D.C. for the 2012 INTA Annual Meeting!
What A DIfference A Year Makes
May 17, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Reporting live from the Exhibit Hall at the Moscone Center, I am witnessing a palpable increase in energy compared to the last couple of INTA Annual Meetings. The best tangible indicator is the number of smiles. It’s still a far cry from the good old days of glory, though. Thomson does not have its bash on the penultimate night nor does its sister company Westlaw have high-level giveaways. Service providers that once distributed items at their respective booths now collect business cards of prospects in exchange for a chance to win an item. The iPad seems to be the item of choice.
We’re seeing topics discussed that didn’t even exist a couple of years ago. Green Marketing. Social Media. And the elevation of personal branding into the INTA Annual Meeting discussion received an enthusiastic welcome from our workshop audience yesterday.
With an increase in the number of attendees and a consequent boost in the energy level, the rebound may signal something beyond an economy hopefully ramping up for a rebound. More attorneys at the INTA Annual Meeting logically translates into companies shoring up their trademark and branding resources.
This is particularly salient, not to mention financially beneficial, for trademark lawyers. The spectrum of industries represented at INTA proves that the trademark arena is universal. Economists may be able to quantify the financial impact of a brand. But in layman’s terms, I think we can safely make an argument that a brand’s survival during a recession owes a highly significant debt to the strength of the brand’s trademark portfolio.
Recessions come and go. But a thoughtful, flexible, and well-executed trademark plan is forever.
david@davidkrell.com
Reporting live from the Exhibit Hall at the Moscone Center, I am witnessing a palpable increase in energy compared to the last couple of INTA Annual Meetings. The best tangible indicator is the number of smiles. It’s still a far cry from the good old days of glory, though. Thomson does not have its bash on the penultimate night nor does its sister company Westlaw have high-level giveaways. Service providers that once distributed items at their respective booths now collect business cards of prospects in exchange for a chance to win an item. The iPad seems to be the item of choice.
We’re seeing topics discussed that didn’t even exist a couple of years ago. Green Marketing. Social Media. And the elevation of personal branding into the INTA Annual Meeting discussion received an enthusiastic welcome from our workshop audience yesterday.
With an increase in the number of attendees and a consequent boost in the energy level, the rebound may signal something beyond an economy hopefully ramping up for a rebound. More attorneys at the INTA Annual Meeting logically translates into companies shoring up their trademark and branding resources.
This is particularly salient, not to mention financially beneficial, for trademark lawyers. The spectrum of industries represented at INTA proves that the trademark arena is universal. Economists may be able to quantify the financial impact of a brand. But in layman’s terms, I think we can safely make an argument that a brand’s survival during a recession owes a highly significant debt to the strength of the brand’s trademark portfolio.
Recessions come and go. But a thoughtful, flexible, and well-executed trademark plan is forever.
A Full Day at INTA
May 17, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Strategic Personal Branding For Today’s Trademark Lawyer. That was the title of my workshop with moderator extraordinaire Jim McCarthy of McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff and co-panelists Deb Knupp of Akina and Paul Reidl, a.k.a. The Wine Lawyer. We played to a packed house of more than 100 attendees.
Jim began the session by highlighting one of the best executed brand strategies -- Be Like Mike. Music with an African-inspired beat provided the undercurrent for a Gatorade commercial highlighting Michael Jordan’s fantastic exploits on the basketball court combined with footage of everyday folks who, indeed, want to be like Mike.
It’s a great lesson in personal branding and, of course, the slogan’s alliteration helps. The lesson is simple: Define your brand and execute it. Here, if you drink Gatorade, you will achieve Michael Jordan’s excellence.
The executing part of the branding strategy usually provides the biggest challenge.
Deb talked about strategies to overcome those challenges, including an exercise where you fill in the blanks of the following sentence: I (action verb) for (target market). It’s a simple exercise, but very effective.
I followed up with some media strategies culled from my years of experience as an attorney, writer, television news writer and producer, and conference producer. For example, I suggested that attorneys build credentials by writing for legal journals and speaking at legal association events, like the INTA Annual Meeting. Then, attorneys can expand their media presence by writing for publications that target clients.
I used the United-Continental merger as an example. If one of the airlines goes by the wayside with its trademarks -- logo and name -- permanently retired, the valuation of the trademarks in the good will category could be good fodder for publications targeting the aerospace market.
