Is your company under siege by counterfeit products and illegal knock-offs? Are your trademarks or patents being infringed? Are your marketing materials copied? Then mark your calendar and plan to tune in for a timely discussion on how to implement a legal strategy to protect your intellectual property—your company’s patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

Lead by prominent IP attorneys with firsthand knowledge of the specialty aftermarket, this informative SEMA webinar will cover the basics, from deciding what IP needs protection to registering your IP with the proper government authorities and developing a plan to enforce your IP rights. The panelists will share valuable tips on working with United States Customs and other agencies to help stop the importation of counterfeit or infringing products. Time will also be set aside for your questions.

Why lose market share and profits due to IP infringement? Know your rights.

Title: Developing Strategies to Protect Your Intellectual Property 
 
When: Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 10 A.M.(PST)

Presenters: Robert J. Roby, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear; Merritt R. Blakeslee, deKieffer & Horgan;  Stuart Gosswein, SEMA (moderator)

The SEMA webinar will include:

• A quick IP primer discussing the different types of intellectual property: utility patents (protecting functions), design patents (protecting appearances), copyrights (protecting expressions), trademarks/trade dress (protecting source identifiers) and trade secrets (e.g., secret formulas, customer lists).
  
  
• Tips on setting up your company’s IP budget and conducting a cost/benefit analysis on what to register (since not everything merits, or is eligible for, IP protection).  
  
  
• Mechanisms for using your IP to protect your market share, such as license agreements, cease and desist letters, infringement lawsuits, Section 337 investigations, exclusion orders, U.S. Customs registration, private investigations, Internet enforcement, etc.
  
  
• Suggestions on protecting your IP in a global economy: the difference between international and domestic registrations, protecting your IP when outsourcing, etc. 

Learn today, earn tomorrow.  Tune in on Thursday or lose your shirt to counterfeit/illegal knockoffs of your products.

For more information on SEMA webinars, visit www.sema.org/webinar.

SEMA's Webinar Program
The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show Education Week right to your desktop. Different business-building sessions are constantly being added to the program, offering members the latest insight and practices from today’s leading speakers. All SEMA webinars are conducted live and are open to all employees of SEMA-member companies free of charge. To participate, all you need is a computer with Internet access and a telephone.

All previously conducted SEMA webinars are available to download anytime by clicking here. To view upcoming presentations that you can attend via the telephone and Internet, click here.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited to preview and gather measurements of Ford's 2009 E-Series and F Super Duty trucks. The Measuring Session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, at the Ford Conference and Event Center in Dearborn, Michigan. The limit is two persons per company.

Until these shots were taken, the only times Brenda Priddy's spy photographers found the new Audi TT RS ragtop was in the dark, in the coldest part of Sweden. This time they managed to catch it in the daylight. "The huge oval exhaust tips, large air intakes up front and larger wheels and brakes were an obvious giveaway," Priddy says.

Audi’s fastest TT is expected to be powered by a turbocharged 3.2L V6, although some are claiming a 2.5L five-cylinder powerplant. Regardless, it will have nearly 350 horsepower. It's expected to reach dealerships in the summer of 2009.

Filler for eNews

SEMA-supported legislation that would amend state law governing antique motor vehicles to expand their permissible use was approved by the West Virginia House and Senate and signed into law. Under the previous law, use of antique vehicles was strictly limited to club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, testing, obtaining repairs and for recreational purposes. This bill would increase weekend use to begin on Fridays at 12:00 p.m. and extend through Monday at 12:00 p.m. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded that the current ozone standard of 84 parts per billion is insufficient and must be tightened to 75 ppb in order to adequately protect public health. Industry had generally lobbied that the standard remain the same since 85 counties across the nation are still struggling to comply with the 84 ppm rule.

Under the new rule, an estimated 345 counties will not comply. Environmentalists and the agency’s own scientific advisory committee had recommended an even lower threshold, between 60–70 ppb.

Ground-level ozone, the principal component of smog, is formed when sunlight heats pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons, from car exhaust, industrial emissions, gasoline vapors and other sources.

State and local officials must devise “state implementation plans” to bring counties into compliance by regulating both stationary and mobile sources. Many jurisdictions, for example, may establish vehicle emissions-inspection programs.

