Episode Summary
In this episode of Infringe at Your Own Risk, intellectual property attorney Rand Bateman of Bateman IP dives deep into the world of trademarks. Rand explains why trademarks are essential for building brand recognition and trust, sharing real-world examples of how companies like Wilson, Tiffany, and Apple have leveraged trademarks to create immense value.

Listeners will learn the critical differences between generic, descriptive, suggestive, arbitrary, and fanciful marks—and why some trademarks are stronger than others. Rand also reveals how businesses can avoid costly mistakes, such as choosing conflicting brand names, failing to register trademarks early, or allowing “naked licensing” to weaken their protection.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or an established brand, this episode provides essential insights on how to safeguard your name, logo, and reputation while maximizing long-term brand value.

Key Timestamps
00:00 – What is a trademark and why does it matter?
01:20 – How brands like Wilson and Tiffany built value through trademarks
03:00 – The power of brand perception and luxury identities
05:00 – Why trademarks hold more value than physical assets
07:00 – How quality (or poor quality) affects your brand reputation
09:00 – Avoiding trademark conflicts and cease-and-desist letters
10:00 – Importance of trademark searches and documenting use
12:00 – Registering trademarks early to secure nationwide rights
14:00 – Can you reuse an expired trademark?
16:00 – TM vs. ®: What’s the difference and when to use them?
18:00 – Types of trademarks: generic, descriptive, suggestive, arbitrary, and fanciful
20:00 – How trademarks become generic and lose protection
22:00 – Naked licensing and how it can destroy your trademark

About the Show:
Infringe at Your Own Risk is a podcast for creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how intellectual property law protects their ideas, and how to avoid costly legal mistakes. Hosted by Kevin Rosenquist and featuring IP attorney Randall Bateman of Bateman IP.

Bio:
Randall Bateman is a registered patent attorney and founder of Bateman IP, a Utah-based intellectual property law firm. He has over two decades of experience helping inventors, startups, and businesses protect and enforce their ideas.

Learn more or connect with Randall at batemanip.com or email [email protected]