Paul anchored our presentation with a personal story. At the height of the recession (or depth of it, as the case may be), Paul started his own law firm on February 1, 2009. Despite the detractors, and there were many, Paul cultivated his 30 years of experience to form his brand -- The Wine Lawyer. Prominently in his strategy wheel is the social media spoke.
I aimed to celebrate with friends at the A’s game. But the weather proved too miserable for the group to make the trek to the Oakland Coliseum. So, I took up Jim on his invitation to MBHB’s party at the Irish Bank. Although the INTA Annual Meeting attracted about 9,000 attendees this year, it really is a small world. At the Irish Bank, I ran into Brian Daniel, my task force leader last year. Under his aegis, I produced the most successful workshop at the 2010 INTA Annual Meeting in Boston. My legal writing workshop drew about 160 people.
I also saw Alan Kaufman and Sunita Koneru, both veteran attendees of the INTA Annual Meeting. I first met them last year at a cocktail party.
Now, I’m up at dawn to recap yesterday’s events and getting ready for another day.
david@davidkrell.com
Strategic Personal Branding For Today’s Trademark Lawyer. That was the title of my workshop with moderator extraordinaire Jim McCarthy of McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff and co-panelists Deb Knupp of Akina and Paul Reidl, a.k.a. The Wine Lawyer. We played to a packed house of more than 100 attendees.
Jim began the session by highlighting one of the best executed brand strategies -- Be Like Mike. Music with an African-inspired beat provided the undercurrent for a Gatorade commercial highlighting Michael Jordan’s fantastic exploits on the basketball court combined with footage of everyday folks who, indeed, want to be like Mike.
It’s a great lesson in personal branding and, of course, the slogan’s alliteration helps. The lesson is simple: Define your brand and execute it. Here, if you drink Gatorade, you will achieve Michael Jordan’s excellence.
The executing part of the branding strategy usually provides the biggest challenge.
Deb talked about strategies to overcome those challenges, including an exercise where you fill in the blanks of the following sentence: I (action verb) for (target market). It’s a simple exercise, but very effective.
I followed up with some media strategies culled from my years of experience as an attorney, writer, television news writer and producer, and conference producer. For example, I suggested that attorneys build credentials by writing for legal journals and speaking at legal association events, like the INTA Annual Meeting. Then, attorneys can expand their media presence by writing for publications that target clients.
I used the United-Continental merger as an example. If one of the airlines goes by the wayside with its trademarks -- logo and name -- permanently retired, the valuation of the trademarks in the good will category could be good fodder for publications targeting the aerospace market.
Paul anchored our presentation with a personal story. At the height of the recession (or depth of it, as the case may be), Paul started his own law firm on February 1, 2009. Despite the detractors, and there were many, Paul cultivated his 30 years of experience to form his brand -- The Wine Lawyer. Prominently in his strategy wheel is the social media spoke.
I aimed to celebrate with friends at the A’s game. But the weather proved too miserable for the group to make the trek to the Oakland Coliseum. So, I took up Jim on his invitation to MBHB’s party at the Irish Bank. Although the INTA Annual Meeting attracted about 9,000 attendees this year, it really is a small world. At the Irish Bank, I ran into Brian Daniel, my task force leader last year. Under his aegis, I produced the most successful workshop at the 2010 INTA Annual Meeting in Boston. My legal writing workshop drew about 160 people.
I also saw Alan Kaufman and Sunita Koneru, both veteran attendees of the INTA Annual Meeting. I first met them last year at a cocktail party.
Now, I’m up at dawn to recap yesterday’s events and getting ready for another day.
The Maltese Falcon
May 15, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
And so a full moon shines brightly over San Francisco as the INTA Annual Meeting is underway.
At the kickoff reception, I immediately noticed an energy missing from the 2009 Seattle and 2010 Boston meetings. Perhaps the healthier economy is the major factor. Also, approximately 9,000 attendees will be here. That’s quite an increase compared to the last two years. I also enjoyed meeting friends and colleagues on INTA’s stalwart team -- Ralf Mangual and Jessica Tuquero. I also had the opportunity to chat with Alan Drewsen, INTA’s President.
