The American Apparel & Footwear Association has welcomed the appointment ofKathi Vidal as the new director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

As the USPTO Director, Kathi Vidal will be involved in the protection of American creativity and innovation, says Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. The partnership will further enhance the team at the US Department of Commerce

AAFA works closely with Congress and US government agencies – including the US Trade Representative, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the US Department of Commerce, the U. Department of Homeland Security, etc to develop effective policies to raise public awareness, improve tools in the fight against illicit and counterfeit goods, and hold e-commerce and social media platforms responsible.

AAFA members go above and beyond to protect the health and safety of its consumers by ensuring their products are safe. The association continues to advocate for the passage of the Shop Safe Act and Inform Consumers Act. The association recently released important findings from a study that tested counterfeit goods – including clothing, footwear, and other accessories – for dangerous and concerning issues. Of the 47 counterfeit products tested, 17 products (or 36.2 percent) failed to comply with U.S. product safety standards. The products that failed contained dangerous levels of arsenic, cadmium, phthalates, lead, and more that have been shown to cause adverse health outcomes.