Make your (Trade)mark: Top Tips to Protect your Brand ft. an Intellectual Property Attorney

Law Have Mercy!

Our guest attorney, Sarah Dupont, is an Intellectual Property Attorney with Babineaux, Poché, Anthony & Slavich, L.L.C.. To learn more about Sarah, check out her bio or connect with her LinkedIn.

Ever wondered how two different companies can share the same brand name, while others are somehow able to stake claim over entire phrases or icons? Perhaps you're an entrepreneur, inventor, or someone with a genius idea you've considered trademarking *just incase* you actually decide to pursue it someday. Whether you're a brand owner or just a curious consumer, most of us have wondered, at some point, how trademarks work and what brands can do to protect against copycats keen on stealing their intellectual property.
In this episode of the Law Have Mercy! podcast, personal injury attorney Chaz Roberts sits down with Intellectual property lawyer, Sarah Dupont, to unravel the intricate web of trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and infringement. Their conversation illuminates invaluable insights and advice for fortifying your intellectual property and shielding a brand from potential trademark infringement. Plus, you will NOT want to miss the moment our spicy guest EXPOSES Chaz for his own past transgressions with infringement, sharing a true story about a time when he nearly implicated an entire little-league baseball team, encouraging they steal more than just bases!
As the two attorneys deep-dive into the often-confusing world of trademarks and patents, Sarah paints a clear picture of the process to establish trademark rights for a logo or brand before delving into brand protection, potential challenges, the importance of registering trademarks, and how to enforce rights against unauthorized users. Sarah draws upon fascinating examples to help illustrate her points including failed attempts by a famous celeb athlete, and disputes over everything from sports team monikers to a foodie-fav day of the week.
She also opens up about her surprising journey from pre-med to intellectual property law, how she balances her demanding job with being a busy mother, and her experience as a female attorney in male-dominated business. The conversation concludes on a note of reflection on social media's role in modern branding. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that bridges law, business, and personal anecdotes in an unforgettable episode.
You can watch most full episodes of Law Have Mercy on YouTube!
For more FREE legal tips, check out our social channels:
Instagram - @chazrobertslaw
Facebook - Chaz Roberts Law
TikTok - @chazrobertslaw
LinkedIn - Chaz Roberts
If you are in need of legal guidance, visit our website: https://www.chazrobertslaw.com/
This show is co-produced by Carter Simoneaux of AcadianaCasts Network, Chaz H. Roberts of Chaz Roberts Law and Kayli Guidry Bonin of Beau The Agency.

Chapters

1. Protecting and Using Trademarks for Brands (00:00:00)

2. Importance of Trademarks and Registration (00:10:02)

3. Understanding Trademarks and Brand Protection (00:14:42)

4. Trademark Enforcement and Generic Terms (00:24:57)

5. Trademark Law and Career Journey (00:31:16)

6. Social Media Presence and Law Movies (00:42:22)