Category: Events/Speaking Engagements

Gibney IP attorneys Angelo Mazza and Maja Szumarska spoke at the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) Annual Conference in Nashville.

Angelo’s panel titled “New Trends in Customs Enforcement” was focused on the changes under the U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s 21st Century Customs Framework. Angelo discussed IP considerations from the brand perspective as it relates to trade reform and border enforcement. Maja’s panel was titled “New Technologies and Impact on IP and Brand Protection – Metaverse, NFTs, and Virtual Goods”. Maja provided an introduction into blockchain technology, focusing on topics such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain-based domains, and will discuss the developing case law in this area. She also provided guidance on the tools available to conduct investigations and the key considerations for developing an effective enforcement strategy.

Learn more about the program here.

Angelo Mazza spoke at the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) Conference in Nashville on April 4. His panel was titled “New Trends in Customs Enforcement”.
Other speakers include Travis Johnson, Senior Counsel and Vice President – Legislative Affairs, IACC (moderator), Kristyna Richterova, Czech General Customs Directorate and Kristin Weaver, Branch Chief, IPR Operations, U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

The panel focused on the changes under the U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s 21st Century Customs Framework. Angelo will discuss IP considerations from the brand perspective as it relates to trade reform and border enforcement.

Learn more about the program here.

IP Partner Maja Szumarska spoke at the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) Conference in Nashville on April 2.

The panel was titled “New Technologies and Impact on IP and Brand Protection – Metaverse, NFTs, and Virtual Goods”. Maja provided an introduction into blockchain technology, focusing on topics such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain-based domains, and will discuss the developing case law in this area. She also provided guidance on the tools available to conduct investigations and the key considerations for developing an effective enforcement strategy.

Learn more about the program here.

Intellectual Property Partners Brian Brokate and Maja Szumarska will speak at the Practising Law Institute’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement 2023 on January 13, 2023. The program provides developments on recent copyright and trademark cases and anticounterfeiting trends.

Maja is a chairperson for this event and will present on the “Anti-Counterfeiting Update” panel. This includes: understanding direct liability; issues with serving foreign defendants via email; analyzing seizures and ex parte remedies; understanding contributory liability; authentication & NFTs; and assessing cost-effective enforcement strategies.

Maja will also speak on the panel “Ethical Issues in IP Rights Enforcement”. This session will focus on ethical considerations when conducting IP investigations; disciplinary rules and working with investigators; assessing social media platforms; recent decisions involving ethical violations; and analyzing attorney-client privilege. This panel also features the participation of Judge Vincent L. Briccetti USDJ, SDNY.

Brian will present on the “Current Government IP Enforcement Programs” panel. This session will cover: the types of IP crimes DOJ prosecutes; assess IP protection in light of technological advances; major enforcement cases; developing trends and looming issues; understanding law enforcement during COVID and consumer privacy and commercial surveillance.

Learn more and register.

Intellectual Property Chair Brian Brokate will speak at the Practising Law Institute’s Intellectual Property Law Institute 2022 on September 15-16, 2022. The program provides developments on recent trends in patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets.

Brian will speak on the panel “Trademark Aspects of NFTs and Other Blockchain Uses” on Day 2 of the program.

This session will provide insight into issues surrounding NFTs, Blockchain and trademarks including an overview of NFTs, how brands are using NFTs, registering and enforcement of trademarks for NFTs, worldwide use and issues/considerations.

Learn more and register here.

Brian Brokate, Chair of Gibney’s Intellectual Property Group, will be a panelist at the Strafford webinar “Digital Fashion and Brand Protection: Leveraging Copyright, Trademark, and Trade Dress; NFTs; Ownership Challenges” on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 1:30 – 2:30 pm EDT.

This CLE webinar will guide IP counsel on protecting fashion intellectual property in the metaverse. The panel will discuss the various forms of IP that can protect fashion in the digital world of virtual reality and gaming and with respect to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the challenges of enforcement. They will review past case law decisions and pending cases and developments which will establish new precedent for future protection and enforcement of fashion intellectual property in the metaverse. The panel will also discuss the risks of failing to protect the brands and offer best practices for protecting brands in digital fashion.

Topics include:

• Protecting digital fashion with IP laws
• Copyright: What can you protect?
• Trademark and trade dress in the metaverse
• Domain names in the metaverse
• Design patents
• Best practices to enforce IP rights in the metaverse
• Hurdles to protecting brands in the digital world and what strategies can be employed to enhance protection

For more information, visit the event page.

Intellectual Property Partners Brian Brokate and Angelo Mazza will speak at the Practising Law Institute’s Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement 2022 on January 7, 2022. The program provides developments on recent copyright and trademark cases and anticounterfeiting trends.

Brian will deliver the opening remarks and will speak on the “Anti-Counterfeiting Update” panel. Topics include direct liability, seizures and ex parte remedies, Recent trends and the checklist that should be followed when applying for a seizure order, contributory liability and noteworthy decisions in cases involving online marketplaces and on-demand printers, and a look at the most innovative and cost-effective enforcement strategies used by brands.

Angelo will speak on the panel “Current Government IP Enforcement Programs.” Topics will include DOJ-prosecuted IP crime, IP protection in light of technological advances, the impact of major cases on enforcement, developing trends and looming issues, Made in the USA claims for Covid-19 related products and Covid-related scams facing consumers and businesses.

Learn more and register.