2011 USPTO National Trademark Expo

The 2011 National Trademark Expo will be held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office National Trademark Expo (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday, October 14th, and Saturday, October 15th.

The free two-day event is intended to educate the public about the importance of trademarks in the global marketplace.

Exhibitors are invited to showcase their trademarks through educational exhibits. Over 10,000 visitors of all ages attended last year’s 2010 National Trademark Expo.

Highlights of the 2011 National Trademark Expo will include:

  • “Unusual Trademarks”
  • “Evolution of Marks”
  • Educational workshops for adults and children
  • Exhibits featuring authentic and counterfeit goods
  • Costumed characters.

Space is limited, so owners of federally-registered trademarks who wish to participate in the 2011 National Trademark Expo must submit an application.

Applications will be reviewed by the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame on a rolling basis. Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  1. Brand recognition
  2. Educational value of the proposed exhibit to enhance the public’s understanding of trademarks
  3. Category diversity to ensure the Expo has a variety of trademarks represented

Any owner of a United States trademark registration may apply to exhibit. The deadline for applications is June 15, 2011.

Buffalo Citybration 2011

As a patent attorney in Buffalo, New York I often run into inventors who are trying to invent something new. Recently I ran into a Buffalo ambassador who has reinvented something very old.

Marti Gorman Founder at Buffalo By Choice, CEO at Buffalo Heritage Unlimited and Organizer at Citybration.buffalo citybration 2011

At the turn-of-the-century, Buffalo was the eighth largest city in the nation.

More millionaires per capita lived here than anywhere in the country, and was considered the country's geographic and political center.

The Pan American Exposition shone a brilliant spotlight on the City of Light.

In September of 1907 a group of Buffalo ambassador's created a celebration called "Buffalo Old Home Week" to bring back Buffalo natives that had drifted away.

In 2006 there was a desire to build community pride more than ever and Buffalo Old Home Week was revived by a small band of Buffalo enthusiasts. It was successful beyond all expectations.

This old celebration was renamed and reinvented as Buffalo Citybration.

Buffalo Citybration 2011, is a marvelous four-day event which will showcase Buffalo's assets, highlight its opportunity and celebrate the city's many successes.Buffalo city hall

In 2011, Buffalo Citybration will take place during the last weekend of June (June 23-26) and will focus on Buffalo's waterfront, helping to connect Canal Side and the waterfront to Downtown Buffalo.

There are some great events planned on the waterfront like a tours, bike rides and a floating hot air balooncocktail party on the Niagara River.

One event that I am looking forward to participating in is taking a ride in the hot air balloon over the beautiful Buffalo City Hall.

How cool is that.

Here's a summary of all the events planned:

Citybration proactively addresses the retention and attraction problems that have led to ongoing population losses in true Buffalo spirit -- by throwing a party!