Addressing the threat of counterfeit product remains a SEMA high priority. In response, the Association and its Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA), Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) and Street Performance Council (SPC) are sponsoring an anti-counterfeiting seminar at the SEMA Show and making an FBI special agent available for one-on-one member meetings. 

Latest Tools, Tips and Tricks to Counter Counterfeits and Knock-Offs

Las Vegas Convention Center: Room N253 
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. 

Presenters:      

• Kenya Merritt, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Merritt Blakeslee, The Blakeslee Law Firm 
• Steve Lustig, Dickinson Wright 
• Robb Roby, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear 
• Stuart Gosswein, SEMA (moderator)

Sponsored by HRIA, MPMC and SPC.

Presented by representatives from federal enforcement agencies and seasoned intellectual property attorneys, this informative seminar will tackle real-world counterfeit problems impacting SEMA-member companies and provide tips on how to avoid and combat the threat. Expert panelists will cover a wide range of topics, including: protecting intellectual property marketed at trade shows and sold on the Internet; understanding the difference between counterfeit product, unlawful knock-offs and legal imitations; training staff or hiring private investigators to identify fake merchandise; and working with Customs, FBI and other government agencies to seize pirated products and prevent illegal knock-offs.  

The SEMA Government Affairs office has also arranged for FBI Special Agent Kenya Merritt to participate in the seminar and be available during the Show for one-on-one meetings with SEMA members to talk privately about company-specific issues. Merritt leads the FBI department that is addressing anti-counterfeiting activities within the auto industry. 

To schedule a meeting, contact Stuart Gosswein in SEMA’s Washington Office at 202-783-6007, ext. 30 or stuartg@sema.org.