Why the IP Community Is Being Forced to Choose Between Conferences

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to bring to your attention an issue that has affected the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition’s (IACC) Annual Conference for the better part of the past decade and directly impacts the broader IP community. Because many members of the global IP community participate in both the annual conferences of the IACC and International Trademark Association (INTA), these restrictions affect not only the IACC but also the ability of professionals across our field to convene and collaborate efficiently.

Over this period, hotel contracts associated with the INTA Annual Meeting have included provisions restricting the IACC from securing hotel accommodations within six days prior to and two days following INTA’s conference. In several instances, these provisions specifically name the IACC as the organization subject to these restrictions.

The IACC Annual Conference typically attracts approximately 600 participants, while INTA’s Annual Meeting draws more than 10,000 attendees. Many professionals travel long distances and have historically valued the opportunity to attend both conferences when held in the same city. As an organization, the IACC has always sought to put its members first by being mindful of their time, travel demands, and limited budgets. These restrictions run directly counter to those efforts. They also undermine the broader public interest, as the IACC’s conference focuses on combating counterfeit goods and illicit trade that threaten consumer safety and legitimate commerce.

For decades, the IACC conference has taken place three days prior to INTA’s Annual Meeting, with no overlap in hotel accommodations and no disruption to INTA’s event. This arrangement allowed members to attend both gatherings in a cost-effective and efficient manner. It is only in more recent years that these restrictive provisions have appeared in hotel contracts.

The IACC has repeatedly sought a fair and mutually beneficial solution to this issue. I personally met with the CEO of INTA to discuss the matter, and IACC Chairperson Dawn Atlas similarly raised these concerns with INTA’s Board and leadership. Despite these repeated efforts, the restrictions remain firmly in place and the issue has not been resolved.

Nevertheless, the IACC was able to secure meeting space in San Diego for 2027, allowing our conference to once again conveniently precede INTA’s Annual Meeting. Unfortunately, INTA has now successfully blocked our ability to secure meeting space in Vancouver for 2028 during the period surrounding its planned Annual Meeting scheduled for May 19–25. As a result, members of the global intellectual property community who had hoped to attend both conferences in the same city will now be forced to choose between them.

The IACC remains committed to supporting a strong and collaborative intellectual property ecosystem. Our Annual Conference focuses on anti-counterfeiting enforcement, public-private partnerships with law enforcement, and practical strategies to dismantle illicit trade networks – work that complements the broader trademark and IP dialogue taking place across the community.

We share this information in the interest of transparency and to ensure the IP community is aware of the challenges affecting our ability to best serve our members.

No single organization should be able to restrict when or where others in the intellectual property community gather to collaborate in the fight against counterfeiting and the protection of intellectual property rights, to the detriment of the broader community.

Sincerely,