S.G. Hart & Associates Authors Cover Article for Directors Monthly on Board Involvement in Protecting Intellectual Property, Trademarks and Copyrights
S. G. Hart & Associates, LLC, The Brand Equity Protection CompanyTM, has authored the cover article in the April issue of Directors Monthly, A National Association of Corporate Directors Publication. Stanley G. Hart, President & CEO of S. G. Hart & Associates authored the work, which outlines the need for Board of Director participation in protecting a company’s intellectual property rights (IPR), trademarks and copyrights from the threat of counterfeiting, product diversion, tampering & theft.
Ridgefield, CT (PRWEB) April 21, 2005 -- S. G. Hart & Associates, LLC,
The Brand Equity Protection CompanyTM, has authored the cover article in the
April issue of Directors Monthly, A National Association of Corporate Directors
Publication. Stanley G. Hart, President & CEO of S. G. Hart & Associates
authored the work, which outlines the need for Board of Director participation
in protecting a company’s intellectual property rights (IPR), trademarks and
copyrights from the threat of counterfeiting, product diversion, tampering &
theft.
By being included in Directors Monthly and, moreover, being
selected as the cover article, Stanley G. Hart remarked, “I am delighted that
the editorial staff of the National Association of Corporate Directors saw the
need to make this a cover article and, in effect, highlight a subtle component
required of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which is the need to protect brands
and other forms of intellectual property from fraud. Fraud includes the negative
effects of counterfeiting, product diversion, tampering & theft. Hart
continued, “Good corporate governance requires protecting assets against all
forms of risk, including counterfeiting and diversion. To do so, boards must
identify all risks and ensure that policy, procedures, and a plan of action are
in place to confront such risks.”
In his article, Hart outlines the
threat, explains government involvement, reviews the harmful results of
counterfeiting and diversion, and presents the steps to deal with the problem.
Hart concludes “Protecting the brand is not just another cost of doing business.
Protecting brands, IPR, trademarks, and copyrights is smart business that can
enhance or recapture top-line revenue. Understanding the threat of
counterfeiting and framing this threat the same way one might frame any other
competitive situation is a strategic exercise worthy of all board
members.”
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) is U.S. legislation that
was signed into law by President George W. Bush on July 31, 2002. The purpose of
SOX is to re-instill confidence and trust in the corporate accounting reporting
practices used to evaluate publicly traded companies of the United States. U.S.
public companies with equity market capitalization over $75 million are required
to comply with the new SOX amendments beginning with their first fiscal year
ending on or after November 15, 2004. Non-accelerated filers must begin to
comply with these requirements for their first fiscal year ending on or after
July 15, 2006.
S. G. Hart & Associates has planned a series of
educational, on-line “Web Casts” focusing on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and
the brand protection disclosure and internal control requirements that apply.
Participant registration is available through the company’s website at www.sghartassocates.com
along with presentation dates and times.
About S. G. Hart &
Associates, LLC
S. G. Hart & Associates, The Brand Equity Protection
CompanyTM, is based in Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA. S. G. Hart & Associates
is a global brand protection consulting company helping clients develop and
implement strategies that protect supply chains from the disruptions caused by
counterfeiting, product diversion, tampering & theft. S. G. Hart &
Associates ensures that the integrity of the firm’s most valuable asset – its
brand - is secure, that the brand’s ability to generate and preserve revenue is
maximized and that effective controls are used to safeguard the branded asset
against unauthorized or improper use.
About National Association of
Corporate Directors (NACD)
National Association of Corporate Directors
(NACD), an independent not-for-profit organization founded in 1977, is the
country’s only membership organization devoted exclusively to improving
corporate board performance. The NACD conducts education programs and
standard-setting research, and provides information and guidance on a variety of
board governance issues and practices.
About Directors Monthly
(DM)
Directors Monthly (DM) is a membership benefit of NACD, a not-for-profit
educational organization [501(c)(3). This 28-page monthly newsletter is packed
with in-depth articles, lively columns, and news items relevant to board members
and senior executives dealing with corporate governance issues.
Media
Contacts:
Director, Public
Relations
S. G. Hart & Associates, LLC
31 Bailey Avenue, Suite
5
Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877 USA
Tel: 203-438-4300
Fax:
203-438-3222
Email: e-mail protected from spam bots
Web: www.sghartassociates.com
National Association of
Corporate Directors and Directors Monthly Two Lafayette Center
1133 21st St.
NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
Tel: 202-775-0509
Fax:
202-775-4857
Web: www.nacdonline.org
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb230571.htm