Modern Mark Law

$10,050 USD, if we're being specific.

Because I’ve been an IP lawyer for 8 years now

And in that time, I’ve found that when it comes to IP there are mostly two types of entrepreneurs:

1️⃣ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙂𝘼𝙁𝙨
(a.k.a. those that don’t understand the value of it, and don’t care)

2️⃣ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧-𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙢𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨
(a.k.a. those that understand the value of it, and go nuts over trying to keep it safe)

Neither is productive

But 90% of the time, it’s an “all or nothing” approach 🤷‍♀️

Because once you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 start to think about how much

⌛ time
💰 money
⚡ energy

You’re investing in creating those assets

And once you realize just how much you can do with them

Or rather, how much they can do for you (and your bank account)

It becomes hard not to be crazy over-protective, right?

(I just pictured C*caine Bear. 😂)

But then it becomes my job to step in and… tranquilize you?

(This analogy has clearly gotten away from me)

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙐𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙔 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱! 🤯

But if you get all hyped up

And start haphazardly securing everything

Instead of looking at your 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀

And being 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 about what’s important to your:

🌟 brand
🌟 growth
🌟 legacy
🌟 impact

And what isn’t…

Then you could be wasting a ton of money

For what?

Got some valuable IP and want to avoid being a c*caine 🐻? 😂

I’ve got 2 spots left in April to talk strategy!

🖐 if you want it.

📢 YOU are NOT a cookie cutter brand.

📢 YOU are unique.

📢 YOU are looking to stand out, NOT to blend in.

Which means that generic advice that's splattered all over the internet may be wholly inapplicable (or even detrimental) to you.

So, next time you're thinking about falling down the social media/Google rabbit hole, please remember this:

It's HIGHLY UNLIKELY that there is a "one size fits all" solution to your very specific problem.

And even when your problem seems general, I promise you, there is ALWAYS nuance.

This is especially true when it comes to your intellectual property.

Everyone and their mom is out there screaming: "if you've got a trademarkable/ copyrightable asset, just register it!"

This isn't just an over-simplification of a complicated legal issue, but sometimes this seemingly innocent advice is DEAD WRONG!

(Just ask all the people whose trademarks/ copyrights I refused to register 😉).

So if you're thinking of blindly following the masses, then maybe it'll work out well for you?

Maybe it has for your competitors?

Or other random brands?

But then maybe it won't? 🤷‍♀️

At best you'll lose out on your time and money.

At worst, you can sabotage your brand growth... or find yourself on the receiving end of a cease and desist. 😩

If you didn't get into business to commoditize yourself, then stop seeking out commoditized solutions!

Agree or disagree?