International Trademark Association Unveils SME Resources to Coincide with World Intellectual Property Day

New York, New York—April 22, 2021—The International Trademark Association (INTA) will mark World Intellectual Property Day on April 26 by underscoring why entrepreneurs should put intellectual property (IP) on their radar in the early stages of their strategic planning and operations, as well as by providing them with resources to help them understand this indispensable asset.

At the forefront of the Association’s efforts, INTA will unveil a new page on the resources section of its website specifically for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Content will include explaining IP, its value, and reasons to register trademarks early, and feature INTA’s Pro Bono Clearinghouse and other resources that can help SMEs build, sustain, and protect their businesses. In addition, INTA will be joining in several events around the world focused on SMEs.

The initiatives align with this year’s World IP Day theme of “IP and SMEs: Taking your ideas to market.” The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sponsors World IP Day each year with the aim of increasing general understanding of IP.

“It’s critical that SMEs understand that IP is not just for ‘big’ brands. Every business, small, medium, or large, should recognize that IP is a valuable asset in their portfolios—one that should be considered and protected throughout all stages of growth,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo.

Accessible to the public on April 26, INTA’s SME website content highlights the Pro Bono Clearinghouse, which matches eligible clients facing trademark issues with member attorneys who volunteer to provide services free of charge. Eligible clients include SMEs, not-for-profit, and nonprofit organizations with low operating budgets that might not otherwise have affordable access to legal assistance. Now a global initiative, the Clearinghouse is the only program of its kind dedicated primarily to trademarks.

Also on the new web page is curated content that explains the value of trademarks, including how trademark registration can help to combat counterfeiting and how failure to register may cause investor concern. The resources include some profiles of entrepreneurs and brief video clips explaining the importance of IP protection for SMEs, among others.

Also, to celebrate World IP Day, INTA leadership and members will be co-hosting or participating in 10 events or projects in collaboration with other organizations around the world. They include a WIPO-produced documentary, in which 2021 INTA President Tiki Dare is one of the featured speakers; virtual panel discussions about the role that IP plays in encouraging innovation, hosted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and its partner organizations, including INTA; a 4iPCouncil and INTA joint webinar on the value of trademarks and designs with speakers who include members of the Pro Bono Subcommittee of INTA’s Brands for a Better Society Committee; a policy dialogue with the Property Rights Alliance; and a roundtable discussion hosted by the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Geneva chapter.

In Ukraine, the Ukraine Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy with the support of Pakharenko and Partners, an INTA member, will make presentations to students at three universities as part of the Association’s Unreal Campaign. A global project launched in 2012, the Unreal Campaign educates young consumers (ages 14 to 23) about the value of trademarks and brands and can serve as a springboard for entrepreneurship.

Year-round, INTA supports SMEs through Unreal Campaign presentations in person or virtually; a collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles—Unreal Campaign x GSGLA—that features a limited-edition patch program promoting the value of authenticity and entrepreneurship; an interactive exhibition—the Power of Trademarks—sponsored by INTA at the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Museum in Alexandria, Virginia; and myriad educational programs.

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.