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#Squire Patton Boggs

Zippo is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, ranked alongside other top Americana heavyweights including Jeep and Harley Davidson.

Its owner, Zippo Manufacturing Company is a family owned company founded in Bradford Pennsylvania in 1932 and while they are best known for manufacturing the windproof lighter, have diversified into other areas including cutlery (WR Case Sons Cutlery Company) and outdoor products, watches and also apparel. It is a relatively small company, employing only about 800 people, almost all of them in Bradford PA, but with wholly owned subsidiaries in China, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK.

In 2012, during its 80th anniversary year, Zippo production surpassed the milestone of 500 million lighters since founder George G. Blaisdell crafted the first lighter in Bradford, Pennsylvania in early 1933. But the downside of being such a recognizable and valuable global brand is the unwelcome attention of counterfeit copies.

Since being appointed worldwide counsel for the intellectual property files of Zippo we have fought legal battles on their behalf all around the world.

Along with the management of Zippo s trademark portfolio consisting of some 1700 trademarks registered in over 170 jurisdictions, we also advise on the global enforcement of Zippo s intellectual property rights through all avenues, including litigation and the institution and management of a broad customs measures program. In addition we provide integrated multijurisdictional advice in distribution matters, governmental regulatory services (fuel labelling and the transportation of dangerous goods), global licensing programs, domain name disputes, e-commerce and data privacy.

Zippo s General Counsel Charles J. Duke explained:

Through our long established relationship partners we have access to an impressive global resource of experience and expertise in the IP field. This means we can always be on top of the issues that arise, no matter where they are in the world.

They also have a good understanding of the way our business works, what we are trying to achieve and how their work fits into our overall strategic objectives:

Attorneys at Squire Patton Boggs began the representation of Zippo in 1992, performing incrementally more work every year thereafter. Eighteen offices across 11 countries were involved in the representation of Zippo in 2014.