I ♡ Trademarks Conference RoundtablesFor Fakes’ Sake: Talking to Customers about Counterfeits
Alt Legal Team | January 19, 2025
We’ll be making the most of our time during the lunch hour at the I ♡ Trademarks Conference by hosting small roundtable discussions on a variety of relevant topics. Each roundtable will have a host assigned to lead the discussion with pertinent questions, allowing you to share knowledge and resources and get to know your fellow conference attendees.
Roundtable Description
Consumer awareness can be a powerful ally in combating counterfeit goods, yet many brands hesitate to address it because of concerns about alarming customers or drawing unwanted attention to fakes. At the same time, consumer-generated content like unboxing videos and real-vs.-fake comparisons shapes public perception in ways brands can’t always control. In this interactive roundtable, Tamara Rabenold (CEO of Vaudra International) will lead a collaborative discussion about how attorneys can help clients approach these conversations effectively and strategically. In particular, participants will explore:
- Weighing the risks and rewards of consumer education on counterfeits
- Integrating consumer education into brand protection efforts
- Helping clients shape messaging that resonates without causing panic
- Exploring different channels for outreach and engagement
- Considering partnerships and collaboration to extend reach
- Addressing client concerns about backlash or unintended effects
View all I ♡ Trademarks Conference Roundtables here.
Learn more about the I ♡ Trademarks Conference here.
Roundtable Host
Tamara Rabenold, CEO, Vaudra International
As Vaudra International’s CEO, Tamara Rabenold is a friendly familiar face in the intellectual property industry, having been in the industry for over 20 years. She joined Vaudra in 2004, sparking the start of her investigative career. She grew to become CEO in 2015, eventually acquiring the company in 2021. Under her leadership, Vaudra has become a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise. In addition to her role at Vaudra, Rabenold actively contributes to the IP and investigative communities. After two terms on INTA’s Anticounterfeiting Committee, she is in her second term on the Unreal Campaign Committee, participates on a project team exploring the sustainable destruction of counterfeit goods, and is also a Capitol Club member of the PAC. Moreover, she was appointed to the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board (NCPPSB) in 2019, and in August 2023 made history as the first female Chair in its 50-year existence, a position she maintains today.