I connected with another old friend and colleague -- not to mention trademark attorney extraordinaire -- Sonja Keith of Classic Media. Sonja oversees the trademark portfolio of Classic’s properties, including The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Richie Rich, Underdog, and Casper the Friendly Ghost. We talked trademarks at the legendary John’s Grill. Detective story buffs will note that John’s Grill is mentioned prominently in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon as Sam Spade’s hangout. I had the Sam Spade Special, a meal described in the book -- Sam Spade went to John's Grill, asked the waiter to hurry his order of chops, baked potato, sliced tomatoes and was smoking a cigarette with his coffee when...
It’s the stuff that a carnivore’s dreams are made of.
david@davidkrell.com
And so a full moon shines brightly over San Francisco as the INTA Annual Meeting is underway.
At the kickoff reception, I immediately noticed an energy missing from the 2009 Seattle and 2010 Boston meetings. Perhaps the healthier economy is the major factor. Also, approximately 9,000 attendees will be here. That’s quite an increase compared to the last two years. I also enjoyed meeting friends and colleagues on INTA’s stalwart team -- Ralf Mangual and Jessica Tuquero. I also had the opportunity to chat with Alan Drewsen, INTA’s President.
I connected with another old friend and colleague -- not to mention trademark attorney extraordinaire -- Sonja Keith of Classic Media. Sonja oversees the trademark portfolio of Classic’s properties, including The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Richie Rich, Underdog, and Casper the Friendly Ghost. We talked trademarks at the legendary John’s Grill. Detective story buffs will note that John’s Grill is mentioned prominently in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon as Sam Spade’s hangout. I had the Sam Spade Special, a meal described in the book -- Sam Spade went to John's Grill, asked the waiter to hurry his order of chops, baked potato, sliced tomatoes and was smoking a cigarette with his coffee when...
It’s the stuff that a carnivore’s dreams are made of.
San Francisco
May 15, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Greetings from San Francisco!
The INTA Annual Meeting is kicking off imminently. Yours truly will be blogging throughout the conference. It’s a pretty simple formula. Workshops. Networking. Parties. And about 8,000 of your peers and, hopefully, soon-to-be colleagues, clients, and friends in the trademark arena.
I’ll head to the Moscone Center fairly shortly to get a jump on things.
I hope I run into some folks from Disney. The House of Mouse recently applied to register “Seal Team Six” with the United States Patent & Trademark Office in the wake of the successful mission to storm Osama bin Laden’s compound. Is there a movie in the works? A video game?
david@davidkrell.com
Greetings from San Francisco!
The INTA Annual Meeting is kicking off imminently. Yours truly will be blogging throughout the conference. It’s a pretty simple formula. Workshops. Networking. Parties. And about 8,000 of your peers and, hopefully, soon-to-be colleagues, clients, and friends in the trademark arena.
I’ll head to the Moscone Center fairly shortly to get a jump on things.
I hope I run into some folks from Disney. The House of Mouse recently applied to register “Seal Team Six” with the United States Patent & Trademark Office in the wake of the successful mission to storm Osama bin Laden’s compound. Is there a movie in the works? A video game?
Networking For Lawyers
May 11, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Why will this year’s INTA Annual Meeting from May 14th to May 18th in San Francisco be different than the last one...and the one before that...and so on and so on and so on? In a word -- networking.
Devin Toporek, INTA’s Marketing and Brand Strategy Manager, says that INTA is expanding its services for solo practitioners and small firms with SME events -- Small and Medium Enterprises. This will give terrific networking opportunities to attorneys who are not at Fortune 500 companies or multinational firms.
Social media will be prominent. Every day, the INTA’s Daily News will be available on the organization’s web site and by email, in addition to its traditional print form. For old school media types, the new INTA-TV will highlight interviews with INTA members and leaders. INTA-TV will be shown on televisions in the Moscone Center and on the web site. It will also be piped into hotel rooms within the INTA hotel block, e.g., San Francisco Marriott Marquis, Grand Hyatt San Francisco.
Tech savvy types will appreciate INTA’s mobile app that gives the user floor plans of the Moscone Center and the San Francisco Marriott Marquis (INTA’s host hotel) in addition to sponsor information, exhibitor information, and a schedule of events that is customizable. If you have extra time in your schedule for sightseeing, information about San Francisco is available.
