AASA to open dialogue on intellectual property

Automotive aftermarket brand leaders are invited to attend what is being billed as the industry’s first intellectual property forum on Aug. 15.

Organized by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), it will be held in Dearborn, Mich., at the Ford Conference and Events Center.

AASA senior vice president Chris Gardner says intellectual property issues are a major concern to manufacturers in the automotive aftermarket, yet it has not been the focus of many industry events.

“AASA will bring aftermarket professionals together at the IP Forum to share best practices about intellectual property protections and identify new strategies for cost-effectively fighting problems,” he said.

Partnering organizations will include American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA), Automotive Anti-Counterfeiting Council (A2C2), Battery Council International (BCI), National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Centre, and the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA).

The Aftermarket IPC Forum is open to attorneys/counsel, brand managers, and marketing and business development managers for aftermarket products. Members of the AASA Intellectual Property Council (IPC) are eligible to attend at a significantly discounted rate.

Additional discounts available to event sponsors and partners.

Presentation topics may include:

• protecting brands on mega online marketplaces
• the U.S. government is your ally
• strategic use of TROs for trade shows
• is inside counsel required to fight infringers?
• practical tactics for fighting gray market goods
• why do the bad guys pick on the aftermarket?
• IP activities in China

Details about the AASA IP Forum, including registration, hotel accommodations and agenda, is here.

More information about the IPC, its programs and initiatives is available here.