IP Fridays - your intellectual property podcast about trademarks, patents, designs and much more · Rolf Claessen and Ken Suzan

The STOPfakes Program of the International Trade Administration (ITA) – Interview With Michelle Sara King – Helping Businesses and Consumers to Deal With Fakes – Episode 154 – IP Fridays

·20 min·1 clip

Michelle King explains why the StopFakes program is a misnomer—it's about education, not enforcement.

This episode of IP Fridays features an interview with Michelle Sara King, the IP Team Lead and StopFakes Team Lead at the U.S. International Trade Administration. Hosts Rolf Claesson and Ken Suzanne speak with King about the U.S. government's StopFakes program, which focuses on IP education and outreach. The program was created over 18 years ago by a presidential order during the Bush administration. The StopFakes program provides free outreach, education, and specialized business consultations to companies and consumers through its website and email. It operates as a digital program with virtual webinars, in-person roadshows, and industry event speaking engagements. King explains the program partners with over ten U.S. government agencies, including the USPTO, FBI, and Customs and Border Protection. A key activity is the StopFakes Roadshow, a half-day event held in collaboration with U.S. Export Assistance Centers that includes interagency presentations and private consultations. The program receives daily referrals from other government agencies and assists with issues ranging from IP protection strategies to e-commerce takedown notices. One notable insight is that the program's name is somewhat misleading, as its primary function is education rather than direct enforcement, though it does provide enforcement referrals. The program has recently launched a Clean Technology Industry Toolkit to guide innovators in that growing sector. King highlights China as a country with significant IP challenges, referencing the U.S. Special 301 Report which places China on its Priority Watch List. The program offers a dedicated China Toolkit to help businesses navigate IP issues there. A major new resource is the refreshed StopFakes.gov website, which is more mobile-compatible and features updated country toolkits and links to reports like the Notorious Markets List. The tone is informational and conversational, with the host asking practical questions about the program's services and resources. The style is interview-based and educational, aimed at providing actionable guidance to the audience. IP professionals, especially in-house counsel and those at small or medium-sized enterprises, would find this episode valuable for its free resource overview. Listeners seeking entertainment or debates on IP policy theory might find the episode too focused on specific government services.

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