There will also be a new networking event modeled after the Speed Dating format. It will take place in the exhibition hall. You meet a person for a few minutes and figure out if there is a business chemistry between both of you. If there is a mutual attraction, so to speak, then a business relationship or referral may be born.
Oh yeah, there will also be some workshops, one of which is the branding event where your friendly neighborhood attorney/writer/blogger will be sharing secrets about how to master the media.
david@davidkrell.com
Why will this year’s INTA Annual Meeting from May 14th to May 18th in San Francisco be different than the last one...and the one before that...and so on and so on and so on? In a word -- networking.
Devin Toporek, INTA’s Marketing and Brand Strategy Manager, says that INTA is expanding its services for solo practitioners and small firms with SME events -- Small and Medium Enterprises. This will give terrific networking opportunities to attorneys who are not at Fortune 500 companies or multinational firms.
Social media will be prominent. Every day, the INTA’s Daily News will be available on the organization’s web site and by email, in addition to its traditional print form. For old school media types, the new INTA-TV will highlight interviews with INTA members and leaders. INTA-TV will be shown on televisions in the Moscone Center and on the web site. It will also be piped into hotel rooms within the INTA hotel block, e.g., San Francisco Marriott Marquis, Grand Hyatt San Francisco.
Tech savvy types will appreciate INTA’s mobile app that gives the user floor plans of the Moscone Center and the San Francisco Marriott Marquis (INTA’s host hotel) in addition to sponsor information, exhibitor information, and a schedule of events that is customizable. If you have extra time in your schedule for sightseeing, information about San Francisco is available.
There will also be a new networking event modeled after the Speed Dating format. It will take place in the exhibition hall. You meet a person for a few minutes and figure out if there is a business chemistry between both of you. If there is a mutual attraction, so to speak, then a business relationship or referral may be born.
Oh yeah, there will also be some workshops, one of which is the branding event where your friendly neighborhood attorney/writer/blogger will be sharing secrets about how to master the media.
Preparing For A Conference
May 09, 2011
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
And so another spring is here. My annual ritual of attending the INTA Annual Meeting is fast approaching with the kickoff taking place next Sunday night, May 16th.
I’m privileged to speak on a panel about branding for attorneys. Trademark attorneys specialize in protecting brands. But a newConference calls, practices, and constant self-editing have become part of my routine in recent weeks.
Practicing the presentation is the most challenging part because there is no audience during our practices. Comedians can go to small comedy clubs for the 1:00 am slot to get timing down for a new set of jokes. We do not have that opportunity. And unless we’re Charlie Sheen, he of the “Duh! Winning!” attitude, we do not have proclaimed goddesses adorning the stage to keep the audience visually interested.
We cannot coast on our experience, our knowledge, or even our reputation. Why? Because every audience is another chance to land a client. We only get one chance to be in front of the crowd. So, I’m diligently rehearsing my part of the workshop.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.
david@davidkrell.com
And so another spring is here. My annual ritual of attending the INTA Annual Meeting is fast approaching with the kickoff taking place next Sunday night, May 16th.
I’m privileged to speak on a panel about branding for attorneys. Trademark attorneys specialize in protecting brands. But a newConference calls, practices, and constant self-editing have become part of my routine in recent weeks.
Practicing the presentation is the most challenging part because there is no audience during our practices. Comedians can go to small comedy clubs for the 1:00 am slot to get timing down for a new set of jokes. We do not have that opportunity. And unless we’re Charlie Sheen, he of the “Duh! Winning!” attitude, we do not have proclaimed goddesses adorning the stage to keep the audience visually interested.
We cannot coast on our experience, our knowledge, or even our reputation. Why? Because every audience is another chance to land a client. We only get one chance to be in front of the crowd. So, I’m diligently rehearsing my part of the workshop.
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.
INTA -- Last Day of Annual Meeting
May 26, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
A full morning.
I took a Boston Duck Tour through the streets of Boston and on the Charles River. Our esteemed, personable, and knowledgeable guide, Captain Kidding, even let us take turns at the wheel when our amphibious bus became a boat.
We embarked on a tour of Fenway Park following the Boston Duck Tour. Because I am passionate about baseball history, learning about the home base for the Red Sox up close and personal was a necessity. We walked on the warning track, faced the Green Monster, and marveled at the scuff marks left by scores of baseball.
Tonight, I’m off to the Grand Finale as the 2010 INTA Annual Meeting comes to a close.
david@davidkrell.com
A full morning.
