China has been among the top destinations for Illinois’ exports in recent years. Business owners doing business in or with China may find their valuable intellectual property (IP) is being infringed there. Even businesses not operating in China may find counterfeit versions of their products for sale in China or the United States, or their trademarks registered in China without their knowledge.
Experts from the U.S. government, IP attorneys, and local businesspeople shared their insights on how U.S. rights holders can protect and enforce their IP in China and the United States.
Topics included:
- What small- and medium-sized businesses need to know about protecting all types of IP in China
- IP developments in China: Challenges and opportunities in a shifting IP environment
- Enforcing IP rights, in both China and the United States, against infringement originating in China
- U.S. government resources for U.S. companies
- Rewards and challenges of doing business in China: The Illinois experience
This program was of particular benefit to Illinois business owners who are just starting to consider doing business in or with China by imparting basic knowledge from which to develop an IP strategy.
Please note, this is an in-person program only; there is no virtual attendance option.
Continuing legal education (CLE) credit for Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin attorneys may be available to attendees of this program, pending approval by the relevant state authorities.
This program was organized by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Office of Policy and International Affairs in collaboration with with the U.S. Commercial Service Chicago, the Illinois District Export Council, and the offices of U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and Malcolm X College. It 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 homepage.
Agenda
(Subject to change)
Agenda
8:30-9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00-9:15 a.m. Keynote remarks
- U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08)
9:15-9:30 a.m. Welcome remarks
- Conrad Wong, Senior Attorney, China Team, Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA), U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Alexandria, Virginia
- Dan Kim, State Director, U.S. Export Assistance Center, Chicago, Illinois
- Marilyn Nash, Regional Outreach Officer, USPTO Midwest Regional Office, Detroit
9:30-9:45 a.m. IP Developments in China: Challenges and Opportunities in a Shifting Environment
- Conrad Wong, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
9:45-10:30 a.m. Topic 1: Securing intellectual property rights in China
Moderator: Michael Diehl, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
Speakers:
- Thomas T. Moga, Member, Dykema, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Amy Hsiao, Chair of Asia Trademark Practice, Eligon IP, Atlanta
10:30-10:45 a.m. Coffee/tea break
10:45 to noon Topic 2: IP enforcement and e-commerce in China
Moderator: Conrad Wong, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
Speakers:
- Amy Hsiao, Chair of Asia Trademark Practice, Eligon IP
- Sara “Macy” Skulman, Corporate Counsel, Intellectual Property, UL Solutions, Northbrook, Illinois
- Travis Johnson, Vice President – Legislative Affairs, Senior Counsel, The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition, Washington, D.C.
- Thomas T. Moga, Member, Dykema
Noon to 12:15 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (IL-07)
12:15-1:15 p.m. Informational lunch
1:15-2:30 p.m. Topic 3: Civil and criminal IP rights enforcement in the United States
Moderator: Conrad Wong, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
Speakers:
- Civil Litigation, USITC Section 337 Investigations, and Trade Secrets: David Gerasimow, Gerasimow Law, Chicago, Illinois
- Border Enforcement: Colin Colt, Attorney-Advisor, Intellectual Property Enforcement Branch, Regulations and Rulings, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Washington, D.C.
- Criminal Investigation: Andy Melissaratos, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), Commercial Fraud and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Group, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Lombard, Illinois
- Criminal Prosecution: Melody Wells, Deputy Chief, National Security and Cybercrime Section, United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
2:45-3 p.m. Coffee/tea break
3-3:30 p.m. Topic 4: U.S. export controls and their effects on U.S. rights holders
- Grant Leach, Partner, Husch Blackwell, Omaha, Nebraska
3:30-3:50 p.m. Topic 5: How U.S. business views the China IP environment (TBC)
Speakers:
- Michael Diehl, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
- Owen Kim, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Export Assistance Center, Chicago, Illinois
3:45-4:45 p.m. Topic 6: Rewards and challenges in doing business in China: The Illinois experience
Moderator: Michael Diehl, senior attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
Speakers:
- Mengru Song, Director of Legal Affairs, Garrett Brands, LLC, Chicago, Illinois
- Lisa Waller, President, BDG International, Inc., Elgin, Illinois
- Kelly Hou, International Trade Specialist – Asia, State of Illinois, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Trade and Investment, Chicago, Illinois
4:50 p.m. Closing remarks
- Michael Diehl, Senior Attorney, China Team, OPIA, USPTO
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
Additional information
For more information, visit the registration page or contactNadine Herbert in the USPTO’s. ffice of Policy and International Affairs.
This program is hosted by the USPTO’s Global Intellectual Property Academy, a unit of the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs. The office advises the administration and other federal government departments and agencies on domestic and international IP legal and policy issues. It also provides technical assistance and training on IP-related matters to U.S. stakeholders and both U.S. and foreign government officials.
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.