IPLAC'S SPONSORSHIP POLICY

Founded in 1884, IPLAC is a voluntary bar association of over 1,000 members who practice in the areas of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and the legal issues they present. IPLAC is the country’s oldest bar association devoted exclusively to intellectual property matters. Its members include attorneys in private and corporate practices before federal bars throughout the United States, as well as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office. As part of its central objectives, IPLAC is dedicated to aiding in the development of intellectual property law. IPLAC is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3).

IPLAC encourages value-added engagements with corporate sponsors (“Sponsors”) to enable IPLAC to provide programs, meetings and events (“Programs”) to educate its members and to promote civility and collegiality in the intellectual property bar.

  1. IPLAC Obligations. 

    1. In consideration for sponsorship of a Program, IPLAC shall provide Sponsor benefits and services agreed to beforehand between IPLAC and Sponsor. Benefits and services are determined on a case-by-case basis. For example, past benefits have included: (1) acknowledgement of sponsorship, including display of Sponsor’s logo, in Program communications to IPLAC members and/or and on IPLAC’s website; (2) participation in presentation or panel discussion at a Program; (3) verbal and/or printed acknowledgement of sponsorship at a Program; (4) space to display informational material related to Sponsor’s services at a Program; and (5) free attendance to a Program for a limited number of Sponsor attendees.

  2. Sponsor Obligations.

    1. For its participation as Sponsor of a Program, Sponsor shall meet Sponsor obligations agreed to beforehand between IPLAC and Sponsor. Sponsor obligations are determined on a case-by-case basis. For example, past obligations have included: (1) Program sponsorship fee to IPLAC; (2) participation in presentation or panel discussion at a Program; and (3) sponsor literature, products, and nominal gifts provided at a Program. Sponsorship fees shall be paid to IPLAC prior to commencement of the Program.

    2. Sponsor shall not be obligated to pay any other fees, costs or expenses for or related to a sponsored Program in excess of the agreed-to amount without Sponsor’s express, prior written consent.

  3. Non-Solicitation Policy.

    1. Although IPLAC encourages information-sharing and relationship-building activities between members at IPLAC-sponsored Programs, it does not condone overt solicitation beyond the benefits and services agreed to prior to the Program. Sponsor may not distribute sales and marketing materials at IPLAC Programs unless explicitly approved in writing by IPLAC. Sponsor may not undertake a mailing or email campaign using IPLAC membership contact information unless explicitly approved by IPLAC.

  4. Trademarks and Promotion.

    1. Each party grants the other party a license to use its trademarks on print and electronic Program materials and signage and in articles, advertisements, multimedia, video, apps, social media and other materials, now known or hereafter devised, created for the purpose of promoting the Program with the prior written consent of the other party and in accordance with the specifications and policies of the other party. Sponsor’s use of IPLAC’s trademarks shall conform to the specifications agreed to prior to the Program.

    2. Each party agrees to use such marks and logos in the form and with the markings supplied by the other party and agrees not to alter the marks or logos in any way unless instructed by such other party to do so. Each party also agrees that the goodwill generated by use of the marks and/or logos shall inure to the benefit of the mark’s owner.

    3. Both parties shall cooperate in promoting the Program.

  5. Ownership of Works.

    1. Sponsor shall agree to grant to IPLAC the exclusive right to (a) record or transmit his or her likeness and/or voice by any art or method (“Recordings”) on or in any medium, whether now known or later devised, including but not limited to film, videotape, audiotape, electronic media, videoconference, teleconference, intranet, or internet (collectively, “Media”), in connection with a Program; (b) edit, change, alter, revise, add to, or subtract from such Recordings, or combine them with material furnished or created by others, at the sole discretion of IPLAC; (c) incorporate the Recordings or modified Recordings in whole or in part into one or more products in any Media (a “Work”); and (d) copy, broadcast, webcast, distribute, transmit, stream, sell, rent, license, publish, exploit, exhibit, perform, display, transcribe, translate, view, or otherwise use or reuse any Work in whole or in part, and permit others to do so.

    2. Sponsor shall grant IPLAC a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license to incorporate in any Work relating to the Program any written, electronic, or other materials provided by Sponsor to IPLAC in connection with its participation in the Program (“Materials”). IPLAC shall not edit the substance of the Materials without the written consent of Sponsor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

    3. Sponsor shall grant IPLAC the nonexclusive perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free right to use, and to permit or license others to use, Sponsor’s or its representative’s name, biographical information, likeness, and any portion of the Recordings or Materials in connection with the advertising, exploitation, or publicizing in any Media of the Program or any Work.

    4. IPLAC shall own all rights in all Works, and may exercise, perform, practice, exploit, transfer, license, or otherwise use those rights in its sole discretion.

    5. Subject to the above terms, Sponsor shall retain the ownership of its copyright and all other rights, title, and interest in and to the Materials. Sponsor shall not represent that the Materials are sponsored or endorsed by, or in any way connected with, IPLAC.

  6. Exceptions.

    1. IPLAC reserves the right to make exceptions to this Policy at the discretion of the Board of Managers.