August 03, 2006
#06-53

Press Release, 06-53

Commerce Deputy Under Secretary to Highlight Central New York's Employment and Innovation

Utica event to focus on importance of intellectual property protection in a global market

Washington, D.C . - Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Stephen Pinkos will be at ConMed Corporation in Utica, NY, on Friday August 4, to highlight the importance of intellectual property protection in a global market, the dangers of piracy and counterfeiting, and the creation of jobs in the knowledge-based U.S. economy. Deputy Under Secretary Pinkos also will report on the Bush Administration's Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP) initiative, what the U.S. government is doing to protect intellectual property, as well as discuss the national employment numbers for the month of July.

New York is the fourth largest U.S. exporter to Asia, exporting $2.07 billion to China alone in 2005, a 250% increase since 2001. Manufacturing is the second largest industry in Utica, employing more than 16,000, or more than 12% of the local working population. ConMed employs more than 3,000 people worldwide and hundreds in Utica. The company relies heavily on intellectual property protection with more than 500 U.S. patents and over 200 registered U.S. trademarks.

WHAT

Tour and roundtable discussion on "Intellectual Property Protection in the Global World." Remarks on U.S. government efforts to curb theft of intellectual property, the importance of intellectual property in a global market, and the creation of new jobs in New York and the United States.

Press is welcome for tour, roundtable discussion and Q&A, and Mr. Pinkos will be available for one-on-one interviews immediately after roundtable.

WHO

Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Stephen Pinkos

WHERE

ConMed Worldwide Headquarters
525 French Road
Utica, New York

WHEN

Friday, August 4, 2006
1:15 p.m. tour of facilities
1:45 p.m. roundtable and Q&A

Mr. Pinkos also will be available for telephone interviews on Thursday, August 3.

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