We will be discussing the use of U.S. Customs and Border Protection as an enforcer of federal intellectual property laws at our weekly SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013. Brief synopses are presented below.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seizing infringing goods at the border all the time.  You can see this in their own press releases, such as a recent seizure of wool hats that infringed on “Angry Birds” trademarks, see here, or their seizure of counterfeit Barbies, see here, or their seizure of fake Hermes handbags, see here.

We will discuss the process that the rights-holder must go through to get CBP involved.   Here is the new website where one can electronically record their TM application with CBP – click here.

Further, here is the most recent bulletin published by the CBP regarding enforcement of intellectual property rights – click here.

All are invited to join us in our discussion during the SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013 at Noon in our Westlake Village office. This activity is approved for 1 hour of MCLE credit. If you will be joining us,  please RSVP to Noelle Smith by 9 am Monday morning.