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SWEEP: Richard Childress Racing posted its first sweep in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing, with Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer taking the top three spots Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BIGGER TRACKS: The popular ASA Late Model Series will take its late-model stock-car racing to a pair of bigger tracks this season. The series will compete at Gateway Int’l Raceway in Madison, Illinois, September 6 and at Memphis Motorsports Park November 14–15.

ANOTHER ONE GONE: Historic Wall Township Speedway, formerly known as Wall Stadium, is officially closing. The third-mile asphalt track has hosted auto racing on the New Jersey shore for 57 years.

PORSCHE POWER: The Porsche-powered Spyder owned by Roger Penske, which competes in the LMP2 class of the American Le Mans Series, outran the more powerful LMP1 competitors to take the overall victory in the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race. Drivers were Emmanuel Collard, Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard.

MOVING ON: Former Champ Car driver Will Power has taken his sponsorship from Aussie Vineyards to KV Racing Technology and will drive for the team owned by Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series.

POWER RANKINGS: With his second victory in three races this season, five-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher jumped to the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings, which are published weekly in the 74-year-old motorsports publication.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

PEDREGON SCORES FIRST 2008 VICTORY AT ACDELCO NHRA GATORNATIONALS; SCHUMACHER, COUGHLIN AND GUIDERA ALSO WIN IN GAINESVILLE: Battling back from a horrific crash that left him with minor burns to one hand, defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Pedregon picked up his first win of the season at the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Pedregon, who qualified No.1 for the event, was able to hold off surprise runner-up Gary Densham en route to his 37th career win and first in Gainesville.
    “Winning is definitely the best medicine for this team right now,” Pedregon said. “A little more than a month ago I was in the hospital with a burned hand. Today we were able to win the race and get this season turned around.”
    Defending Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher was also victorious Sunday, powering his U.S. Army dragster over Brandon Bernstein’s Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster to pick up his second win of the season and third at the historic event.
    In Pro Stock, Jeg Coughlin found his way to the winner’s circle in just the third race of his world championship defending season, defeating 2006 world champion Jason Line and picking up his second win at the famed Gainesville Raceway, while Matt Guidera was able to ride past three-time world champion Andrew Hines to win the first event of the 2008 season for Pro Stock Motorcycle.
    To see the results from the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.nhra.com.
 
NHRA DRIVERS VISIT SHANDS PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY CLINIC: Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas and J.R. Todd, Funny Car driver Tony Bartone and Pro Stock drivers Jim Yates, Kurt Johnson and Tom Hammonds made their annual stop at the Shands Pediatric Specialty clinic on the campus of the University of Florida. It was the fifth consecutive year that drivers have visited the children and staff at the clinic.

    During the visit, drivers passed out die-cast race cars, signed posters and autograph cards and posed for photos with the kids. They also presented the hospital staff with an autographed racing helmet signed by 47 NHRA competitors, which will be auctioned during an April fundraiser to raise money for “STOP! Children’s Cancer,” a Gainesville-based non-profit organization. “Being able to spread cheer at Shands Hospital means a great deal to me,” Hammonds said. “I’m a Floridian so I know all about the good work they do at Shands, and for me to be able to come in for one day and bring a little cheer and light to these kids’ lives is just great.”
 
HERBERT’S PAIN SLOWS WITH BRAKES: The greatest pain a parent can have is to bury their own children. Doug Herbert, driver of the SnapOnFranchise.com Top Fuel dragster, had to do just that in January. His two sons, Jon, 17, and James, 12, were killed in an auto accident in North Carolina.
    To help Herbert with the pain he founded BRAKES—Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe. The boys’ friends at SouthLake Christian Academy are helping Herbert spread the news of driving safely with this “drive safe” initiative tailored for teens. To learn more about BRAKES, visit www.putonthebrakes.com. To read more about Herbert’s story, visit www.nhra.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, MARCH 28–30: Drivers in all four categories in the POWERade Drag Racing Series will duel it out for a Texas win (at this fourth race in the regular season). Defending event winners include J.R. Todd (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle). 
   
SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, APRIL 10–13: The NHRA POWERade series travels to Nevada for the fifth event of the 2008 season. Defending event winners include Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). 

