[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL TRADEMARK EXPO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2008

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support of the United States Patent and Trademark Office's National 
Trademark Expo. After a 10-year hiatus, I am excited to join the USPTO 
in its efforts to recognize the vital role that trademarks play in the 
global economy.
   This 3-day event, beginning on April 10, 2008 will turn the USPTO's 
campus into a ``Trademark Theme Park,'' featuring themed displays, 
company booths, costumed characters, and much more. During the expo, 
costumed trademarked characters, including the Pillsbury Doughboy, 
Sprout, Hershey Kisses, and the Chocolate Bar will parade about the 
USPTO campus, and large inflatable characters including the ``Cat in 
the Hat,'' ``Thomas the Train,'' the ``Jolly Green Giant,'' and 
``Shrek'' will decorate the grounds.
   Trademarks are valuable symbols of quality in our increasingly 
competitive global marketplace. On average, people are exposed to 1,500 
trademarks each day and more than 30,000 if they make a trip to the 
grocery store. The exposition will feature celebrity trademarks, which 
are often subject to counterfeiting, unusual trademarks, the evolution 
of certain trademarks, the people behind the names of trademarks, and 
century-old registered trademarks.
   Exhibitors will include many of America's leading corporations, 
whose exhibits will highlight some of the benefits of Federal trademark 
registration. These exhibitors include the American National Red Cross, 
Burberry, The Travelers Companies, Inc., Starmaker Products, Microsoft 
Corporation, Owens Corning, Callaway Golf Company, Caterpillar, Inc., 
CMG Worldwide, NASCAR, YKK Corporation of America, UPS, Bridgestone 
Firestone, the International Trademark Association, INTA, and the 
International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, IACC.
   The expo will emphasize the essential role the USPTO plays in 
approving Federal trademark registrations. In a time of globalization, 
counterfeit goods pose an increasing threat to American businesses. 
Trademarks protect words, names, symbols, sounds, or colors that 
identify and distinguish the goods of one party from those of others. 
The USPTO, an award-winning leader in handling electronic filings, will 
showcase the impact of electronic filing and processing of trademark 
applications.
   I applaud the USPTO for its efforts to educate the public on the 
role of trademarks during the National Trademark Expo, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the USPTO at a time when 
trademarks and intellectual property rights play an increasingly 
important role in our global economy.

                          ____________________