Intellectual Property

NAMM members have the unique opportunity to connect with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at both the NAMM Show and Summer NAMM and to learn ways to protect intellectual property (IP), including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights, domestically and abroad, particularly in China. The USPTO has been a strong supporter of NAMM for many years, hosting the USPTO Strategy for Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP) Booth at the NAMM Show, making presentations on IP "hot topics" and handling calls from NAMM members on its STOP Hotline, 1-866-999-HALT. USPTO also supports NAMM members on specific IP preparation for trade shows in China and Russia. Global Acting Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA) Acting Director Susan Anthony leads the USPTO initiative with NAMM and has nearly 30 years’ experience and expertise in almost all facets of intellectual property protection and enforcement. For more information please visit USPTO.

USPTO also hosts NAMM members at an annual IP Academy designed to support music products business leaders in understanding intellectual property issues and strategies for protecting IP globally. The NAMM IP Academy takes place in Alexandria, Virginia during the spring. Please check back later in the year for more details or email Eric Ebel.

Audio Recordings: Intellectual Property (IP) Roundtables at The 2019 NAMM Show
NAMM Policy Roundtable: Global IP Protection

Saturday, January 26, 10:00 AM, NAMM Member Center

William Mansfield, Director of Intellectual Property, ABRO Industries, Inc., led an informal discussion about why the conventional thinking about intellectual property enforcement in China may not be the best, and provided real-world examples of effective enforcement and alternative approaches.

NAMM Policy Roundtable: IP For Beginners

Saturday, January 26, 1:00 PM, NAMM Member Center

Feeling lost in the world of intellectual property? Have a sense of what a patent protects or what a trademark protects – but not really? Hear IP specialists, Jonathan Miller, Ron Bienstock, Mike Kinney and William Mansfield, provide an informal and entertaining introduction to the world of patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright, inside the U.S. The presenters outline IP Basics related to music products industry.
Audio Recordings: Issues and Advocacy Events at The 2017 NAMM Show
NAMM presented unique learning opportunities during The 2017 NAMM Show. “Only at The NAMM Show” sessions presented information on issues that impact your business and celebrate and promote music education and music making opportunities for all people.

Audio recordings are now available for the following issues and advocacy events: SupportMusic’s Coalition on Coalition Boot Camp and Forum; and Intellectual Property and Regulatory Compliance Roundtables. You can find links to session audio recordings, below.

Music Education Advocacy

SupportMusic Coalition on Coalitions Boot Camp

The NAMM Foundation partnered with Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Music Makes Us Nashville to inform and connect NAMM member advocate leaders with arts advocacy organizations in their states.
- State Level Advocacy: What’s Happening and What’s Next. Jeff Poulin, Americans for the Arts. Audio recording.
- ESSA Update. Lynn Tuttle, NAfME. Audio Recording. Audio Recording.
- Advocacy at the Grassroots. Laurie Schell, Music Makes Us Nashville. Audio Recording.
SupportMusic Coalition on Coalitions Forum

This interactive, strategic workshop provided tools, resources and best practice ideas for growing music education opportunities in attendees’ states. Moderator: Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director, The NAMM Foundation. Facilitators: Jeff M. Poulin, Arts Education Program Manager, Americans for the Arts (AFTA); Lynn Tuttle, Senior Regulatory Policy Advisor, National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
- AFTA Resources and How to Advance Arts-friendly Policies in Education. Jeff Poulin, Americans for the Arts. Audio Recording.
- Federal Education Policy and ESSA. Lynn Tuttle, NAfME. Audio Recording.
- Policy Work at the Local Level. Laurie Schell, Music Makes Us Nashville. Audio Recording.
- Arts Education Partnership: Tools and Resources . Jane Best, Arts Education Partnership. Audio Recording.
Regulatory Compliance

Policy Forum, Import/Export, CITES Regulations: Audio Recording

Policy forum with special focus on recent CITES regulations of all species of rosewood implemented Jan. 2, 2017. Moderator: Mary Luehrsen, Director of NAMM Public Affairs and Government Relations. Panelists: Jim Goldberg, Goldberg, Goldberg Associates; Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy, League of American Orchestras.

Policy Roundtable, Import/Export, CITES Compliance Q&A: Audio Recording

Jim Goldberg of Goldberg and Associates, League of American Orchestras vice president of advocacy Heather Noonan and Taylor Guitars legal counsel Ethna Piazza address NAMM member questions about CITES compliance and explain significant changes to international trade in instruments containing all species of rosewood.

Intellectual Property

Policy Roundtable, The IP Protection Process in the U.S.: Audio Recording

Filing for domestic and international property protection can be expensive. This session explains how to take timely action to protect your intellectual property rights and develop an overall intellectual property protection strategy that is appropriate for your business. Facilitated by Susan Anthony, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) attorney and Richard Cole, USPTO representative.

Policy Roundtable, “Lawsuit Guitars” Fact vs. Myth: Audio Recording

This session separated fact from fiction, and explored legal issues associated with high-quality copies of guitars, known as “lawsuit guitars.” Facilitator: Ron Bienstock, intellectual property attorney and partner Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC.

Policy Roundtable, Intellectual Property Scenario: Audio Recording

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) attorney Susan Anthony and USPTO representative Richard Cole facilitated a small group discussion with NAMM members about the intellectual property protection process by walking through real-world IP scenarios.

Policy Roundtable, Global Intellectual Property Protection: Audio Recording

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) attorney Susan Anthony and USPTO representative Richard Cole facilitated a small group discussion about IP protection, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright outside of the U.S. NAMM members learned to develop a global intellectual property protection strategy and discovered cost-effective ways to file for protection of patents and trademarks.

Policy Roundtable, Intellectual Property, Music Publishing 101: Audio Recording

This facilitated discussion covered basic copyright and income-stream issues for songwriters and musicians. Facilitator: Ron Bienstock, intellectual property attorney and partner Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC.

Policy Roundtable, Intellectual Property, Mediating IP Disputes and Mock Mediation Demo: Audio Recording

Presented in the form of a mock mediation of a trademark dispute, this entertaining session provided attendees with a deeper understanding of how mediation may be used to resolve disputes, save time and money, and maintain good business relationships. Facilitators: Susan Anthony, Attorney, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); Richard Cole, Representative, USPTO; Tom Barton and James Cooper, Professors at the California Western School of Law; Ron Bienstock, Intellectual Property Attorney, Scarinci Hollenbeck; and Gerald Ishibashi, CEO of Stonebridge Productions.

Policy Roundtable, Using Intellectual Property Tools to Brand a Music City: Audio Recording

This session explored ways the music industry can work to create a “City Brand.” Presenters shared innovative examples from well-known music cities will highlight how to use intellectual property tools to brand your city as the next “Nashville!, Austin, or New York City! ” Facilitators: Dimiter Gantchev, Acting Director, Creative Industries Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); David Stopps, Representative, WIPO; and Jocelyn Kane, Executive Director, San Francisco Entertainment Commission.

Policy Roundtable, Intellectual Property, Making a Living Through Streaming: Audio Recording

Acting director of the Creative Industries Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Dimiter Gantchev and WIPO representative David Stopps discussed ways artists can make money through streaming services, with focus on how a copyright-based income can be advantageous. Topics included division of revenue, performer equitable remuneration, the value of digital deals, digital transparency, and copyright data.