I took a Boston Duck Tour through the streets of Boston and on the Charles River. Our esteemed, personable, and knowledgeable guide, Captain Kidding, even let us take turns at the wheel when our amphibious bus became a boat.
We embarked on a tour of Fenway Park following the Boston Duck Tour. Because I am passionate about baseball history, learning about the home base for the Red Sox up close and personal was a necessity. We walked on the warning track, faced the Green Monster, and marveled at the scuff marks left by scores of baseball.
Tonight, I’m off to the Grand Finale as the 2010 INTA Annual Meeting comes to a close.
INTA -- Changes
May 26, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
And so we enter the home stretch of the 2010 INTA Annual Meeting. Some attendees will leave today because their work load demands it. Some will stay for tonight’s Grand Finale at the Museum of Science.
I attended my first Annual Meeting in 2005. In the past five years, I’ve noticed three major changes.
First, the booths in the exhibition hall don’t offer giveaways anymore. Westlaw used to offer premium quality gym bags or roller bags if you sat through a presentation lasting approximately thirty minutes. The giveaway was so popular that waiting on the massive line to get to the presentation frequently exceeded an hour. Perhaps the scaling back is a response to the economy. Instead of premium giveaways, many vendors are holding drawings. Place your business card in a bowl. If they draw your card, you win an iPad, iPod, etc.
Second, law firms don’t host nearly as many parties. The economy has certainly hit the legal field in the past five years. Law firms retracted marketing efforts accordingly. Once a highlight of the INTA Annual meeting, now attendees must find networking opportunities on their own.
Third, the topics in the seminars, workshops, and breakout sessions have changed. This change is a response to the demands of INTA’s members and their clients. For example, “social media” was not in our lexicon five years ago. Now, it’s front and center as a topic because our clients face tremendous challenges in policing their marks on Facebook, Twitter, and the like.
So, as we wind down, I’m already looking forward to next year’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco!
david@davidkrell.com
And so we enter the home stretch of the 2010 INTA Annual Meeting. Some attendees will leave today because their work load demands it. Some will stay for tonight’s Grand Finale at the Museum of Science.
I attended my first Annual Meeting in 2005. In the past five years, I’ve noticed three major changes.
First, the booths in the exhibition hall don’t offer giveaways anymore. Westlaw used to offer premium quality gym bags or roller bags if you sat through a presentation lasting approximately thirty minutes. The giveaway was so popular that waiting on the massive line to get to the presentation frequently exceeded an hour. Perhaps the scaling back is a response to the economy. Instead of premium giveaways, many vendors are holding drawings. Place your business card in a bowl. If they draw your card, you win an iPad, iPod, etc.
Second, law firms don’t host nearly as many parties. The economy has certainly hit the legal field in the past five years. Law firms retracted marketing efforts accordingly. Once a highlight of the INTA Annual meeting, now attendees must find networking opportunities on their own.
Third, the topics in the seminars, workshops, and breakout sessions have changed. This change is a response to the demands of INTA’s members and their clients. For example, “social media” was not in our lexicon five years ago. Now, it’s front and center as a topic because our clients face tremendous challenges in policing their marks on Facebook, Twitter, and the like.
So, as we wind down, I’m already looking forward to next year’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco!
INTA -- Charlie Chaplin
May 25, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Today’s INTA Annual Meeting seminar concerning celebrities and trademarks got me thinking. Who was the first celebrity brand?
Perhaps the honor should go to Charlie Chaplin. After all, he created and played the Tramp character in several films. His signature character. His trademark character.
Nearly 100 years after Chaplin broke into the silent film industry, his Little Tramp image continues as a trademark. No longer limited to the silver screen, the Little Tramp’s image is controlled by Bubbles, Inc. and Roy Export Company Establishment.
Can you name another celebrity whose image dates back to 1910 and is still in demand today?
david@davidkrell.com
Today’s INTA Annual Meeting seminar concerning celebrities and trademarks got me thinking. Who was the first celebrity brand?
Perhaps the honor should go to Charlie Chaplin. After all, he created and played the Tramp character in several films. His signature character. His trademark character.
Nearly 100 years after Chaplin broke into the silent film industry, his Little Tramp image continues as a trademark. No longer limited to the silver screen, the Little Tramp’s image is controlled by Bubbles, Inc. and Roy Export Company Establishment.
