The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center co-hosted a discussion April 26 on World Intellectual Property Day with Michigan State University's Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection.
With more than 6 million U.S. business owners under 35 in the U.S. in need of brand protection, the theme for this year's hosted discussion "IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future," according to an April 28 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release. The discussion was with Sean Williams, co-founder of start-up clothing company Detroit vs Everybody.
"A trademark is an actual commodity," Williams said in the release. "It's not just like you're protecting the brand, it's actually a commodity that you can sell off or that you can leverage. That's where you get into licensing agreements and stuff like that. And so I learned a lot about the business side of trademarks."
"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," IPR Center Deputy Director Mike Ball said in the news release. "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."
During the discussion, Williams spoke with A-CAPP Communications and Marketing Lead Brandon Drain about business, leadership, innovation, risk-taking and intellectual property protection.
"It was an exciting and mentally invigorating event," Drain said in the news release. "I hope that those who were in attendance were able to take something valuable from Sean's incredible journey."
At the heart of the work are youth worldwide and "our future innovators and creators," World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Daren Tang said in the news release.
"This new generation of innovators and creators are already devising inventive ways of tackling local and global challenges," Tang said, according to the release.
