Patents: Protect Yourself and Avoid the Slough
Friday, Jan. 29 at 10 a.m.
Sourcing Seminar Area (Booth S423)
Patents are necessary, whether working on a breathable waterproof membrane with a six-figure budget or developing a backcountry binding in your garage. Patents can protect your product--or disrupt your best business intentions. Some things to consider:

• What relevant patent rights are owned by third parties?
• What’s in the public domain?
• What’s potentially patentable?

Taking time early in product development to understand the patent landscape will help you pick a safe line and keep the stoke alive longer.

Trademarks: Your Idea Is Legit and Deserves Protection
Friday, Jan. 29 at 12 p.m.
Sourcing Seminar Area (Booth S423)
Trademarks are the perfect supplement to patents—they can last forever, transfer from one product to the next, and help the consumer find you and distinguish your product from competitors. Using a name, however, without proper clearance can result in trademark infringement and unfair competition. Adopting a name that's generic or otherwise not protectable can leave you exposed to imitators with little recourse. Avoid the trademark face plant with search and registration strategies with pointers from our team.