Can you name another celebrity whose image dates back to 1910 and is still in demand today?
INTA -- Trademarks and Celebrities
May 25, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
The world’s most famous celebrity facing a trademark crisis is Blue Zackman.
You’ve never heard of him? That’s because he’s fictional.
The INTA Annual Meeting panel at today’s Trademarks & Celebrities seminar created Blue Zackman, a male model who recently expanded his market to include cologne and songs. But Blue faces worldwide attacks, infringements, and counterfeits of his image.
The panel consisted of attorneys from the United States, Germany, Australia, and Hong Kong. The attorneys explained the different quirks regarding right of privacy, right of publicity, and trademark law in their respective geographic areas.
If you missed the discussion, check it out on the INTA web portal. You’ll find useful information if the next Blue Zackman walks through your door!
david@davidkrell.com
The world’s most famous celebrity facing a trademark crisis is Blue Zackman.
You’ve never heard of him? That’s because he’s fictional.
The INTA Annual Meeting panel at today’s Trademarks & Celebrities seminar created Blue Zackman, a male model who recently expanded his market to include cologne and songs. But Blue faces worldwide attacks, infringements, and counterfeits of his image.
The panel consisted of attorneys from the United States, Germany, Australia, and Hong Kong. The attorneys explained the different quirks regarding right of privacy, right of publicity, and trademark law in their respective geographic areas.
If you missed the discussion, check it out on the INTA web portal. You’ll find useful information if the next Blue Zackman walks through your door!
INTA -- For Adults Only
May 25, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Alcohol. Sex. Gambling. Oh my!
I just finished the For Adults Only breakout session at the INTA Annual Meeting. We learned about the New York Stock Exchange’s lawsuit concerning New York Slot Exchange. We learned about the Miami Dolphins taking action and then resolving a dispute concerning the Dancing Dolphins slot machine. And we learned about Playboy’s worldwide presence as an intellectual property owner and icon.
Anamaria Cashman of Playboy gave us a review of Playboy’s history, intellectual property and otherwise. For the fashion crowd, Playboy received the first trademark registration for a costume -- the Playboy bunny costume -- at the United States Patent & Trademark Office on January 7, 1964.
david@davidkrell.com
Alcohol. Sex. Gambling. Oh my!
I just finished the For Adults Only breakout session at the INTA Annual Meeting. We learned about the New York Stock Exchange’s lawsuit concerning New York Slot Exchange. We learned about the Miami Dolphins taking action and then resolving a dispute concerning the Dancing Dolphins slot machine. And we learned about Playboy’s worldwide presence as an intellectual property owner and icon.
Anamaria Cashman of Playboy gave us a review of Playboy’s history, intellectual property and otherwise. For the fashion crowd, Playboy received the first trademark registration for a costume -- the Playboy bunny costume -- at the United States Patent & Trademark Office on January 7, 1964.
INTA Writing Workshop: Pre-Game
May 24, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Expect the unexpected.
I just found out that more than 300 people registered for my event at the INTA Annual Meeting -- Effective Legal Writing Workshop in Room 203 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Unfortunately, the convention center set the room for 100 -- 10 tables with 10 chairs each.
Thanks to quick thinking and quicker action by Elizabeth Cooper, Event Services Manager of Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and Stuart Ruff, Senior Event Planner of INTA, we now have rows instead of tables to handle the seating.
david@davidkrell.com
Expect the unexpected.
I just found out that more than 300 people registered for my event at the INTA Annual Meeting -- Effective Legal Writing Workshop in Room 203 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Unfortunately, the convention center set the room for 100 -- 10 tables with 10 chairs each.
Thanks to quick thinking and quicker action by Elizabeth Cooper, Event Services Manager of Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and Stuart Ruff, Senior Event Planner of INTA, we now have rows instead of tables to handle the seating.
INTA - New Friends, Old Friends
May 23, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
And so the annual gathering of trademark professionals, otherwise known as INTA Annual Meeting, began tonight with the kickoff cocktail party. I connected with my Effective Legal Writing co-panelists Bob Latham and Kelly Slavitt. Unfortunately, we did not connect with the other member of our quartet, Joff Wild. But we’ll all be in the same place tomorrow at 10:30 am -- Room 203 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Bob Latham generously invited us to Jackson Walker’s cocktail party at City Bar in the Westin adjoining the convention center. I reconnected with Jackson Walker veterans Carl Butzer and John Jackson. And I struck up a conversation with two attorneys -- Alan Kaufman of McKenna Long & Aldridge and Sunita Koneru of Bullivant Houser Bailey.
