McGruff the Crime Dog® and the USPTO Help IP Goes Pop!® Take a Bite Out of Counterfeits

Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined by: Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Kathi Vidal; Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council, Paul DelPonte; and the legendary McGruff the Crime Dog®. Our guests share their insights on the impact of counterfeits on society, the economy, and individual safety. The panel kicks off with a discussion of public service characters and their roles in environmental awareness and education. The panel then explores the issue of counterfeit goods. Here, the panel considers the impact of counterfeit goods on children, society, how counterfeit goods can be connected to organized crime, and how IP is involved in combating this global problem. Director Vidal provides insights into the role of the USPTO in protecting consumers from the dangers of counterfeit goods and highlights the importance of educating consumers about the real-world risks associated with counterfeit products. Listeners will learn about the "Go for Real" campaign, a joint initiative by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), aimed at educating the public, particularly teens and tweens, about the risks associated with counterfeit products and the importance of making smart buying decisions and respecting intellectual property rights. Director DelPonte shares his experiences leading NCPC and the organization's efforts to promote greater civic engagement and public education on crime prevention. We hear from both him and McGruff about using the power of the internet to reach and empower a new generation to "Take A Bite Out Of Crime®." You'll learn about ways you, your colleagues, and even your kids can become "dupe detectives" and improve your ability to spot fakes. Produced by the United States Patent and Trademark Office; no copyright is claimed by the United States in this presentation or associated materials. Resources provided by the USPTO and NCPC: Kathi Vidal | USPTO Paul-DelPonte_bio.pdf (ncpc.org) https://www.uspto.gov/ https://www.ncpc.org/ McGruff the Crime Dog® teams up with USPTO to take a bite out of fake goods sold online | USPTO Shop Smart and Stay Safe This Season | U.S. Department of Commerce  Roundtable: Future strategies in anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy | USPTO   For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts. You can stay connected with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter, and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.