Fine art and fashion converge at Upper Playground, a California based apparel company that operates galleries and retail stores throughout the world.  San Francisco is home to Upper Playground’s headquarters and flagship FIFTY24SF Gallery, but the product is sold in various national and international locations.  Examples of company operated retail locations are here. For many businesses, securing trademark protection is an afterthought, but Upper Playground CFO Aaron Burns actively addresses brand protection along with the various other operational issues involved with this multifaceted business.  If Upper Playground is considering sales in Turkey, for example, we will get an email or a call inquiring into the status or availability of a trademark in that country.  Although IP protection is a very small aspect of running an international fine art and apparel business, it still gets diligently addressed.