Community voting period now open for USPTO SXSW 2025 PanelPicker proposals 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is committed to playing a lead role in igniting creativity and expanding participation in the innovation ecosystem. By directly engaging with current and aspiring innovators, creators, and business owners on important intellectual property (IP) matters, we are taking tangible steps to ensure that all Americans can fully realize their inventive and entrepreneurial potential. We need your votes to help ensure IP is part of the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Interactive conversation. From August 6-18, 2024, you can vote for the USPTO 2025 PanelPicker® proposals.  

USPTO PanelPicker proposals  

• Trademark Basics Boot Camp: Build your brand buffer

Every business has a trademark. Do you know how to protect yours? Join two experts from the USPTO for this hands-on intensive about federal trademark registration. We’ll discuss what trademarks are, the benefits of federal trademark registration, and why it’s so important for you to select a trademark that is both federally registrable and legally protectable. We'll show you to how to conduct a basic search of the federal trademark database and we'll even conduct a walkthrough of the application form. For those brand owners ready to file, you'll be prepared to do so by the end of the session.  

• Ultimate IP Workshop 

How do you protect your IP? How can you leverage your patent to grow your business? Why should innovators and entrepreneurs consider IP protection? When used as collateral, a patent increases venture capital funding by 76% over three years, and increases funding from an initial public offering by 128%. Experts from the USPTO will discuss the different types of IP, territorial rights and the importance of understanding IP for a business strategy. 

• Digital Diamonds or Duds? Data Quality & Generative AI 

Data fuels AI—but do you know what's going into the tank? How can you identify high-octane data to sustain your AI system, rather than relying on sheer volume alone? And how can you maximize the value of that data through curation, augmentation, and IP? Join us for a conversation with experts who will share insights on turning today's data into tomorrow's state-of-the-art AI innovations.   

• Transforming boring messages into social media gold 

Bridge repairs, shuttle hours, firework safety and trademark scam alerts don’t make for the most glamorous social media content – but are important messaging for public safety. In this interactive panel discussion, government social media teams will share tangible tactics they use to plan and create engaging content on what could be dry and forgettable messaging. The panel will feature best practices and case study examples. 

SXSW crowdsources conference programming through the PanelPicker platform, and community voting counts for 30% of the panel selection decisions. For more information, including voting instructions, please visit the SXSW voting page. You can also join the conversation on social media with #USPTOatSXSW. 

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