DC Chapter Upcoming Event

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The LES-Greater Washington, DC chapter is pleased to present the following luncheon presentation:

Date:
October 5, 2006

Time:
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Speaker:
Ron Epperson, National Practice Leader, IP Services, Grant Thornton LLP

Topic:  
Fighting Counterfeiting and Piracy: What Brand Owners (and their counsel) Need to Know

Global counterfeiting and piracy are growing and thriving scourges to IP owners. The US Chamber of Commerce estimates that IP theft costs US companies between $200-250 billion a year in revenue and has cost roughly 750,000 jobs to date. These activities affect all industries, ranging from automotive parts, batteries, medicines, software, hardware and luxury goods. Counterfeiting not only has immediate economic impact on IP owners, but it also risks the public’s health and safety and the reputation of the victimized companies. IP practitioners both inside and outside companies are increasingly called upon to “do something” about these issues. This presentation will provide IP professionals with practical advice on how to protect their clients from counterfeiting and piracy, including available resources, effective strategies and coming changes in the law.

Speaker Bio:

Ron Epperson is the National Practice Leader for IP Services for Grant Thornton LLP. Ron has over 26 years of experience in industry and consulting in helping manage and resolve IP issues. He has extensive experience in IP matters such as counterfeiting and piracy, licensing, valuation, litigation, technology commercialization, academic technology transfer, IP strategy and strategic planning. His experience covers a wide array of industries, including energy, chemicals, biotechnology, medical devices, high technology and aerospace. He also has worked in many international venues for both licensing and anti-counterfeiting matters, including Korea, Japan, Germany, Spain, Austria, The People’s Republic of China, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Ron has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, summa cum laude. He is a member of many IP and technology trade associations including the Licensing Executives Society, the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (co-chair of the Counterfeiting and Piracy Committee), the Arizona Technology Council, and is an associate member of the Association of University Technology Managers and the American Bar Association IP Section.

Location:
Nixon Peabody LLP
Suite 900
401 9th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-2128
Office: 202-585-8250

Cost and Registration:
$20 for LES members
$25 for non-members

• If you are a member of LES, click here to register online with your credit card;

• If are not a member of LES, register here with your credit card;

For more information about these programs and participating in future programs, please contact the Greater Washington, DC Chapter Chair, Raymond Van Dyke at vandyke@acm.org