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, ATLANTA DRAGWAY, APRIL 24–27: The NHRA POWERade series heads back down south, as drivers in four categories will compete at the sixth event of the season. Defending event winners include Brandon Bernstein (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID
 
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: While Top Fuel driver Doug Foley was working to drive his FX Caprara Kia dragster into the field at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, his 10-year-old son Joseph was doing some racing of his own, competing against drag racing fans from around the country in the POWERade Fan Nationals.
    While the older Foley qualified 13th and lost to Antron Brown in the first round, the younger qualified in the No. 6 spot and battled his way through the field to take home the win and a trip to the Auto Club NHRA Finals for the POWERade Fan Nationals championship event.
    “At least someone in the family knows how to win,” wife and proud mother Shelagh said with a laugh. Father Doug was not as excited. “I asked why he was trying to show his old man up,” Foley said.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4.480: The track E.T. record at Houston Raceway Park set by Gary Scelzi in 1999. Scelzi has since moved from Top Fuel to Funny Car, but the record has yet to be broken.

DRIVERS TELL ALL

WHETHER RAIN, OR SLEET OR SNOW: Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Matt Guidera picked up his first win of the 2008 season and second career win at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. His first win came in 2007 at the rain-delayed Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania, which saw the finals take place on a Wednesday to a smaller remaining crowd.
    Rain shortened the qualifying sessions from four to two at the Gatornationals, a recipe that seems to work well for Guidera.
    “We ran consistent all day, but it was a lot different doing it in front of the packed grandstands,” Guidera said. “I was feeling it and trying to relax and stay calm with everyone waving at you and looking at you."

Drag racer and industry leader Jim McFarland was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame during ceremonies held on March 13.
      Known as a true ambassador for the world of drag racing and high performance, McFarland began his career as a participating enthusiast, building and racing his own cars mainly in the various stock classes. Unlike a lot of the ‘seat of the pants’ racers of the early days, Jim was also a graduate automotive engineer and a lot of the early innovations for the stock classes came as a result of Jim’s engineering background.  As an engineer, Jim has been instrumental in developing some of the best intake manifold and fuel induction systems available.
      McFarland serves as a technical consultant for SEMA, working primarily in the area of state and federal environmental and regulatory issues. With an engineering background and 25 years of experience working directly with both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board certification staffs, he contributes a vital technical perspective to the Government Affairs office. He is a renowned automotive journalist and has served on multiple SEMA committees, three consecutive terms on the Board of Directors, and is a former SEMA Person of the Year and a member of the SEMA Hall of Fame.

 
Jim McFarland

The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation, owner and operator of the non-profit 501 (c)(3) museum and pioneer in automotive education, elected Los Angeles Attorney Steven E. Young as the Foundation’s new chairman of the board for 2008.
        Young has served on the board since 2004. Previous chairperson and director Alexandria C. Philips will continue her role as chief financial officer. Additional directors include Secretary David Sydorick, William Tilley, and Margie Petersen, wife of the late Robert E. Petersen. Dick Messer continues in his capacity as the executive director of the museum.
    The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is actively looking to add new members to its board of directors in order to support scheduled educational programs and extensive exhibition plans. Although named after Robert E. Petersen, the museum has always been an independent non-profit institution run entirely by the independent board. All self-sustaining revenue is provided by corporate sponsorships, museum attendance, parking fees and special events, such as the museum’s Tribute Nights and annual gala.

 
Dick Messer and Steven Young

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum named Wayne McMurtry as its newest board member. McMurtry, the NHRA's recently retired vice president of facilities operation and development, and an NHRA employee since 1981, fills the seat left open after the passing of board member Dick McClung.
    A former NHRA world champion and two-time national event winner in Comp, McMurtry helped upgrade NHRA's facilities to ballpark-type levels of professionalism and spectator amenities during his tenure.
    "I'm looking forward to helping the Wally Parks Museum in any way I can," said McMurtry. "It's really become the place to see the history of hot rodding, drag racing and all forms of motorsports. The Museum was Wally's dream, and I hope I can contribute to its continued success."

Wayne McMurtry

Dennis Jones, vice president of sales and marketing for Auto Truck Group was named as the 44th president of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA). Jones succeeds immediate-past president Tom Rawson, CEO of RKI Inc.  

Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) is offering product sponsorships for any interested individuals participating in nationwide and local races and/or scheduled shows or events. The program is designed to help get a vehicle, equipped with DEI’s products, in return for show/race exposure along with the valuable feedback used to continue designing award-winning products.
    This program is open to cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and personal watercraft. For consideration, log on to www.DesignEngineering.com and click on the “downloads” link (left menu) and review the sponsorship application that includes proposal requirements and release forms.

Media Management Marketing announced that it is offering free marketing consultations to companies who are experiencing troubling economic times. The company will provide free one-hour phone consultations on any marketing subject a company wishes to pursue, from how to land local radio, television or newspaper interviews to how to get the attention of a national trade or consumer magazine. 
    Management Marketing President Terry Kohl is the author of "Lost Your Job? Now What!," an e-book garnering attention nationwide. The free services will also include help on how to market yourself for a new job. For more information, contact Terry Kohl at 920/622-5536 or e-mail pr@TerryKohl.com.  

Send information for Movers & Shakers to eNews@sema.org.

Time Running Out for Nominations
There is no better opportunity to have an impact on the future of the restyling industry than to serve a term on the PRO Select Committee. There are eight seats open on the 17-member committee this year, but time is running out to submit your nomination. Any PRO member is eligible to run in the election.
    If you know someone who has the time, the dedication and the passion to volunteer on behalf of the restyling industry, submit a nomination right away. If you meet these qualifications yourself, don’t wait for someone else to nominate you, nominate yourself!  But hurry!  The deadline for Select Committee nominations is Friday, March 21. Nomination forms and criteria are availabe at www.sema.org/pro. Make your voice heard!

Mark Your Calendar!
All members of PRO are invited to join the PRO Select Committee at the annual open Project Planning Meeting.

When: Thursday and Friday, June 12–13, 2008
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Detroit, Michigan

While an agenda is not yet finalized, the open meeting typically runs from 11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. on Thursday, and from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Friday. Stay tuned to the PRO website at www.sema.org/pro for more details, but mark your calendar now!

PRO Column in SEMA Member News
Read PRO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about PRO, visit www.sema.org/pro or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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ARMO Members Invited to Participate in Free New Products Showcase
ARMO-member companies are invited to participate in the 11th annual New Products Showcase being held in conjunction with Spring Carlisle, April 23–27. Be sure to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to introduce your creative and innovative products to the industry and enthusiasts. 

All ARMO-member companies are eligible to participate for free. There will be two categories for products: Best New Original Restoration Product of the Year and Best Restomod Product of the Year. The winning products and companies will be honored at the ARMO Industry Awards Reception during the 2008 SEMA Show. For an entry form, click here. All entry forms must be received by SEMA no later than Wednesday, April 16, 2008.  

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News
Read ARMO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about ARMO, visit www.sema.org/armo or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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HRIA Column in SEMA Member News
Read HRIA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about HRIA, visit www.sema.org/hria or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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TORA Column in SEMA Member News

Read TORA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about TORA, visit www.sema.org/TORA or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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MRC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MRC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MRC, visit www.sema.org/mrc or contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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2009 Media Trade Conference News
MPMC members are encouraged to look for a “Save the Date” reminder postcard some time in early April. Exhibitor applications for the 2009 MPMC Media Trade Conference are scheduled to be mailed out in mid-June. In the meantime, stay tuned to the MPMC website at www.sema.org/mpmc for the latest updates.

MPMC Column in SEMA Member News
Read MPMC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MPMC, visit www.sema.org/mpmc contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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SCC Column in SEMA Member News
Read SCC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about SCC, visit www.sema.org/scc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

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WTC Column in SEMA Member News
Read WTC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about WTC, visit www.sema.org/wtc or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

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Speed Networking Breakfast Powered by SBN
Check out this video of SBN members in action during the valuable Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN held annually at the SEMA Show. Check out the video by clicking here.  

SBN Column in SEMA Member News
Read SBN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about SBN, visit www.sema.org/sbn or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

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Join YEN
Did you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has over 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee? If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

YEN Member of the Month Spotlight
Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen. 

YEN Column in SEMA Member News
Read YEN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about YEN, visit www.sema.org/yen or contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.