International Trademark Association Eyes Indian Market

With increasing number of transnational companies and brands eyeing the Indian market and increasing number of Indian companies setting their global footprints, India is fast emerging as a prime target market for the New York-headquartered International Trademark Association (INTA). INTA is sending a delegation to India in March to explore various options. International Trademark Association (INTA) is also organizing an interactive session on: “A ‘Brand’ New Day—Preparing for the Present and Future of Trademarks,” on March 14 in the Indian capital.  

It is pertinent here to mention that INTA is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to pace up consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Its members include more than 7,200 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from across 191 countries, who, in turn, benefit from the association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network.

The delegation from INTA will be visiting India- mostly Delhi and Mumbai- between March 14 and March 16. It assumes significance in the wake India emerging as one of the drivers of world economy or global marketplace.

At the workshop, leading business insiders and legal experts will address effective strategies and best practices for protecting intellectual property (IP) rights in a booming and transforming e-commerce and tech startup environment. Various speakers at the event would include representatives from some of India’s leading law firms and international brands, including Adidas Group, Fidus Law Chambers, and RNA IP Attorneys.

INTA chief executive officer (CEO), Etienne Sanz de Acedo, said, “INTA is keenly looking forward to this huge opportunity to strengthen its partnerships with India and identify new and effective ways to work together to advance trademark protection and enforcement.”

With this in view, various issues which will be covered at the session would include creative solutions for preempting trademark infringement and counterfeiting in today’s tech-dominated reality; strategies for effectively leveraging social media and cultural references to promote brands and influence consumer choice; and practical approaches for new technology companies facing constantly developing IP challenges. Mind you that all are extremely topical and relevant topic.

Interestingly, during the course of the visit to the INTA delegation, the association members and leaders will also meet with officials from India’s Trade Marks Office, judges, Customs officials, officials from the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, IP attachés, and representatives of relevant industry and IP associations to take things forward.

The visit of the delegation has been carefully designed for IP and trademark professionals, in-house counsel, small and medium sized enterprises, and technology industry professionals so as to ensure that the whole initiative provides numerous opportunities for networking.