Sunita, raised in Iowa, now calls San Francisco her home city. Alan is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan transplanted to New York City. They are proof positive that INTA’s Annual Meeting inspires networking. Alan and Sunita met at last year’s event -- now they’re old friends. To market future INTA events, Alan theorizes that the word “Intaversary” could be an emblem, maybe even a trademark.
While I waited on the taxicab line outside the convention center, I ran into another Alan -- Alan Drewsen, INTA’s Executive Director. Alan graciously remembered my blogging and Tweeting from last year’s Annual Meeting. I promised more of the same for this year.
We’re off to a good start.
david@davidkrell.com
And so the annual gathering of trademark professionals, otherwise known as INTA Annual Meeting, began tonight with the kickoff cocktail party. I connected with my Effective Legal Writing co-panelists Bob Latham and Kelly Slavitt. Unfortunately, we did not connect with the other member of our quartet, Joff Wild. But we’ll all be in the same place tomorrow at 10:30 am -- Room 203 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Bob Latham generously invited us to Jackson Walker’s cocktail party at City Bar in the Westin adjoining the convention center. I reconnected with Jackson Walker veterans Carl Butzer and John Jackson. And I struck up a conversation with two attorneys -- Alan Kaufman of McKenna Long & Aldridge and Sunita Koneru of Bullivant Houser Bailey.
Sunita, raised in Iowa, now calls San Francisco her home city. Alan is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan transplanted to New York City. They are proof positive that INTA’s Annual Meeting inspires networking. Alan and Sunita met at last year’s event -- now they’re old friends. To market future INTA events, Alan theorizes that the word “Intaversary” could be an emblem, maybe even a trademark.
While I waited on the taxicab line outside the convention center, I ran into another Alan -- Alan Drewsen, INTA’s Executive Director. Alan graciously remembered my blogging and Tweeting from last year’s Annual Meeting. I promised more of the same for this year.
We’re off to a good start.
INTA Networking Continues -- Bilingual
May 20, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Networking at an INTA Annual Meeting is a continuous process. It happens during the lecture halls before the CLE workshops. It happens at the parties, like tonight's Grand Finale at Seattle's The Museum of Flight. And it happens online with Twitter, Facebook, and blogs.
Today, it happened for me in the Press Room where I had the pleasure of meeting Victoria Pereira, Executive Director of Marcasur.
Marcasur -- The First Latin American Intellectual Property Media is a Spanish-language magazine. We talked briefly about my writing blog and workshop. Before I knew it, I had a request to write a 500-800 page article about legal writing for the July - September issue.
Can anyone recommend language translation software?!
david@davidkrell.com
Networking at an INTA Annual Meeting is a continuous process. It happens during the lecture halls before the CLE workshops. It happens at the parties, like tonight's Grand Finale at Seattle's The Museum of Flight. And it happens online with Twitter, Facebook, and blogs.
Today, it happened for me in the Press Room where I had the pleasure of meeting Victoria Pereira, Executive Director of Marcasur.
Marcasur -- The First Latin American Intellectual Property Media is a Spanish-language magazine. We talked briefly about my writing blog and workshop. Before I knew it, I had a request to write a 500-800 page article about legal writing for the July - September issue.
Can anyone recommend language translation software?!
Blog Triples Visitors
May 20, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
I am glad to report that the number of visitors to my blog has tripled from Sunday, May 17th to Tuesday, May 19th! Thanks to the attendees of the 2009 INTA Annual Meeting who regularly check the blog!
Keep updated throughout today, the last full day of the conference -- Wednesday, May 20th.
I'll see you tonight at the Grand Finale taking place at The Museum of Flight!
david@davidkrell.com
I am glad to report that the number of visitors to my blog has tripled from Sunday, May 17th to Tuesday, May 19th! Thanks to the attendees of the 2009 INTA Annual Meeting who regularly check the blog!
Keep updated throughout today, the last full day of the conference -- Wednesday, May 20th.
I'll see you tonight at the Grand Finale taking place at The Museum of Flight!