Webinars
Playing by the Rules: What Every IP Practitioner Needs to Know About Branding and Advertising During Major Sporting Events
We invite you to attend an educational presentation exploring the trademark considerations that arise when clients seek to capitalize on the world’s most-watched sporting events. Drawing on our experience counseling clients across four marquee events — NCAA March Madness, the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and the NFL Super Bowl — we will share practical lessons on what clients can and cannot do to ride the momentum of each event without crossing legal lines. We will examine the rules governing authorized versus unauthorized commercial association, the boundaries of nominative fair use and editorial privilege, and the critical distinctions between what official sponsors are permitted to do and what remains off-limits even for them. We will also explain why these organizations — and in the case of the Olympics, Congress itself — enforce their intellectual property and statutory rights so aggressively, and what that enforcement posture means for how you advise clients before, during, and after each event. An excellent resource for IP practitioners seeking to sharpen their counsel to clients navigating the fast-moving, high-stakes world of sports marketing.
Tara Nielson is a trademark attorney who advises clients on the use, protection, and registration of trademarks. Prior to joining SLW, she spent 2.5 years as a Trademark Examining Attorney at the USPTO, where she examined over 2,000 trademark applications. She now leverages that experience to guide clients through the trademark process.
Jessica McDonald is a trademark Principal with nearly 20 years of experience counseling clients on trademark selection, adoption, prosecution, portfolio management, and enforcement worldwide.
Adina Brand is a trademark attorney with nearly two decades of experience partnering with businesses across a broad spectrum of industries to build, protect, and defend robust global brand portfolios.
Lesia Skrypoczka is a trademark attorney with over 20 years of experience in worldwide trademark prosecution, counseling, enforcement, and licensing with a background in the media and entertainment industry.
Pamela Huff is a trademark Principal who brings over 35 years of experience advising market-leading companies on achieving their business and branding objectives across the United States and around the world. She manages extensive worldwide trademark portfolios, counseling clients on prosecution, protection, maintenance, and intellectual property policing, disputes, and licensing.