A conversation with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the 2018 Trademark Expo; Director's Forum: A Blog from USPTO's Leadership, August 6, 2018

Guest blog by Linda Hosler, Deputy Program Manager for USPTO partnerships;
A conversation with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the 2018 Trademark Expo

"On July 27 and 28, guests poured in to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to participate in the 2018 National Trademark Exposition. This free biennial event supports the USPTO’s mission of educating the public about the vital role intellectual property protections—in this case trademarks— play in our increasingly competitive global marketplace. More than twenty exhibitors, including government entities, non-profits, small businesses, and corporations from all over the country provided thought-provoking interactive displays and educational workshops.

Keynoting at this year’s expo was NBA All-Star, author, and entrepreneur, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I had the opportunity to sit down with Abdul-Jabbar to find out what made him the industry giant he is today—not surprisingly, it is much more than his 7 foot 2 inch stature."

2018 National Trademark Exposition, July 27-28, 2018, Washington, D.C.

2018 National Trademark Exposition

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, will host the 2018 National Trademark Exposition.  The exposition is a free, family-friendly event where you can learn about trademarks.  It will feature educational workshops, exhibits and hands-on activities demonstrating the important role trademarks play in our economy and our lives. Children's activities, including scavenger hunts, interactive games, and trademark design workshops, will be offered both days.  Free continuing legal education (CLE) seminars will be offered for legal professionals.

Exhibitors

• 1000 Cranes, LLC
• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• DC Rollergirls
• Edible IP, LLC (DBA Edible Arrangements)
• Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital
• Global Brand Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• International Trademark Association (INTA)
• Looshes Labs LLC
• Microsoft
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Cente​

• National Park Service (United States Department of the Interior) and National Park Foundation
• NumbersAlive!
• Politics and Prose
• Safeway
• Segway Inc.
• Tenneco Automotive
• The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
• Under Armour, Inc.
• Velcro Companies 
• YMCA