International Trademark Association

The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global not-for-profit advocacy association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation.

International Trademark Association (INTA)
TypeNonprofit organization Advocacy group
Websiteinta.org

INTA’s members are more than 7,200 organizations from 187 countries. INTA members collectively contribute almost US $12 trillion / €8.8 trillion / ¥73 trillion to global GDP annually. For comparison, the 2013 annual GDP of the top three markets was $9.2 trillion (China), $17.9 trillion (European Union) and $16.7 trillion (United States).

The association's member organizations represent some 32,000 trademark professionals and include brand owners from major corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprisess, law firms and nonprofits. There are also government agency members as well as individual professor and student members.

INTA undertakes advocacy work throughout the world to advance trademarks and offers educational programs and informational and legal resources of global interest.

History

INTA, originally known as the United States Trademark Association (USTA), was established in November 1878 in New York City by 17 merchants and manufacturers to protect and promote the rights of trademark owners, secure useful legislation, and give aid and encouragement to all efforts for the advancement and observance of trademark rights.

In 1908, the association became a business corporation under the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, and it was given broad powers to act for the protection of trademarks in the United States and around the world.

In 1926, the USTA became a not-for-profit member organization.

In 1993, the association changed its name to the International Trademark Association.

Activities

INTA provides services to its members and the public in three main areas: global trademark resources, programs & events, and policy & advocacy. [1]

INTA produces digital publications, including the INTA Bulletin and The Trademark Reporter, and multijurisdictional databases, such as Country Guides, covering various topics and jurisdictions worldwide. Some resources (focusing on the basics of trademark law) are available to the general public, others (on legal practice in jurisdictions worldwide) are available to members only.

The Trademark Reporter is a bi-monthly scholarly journal that explores all aspects of trademark law, and the INTA Bulletin is INTA’s bi-weekly newsletter delivering news about association activities, and developments and trends in global trademark law. [2]

INTA hosts meetings, conferences, roundtables and e-learning programs that bring international trademark professionals together to discuss trademark issues, IP law and practice. These events are open to members and non-members.

INTA’s largest event is the Annual Meeting, which dates back to 1878. The meeting takes place every spring--usually in May, attracts more than 10,000 participants from around the globe, and consists of five days of networking, educational and professional development opportunities, as well as committee meetings and exhibits. [3]

INTA works to promote effective trademark laws and policies worldwide. INTA carries out its policy and advocacy work through model laws and guidelines, board of directors resolutions, amicus briefs, testimony and submissions, and reports.

The committees of INTA’s Advocacy Group are:

  • Anticounterfeiting
  • Brands and Innovation
  • Copyright
  • Data Protection
  • Designs
  • Emerging Issues
  • Enforcement
  • Famous & Well-Known Marks
  • Geographical Indications
  • Harmonization of Trademark Law & Practice
  • Indigenous Rights
  • International Amicus
  • Internet
  • Legislation & Regulation
  • Non-Traditional Marks
  • Parallel Imports
  • Right of Publicity
  • Trademark Office Practices
  • Unfair Competition

Structure

INTA is led by a board of directors composed of up to 36 representatives of member organizations. The board elects several officers and works with the CEO and staff, along with the member volunteers who serve on committees to implement the association’s Strategic Plan. David Lossignol (Novartis Pharma NA, Basil, Switzerland) is the current INTA president. The board appoints committees that conduct the work of the association. Any individual who works for a member organization is eligible to apply for committee membership.

[4]

Membership

INTA members include more than 7,200 organizations from 187 countries. The association's member organizations represent some 32,000 trademark professionals working at:

  • major corporations;
  • small- and medium-sized enterprises;
  • law firms, service firms and sole practitioners;
  • nonprofits;
  • government offices; and
  • academic institutions.

The global membership is approximately distributed as:

  • North America: 2376
  • Central and South America: 742
  • Europe, Russia and CIS: 1852
  • Africa and the Middle East: 469
  • Asia-Pacific: 1242

[5]

INTA's locations

The association has headquarters in New York City, offices in Brussels, Shanghai, Santiago, Chile, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and a representative in Geneva.

In 2003, INTA opened its China Representative Office in Shanghai: the first office outside the United States.

In 2006, INTA opened its Europe Representative Office in Brussels, Belgium.

In 2007, INTA opened a representative office in Washington, DC.

In 2016, INTA opened its Asia Pacific Representative Office in Singapore.

In 2017, INTA opened its Latin American and Caribbean Representative Office in Santiago, Chile.

INTA Annual Meeting

INTA’s largest event is the Annual Meeting, which dates back to 1878. The meeting takes place every spring--usually in May, attracts participants from around the globe, and consists of five days of networking, educational and professional development opportunities, as well as committee meetings and exhibits. The Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of brand owners and intellectual property professionals. INTA's 142nd Annual Meeting takes place April 25-29 in Singapore.

gollark: No you don't.
gollark: Yes you are, actually, when I win.
gollark: We're just executing phases.
gollark: I already wrote mine, so meh.
gollark: Oh, that was a decoy phase.

See also

References
  1. http://www.inta.org/GlobalTrademark/Pages/main.aspx Global Trademark Resources
  2. Programs & Events
  3. "Policy & Advocacy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  4. http://www.inta.org/About/Pages/LeadershipandGovernance.aspx
  5. http://www.inta.org/Membership/Pages/Membership.aspx
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