Corinne Zucker authored an article about the impact of intellectual property and the NCAA's name image and likeness rules for student athletes. Commercializing a college athlete’s NIL is new territory. For the first time, college athletes are now eligible to monetize their social media accounts and make money from advertising campaigns. Given this novel field, athletes should consider an effective trademark strategy. A trademark is a combination of words and/or symbols that allow consumers to identify and associate a brand with a particular good or service. While common law trademark rights exist, a well-established trademark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a valuable piece of intellectual property that creates a legal presumption of ownership.
To read more of this article, click here.