NYSE Closing Bell to be Rung From Major IP Business Event in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The bell to signal the end of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Tuesday 21st June will be rung remotely from the IP Business Congress (IPBC), taking place at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. This is the first time that the bell has ever been rung from an IP-related event, demonstrating the growing importance of intellectual property as a business and financial asset class.

At 1:00pm local time (4:00pm EST) on Tuesday many of the IPBC's 500 delegates will simultaneously ring small handheld bells supplied by Thomson Reuters, the platinum sponsor of the IPBC, to close trading on the floor of the NYSE for the day. The event will be screened live on television channels broadcasting across the world. It will be only the fourth time that the NYSE's closing bell has been rung remotely in 2011, and the first time that it has happened from California.

Recognised as the leading global conference of its type, the IPBC brings together thought leaders from industry, finance, accountancy, business, academia and the law to discuss and demonstrate the various ways in which intellectual property can be used to increase profitability, drive shareholder returns, generate strategic advantage and create finance-raising opportunities. At a time when, in many cases, more than 80% of corporate value is made up of intangibles, including brands, patents, copyrights and other types of intellectual property, such discussions have never been more important.

Among the speakers at this year's congress are the heads of intellectual property at a number of major companies, including Microsoft, Philips, Novartis, AT&T, Nokia and CBS Interactive. They are joined by Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Randall Rader, Deputy Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office Teresa Stanek Rea and serial entrepreneur and author Henry Nothhaft. Among the many other prominent figures taking part are senior executives from IP-based businesses such as Intellectual Ventures and Acacia Technologies.    

"We are honoured that NYSE Euronext has chosen the IP Business Congress as a venue from which to ring the closing bell - particularly as remote closings such as this are relatively rare events", said Joff Wild, the editor in chief of the IP Media Group, organiser of the IPBC. "We believe that this shows just how far intellectual property has emerged as one of the 21st century's pivotal business assets."

"NYSE Euronext is proud to partner with IP Media Group for the IP Business Congress 2011", said Scott Cutler, executive vice president and co-head of US Listings and Cash Execution, NYSE Euronext. "As NYSE Euronext evolves into an applied technology company, our technology assets and intellectual property are growing in value every day, so working with an established brand like IP Media Group helps us to maximise the value of our key business assets."

NOTES

The IP Business Congress (http://www.ipbusinesscongress.com) is an annual event devised and organised by the IP Media Group (http://www.theipmediagroup.com). Based in London, UK, the IP Media Group produces two leading IP publications - Intellectual Asset Management and World Trademark Review - as well as a series of acclaimed directories identifying leading patent and trademark practitioners and IP strategists. Previous IP Business Congresses have been held in Amsterdam, Chicago and Munich.

For further information, contact Alan Mowat, the IP Media Group, [email protected], +44-20-7234-0606.  

SOURCE The IP Business Congress