The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), in conjunction with Michigan State University’s Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP), hosted a discussion, April 26, with Sean Williams, Co-Founder of Detroit -vs- Everybody to discuss brand protection to help creatives protect their business against intellectual property (IP) theft in support of World Intellectual Property Day 2022. With more than 6 million business owners in the U.S. under the age of 35, this year’s theme focuses on young entrepreneurs entitled, “IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future.”
“IP Protect was designed with entrepreneurs and innovators in mind – ensuring that the knowledge and tools are available to all businesses to protect not only products and inventions, but also name, brand, and reputation,” said IPR Center Deputy Director Mike Ball. “This program helps bridge the gap, collaborating with local government agencies, community organizations, and private sector companies, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, to assist businesses and educate entrepreneurs on how to protect their businesses., and the IPR Center is here to help you succeed.”
“It was an exciting and mentally invigorating event,” said Brandon Drain, communications and marketing lead for the A-CAPP Center. “I hope that those who were in attendance were able to take something valuable from Sean’s incredible journey.”
“Global youth, our future innovators and creators are at the heart of this work,” said World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Daren Tang. “This new generation of innovators and creators are already devising inventive ways of tackling local and global challenges.”
“Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it’s important to protect IP and for those of us in brand protection to partner and help entrepreneurs and SMEs,” said U.S. Small Business Administration Assistant Director of Education and Outreach Kari Kammeld.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, in 2021, small businesses made up 99.9% of U.S. firms (32.5 million) and employed 46.8% of the workforce (61 million). While large organizations have personnel and departments dedicated to IP protection, start-ups, small businesses and medium-sized companies are often left without the expertise and resources to protect their intellectual property, leaving them particularly vulnerable to IP exploitation and loss.
Through this community outreach initiative, the IPR and A-CAPP Center’s goal is to provide an opportunity to implement vital knowledge of intellectual property rights to future innovators who will, in turn, supply the world with their own world-changing ideas. These future creators will be equipped to effectively navigate the rules and regulations of the digital space, and set themselves apart from their predecessors.
Every April 26, the World Intellectual Property Organization celebrates World Intellectual Property Day to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. World Intellectual Property 2022 recognizes the huge potential of young people to find new and better solutions that support the transition to a sustainable future.
In 2021, the IPR Center launched, IP Protect - initiative that provides resources – free of charge – to aid small to mid-size businesses in protecting themselves against IP theft, fraud and cyber security awareness. Learn more about IP Protect. To learn more about IP Protect. Small businesses interested in participating in the program can visit IPRCenter.gov or contact their local HSI office.
Additional resources and educational materials available to small to mid-size businesses, can be found on the A-CAPP Center’s website.
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