Event summary

April 29, 2025

8:00 a.m. CT - 12:00 p.m. CT

Rice University

6100 Main St.

McMurtry Auditorium, Anne and Charles Duncan Hall

Houston, TX 77005

Add to Calendar2025-04-29 09:00:002025-04-29 09:00:00Strategies for protecting and enforcing intellectual property concerning China: What Houston-area businesses need to know The People’s Republic of China has been among the top destinations for Texas exports in recent years. But business owners doing business in or with China may find that their valuable intellectual property (IP) is being infringed there. Even businesses not operating in China may find counterfeit versions of their products in China or the United States or their trademarks registered in China without their knowledge.At this program, U.S. government experts, IP attorneys, and local business people will share their insights on how U.S. rights holders can protect and enforce their IP in the United States. Topics will cover:IP developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environmentEnforcing IP rights in the United States against infringement originating in ChinaIP and China: The Texas experienceHouston-area business owners who are new to conducting business in or with China will benefit from this program, which will share basic knowledge needed to develop an effective IP strategy.Please note that this is an in-person program only; there is no virtual attendance option.This program is organized by the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs and the USPTO’s Southwest Regional Outreach Office, in collaboration with Rice University’s Fondren Library. The program is one of a series of China IP Road Shows that the USPTO conducts across the country. For more information about the series, visit the China IP Road Show webpage.Register todayAgenda Agenda subject to change SessionPanelists8:00 –8:45 a.mRegistration/Check-in8:45 –8:55 Opening remarks Dr. Tam Dao, Office of Innovation, Assistant Vice President for Research Security, Rice University, Houston, TexasBranden Ritchie, Deputy Chief Policy Officer for Creative Works and Global Outreach, Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Alexandria, Virginia (Remote)8:55 –9:15 IP Developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environment Conrad Wong, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO, Alexandria, Virginia (Remote)9:15 –9:45 Topic 1: Enforcing intellectual property rights from the e-commerce perspectiveModerator: Hope Shimabuku, Regional Director, Southwest Office, USPTO, Dallas, Texas (Remote)Kebharu Smith, Director, Counterfeit Crimes Unit, Amazon9:45 –10:05 Topic 2: U.S. export controls and their effects on U.S. rights holdersModerator: Hannah Edlund, Librarian, Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC), Rice University, Houston, TexasGrant Leach, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Omaha, Nebraska10:05 –10:20 Break10:20 –11:00 Topic 3: Civil, border, and criminal IP rights enforcement in the United StatesModerator: Patricia Stepp, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer, Rice University, Houston, TexasCivil Litigation and the U.S. International Trade Commission: Mackenzie Martin, Baker and McKenzie, Dallas, TexasBorder Enforcement: Juan Pagan, Special Agent, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Port of Houston, TexasCriminal Investigation: Scott Flake, Counterintelligence Task Force Coordinator and Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Houston Field Office11:00 –11:55 Topic 4: Best IP practices when doing business in and with China: The Texas ExperienceModerator: George Webb, Industry Relations Director, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TexasOren Gelber, Associate General Counsel, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Katy, TexasLeslie Streeter, IP Counsel, LyondellBasell, Houston, TexasPhyllis Turner-Brim, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Products, Services, and Global Brand Security, HP Inc., Spring, TexasMarlene Valderrama, Senior IP Asset Manager, Halliburton, Houston, Texas11:50 –12:00 p.m. Closing remarksHope Shimabuku, Regional Director, Southwest Office, USPTO, Dallas, Texas (Remote) Additional informationFor more information, visit the registration page or contact Lakeisha Harley in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs. Rice University 6100 Main St. McMurtry Auditorium, Anne and Charles Duncan Hall George R. Brown School of Engineering, Rice University Houston, TX 77005 United States Rice University 6100 Main St. McMurtry Auditorium, Anne and Charles Duncan Hall George R. Brown School of Engineering, Rice University Houston, TX 77005 United States Rice UniversityAmerica/New_Yorkpublic

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China IP Road Shows and webinar events

Information on upcoming and past China IP Road Shows and other China related events.

Strategies for protecting and enforcing intellectual property concerning China: What Houston-area businesses need to know

China IP roadshow graphic with skylines of both China and US

The People’s Republic of China has been among the top destinations for Texas exports in recent years. But business owners doing business in or with China may find that their valuable intellectual property (IP) is being infringed there. Even businesses not operating in China may find counterfeit versions of their products in China or the United States or their trademarks registered in China without their knowledge.

At this program, U.S. government experts, IP attorneys, and local business people will share their insights on how U.S. rights holders can protect and enforce their IP in the United States.

Topics will cover:

IP developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environment
Enforcing IP rights in the United States against infringement originating in China
IP and China: The Texas experience

Houston-area business owners who are new to conducting business in or with China will benefit from this program, which will share basic knowledge needed to develop an effective IP strategy.

Please note that this is an in-person program only; there is no virtual attendance option.

This program is organized by the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs and the USPTO’s Southwest Regional Outreach Office, in collaboration with Rice University’s Fondren Library. The program is one of a series of China IP Road Shows that the USPTO conducts across the country. For more information about the series, visit the China IP Road Show webpage.

Agenda

Agenda subject to change

	Session	Panelists
8:00 –8:45 a.m	Registration/Check-in
8:45 –8:55	Opening remarks	Dr. Tam Dao, Office of Innovation, Assistant Vice President for Research Security, Rice University, Houston, Texas Branden Ritchie, Deputy Chief Policy Officer for Creative Works and Global Outreach, Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Alexandria, Virginia (Remote)
8:55 –9:15	IP Developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environment	Conrad Wong, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO, Alexandria, Virginia (Remote)
9:15 –9:45	Topic 1: Enforcing intellectual property rights from the e-commerce perspective	Moderator: Hope Shimabuku, Regional Director, Southwest Office, USPTO, Dallas, Texas (Remote) Kebharu Smith, Director, Counterfeit Crimes Unit, Amazon
9:45 –10:05	Topic 2: U.S. export controls and their effects on U.S. rights holders	Moderator: Hannah Edlund, Librarian, Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC), Rice University, Houston, Texas Grant Leach, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Omaha, Nebraska
10:05 –10:20	Break
10:20 –11:00	Topic 3: Civil, border, and criminal IP rights enforcement in the United States	Moderator: Patricia Stepp, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer, Rice University, Houston, Texas Civil Litigation and the U.S. International Trade Commission: Mackenzie Martin, Baker and McKenzie, Dallas, Texas Border Enforcement: Juan Pagan, Special Agent, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Port of Houston, Texas Criminal Investigation: Scott Flake, Counterintelligence Task Force Coordinator and Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Houston Field Office
11:00 –11:55	Topic 4: Best IP practices when doing business in and with China: The Texas Experience	Moderator: George Webb, Industry Relations Director, Adjunct Lecturer, School of Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas Oren Gelber, Associate General Counsel, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Katy, Texas Leslie Streeter, IP Counsel, LyondellBasell, Houston, Texas Phyllis Turner-Brim, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Products, Services, and Global Brand Security, HP Inc., Spring, Texas Marlene Valderrama, Senior IP Asset Manager, Halliburton, Houston, Texas
11:50 –12:00 p.m.	Closing remarks	Hope Shimabuku, Regional Director, Southwest Office, USPTO, Dallas, Texas (Remote)

Additional information

For more information, visit the registration page or contact Lakeisha Harley in the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs.

Accessibility accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

Applied for CLE credit in

Texas

Continuing legal education (CLE) accreditation may be available to attendees of this program, pending approval by the Texas State Bar Association.

This event is part of a series: China IP events