Webinar About Intellectual Property Issues Across the Production Chain

The AES Audio Product Education Institute (APEI), an initiative of the Audio Engineering Society to focus on promoting methodologies, practices and technologies involved in developing and bringing audio products to market, will host its fifth online event addressing Supply Chain & Sourcing on Wednesday, February 17 (12:00pm EST). The online event will feature leading experts in IP protection, counterfeiting and authentication to discuss challenges and strategies in manufacturing audio products.

When in 2017 Orange Amplification introduced its own headphones at the Musikmesse and Prolight+Sound show in Frankfurt, the strategy was right on target. They helped leverage the brand's reputation as product extensions that reinforce the emotional connection with users. While generating a new revenue opportunity, in this case by expanding the already existing and extremely successful merchandise catalog. Three years later, Orange Amps renews the strategy with the new Crest Edition wireless headphones.

With electric vehicles now circulating silently in the roads, brands will need to trademark their iconic engine sounds as a way to simultaneously comply with safety requirements and convey a familiar sense of excitement to drivers. When a sound is immediately recognized as part of a brand or iconic product it should be trademarked and protected and that's exactly what iconic windproof lighter Zippo achieved. The Zippo lighter's 'click' is now officially among the most recognizable sounds in the world and is protected by a sound trademark.

A recent IHS Markit survey finds that premium audio from recognized brands remains an important consideration when acquiring a new vehicle. Branded audio system volumes in new vehicles are expected to grow from just under 12.4 million units globally in 2018 to 14.7 million units in 2023, according to new vehicle production forecasts for these systems from the business information provider research.

While absent from 2017's Prolight+Sound and Musikmesse shows in Frankfurt, Sennheiser took advantage of the break to announce a new corporate design and visual language. This includes the enhancement of its wordmark and the iconic and recognizable S-shaped logo. The audio specialist will roll out the new look during 2017. The first Sennheiser product to carry the new logo will be the HE1 flagship headphones and tube preamp, since they are built one at a time.

Harman International Industries, Inc launched a refresh of its corporate brand, unveiling a new logo and new division names for the automotive, consumer and enterprise markets. Harman’s new logo represents the company’s mission to enable seamless, connected lifestyles for the home, car, stage and enterprise through its leading audio products, infotainment systems, software and connected services.