The Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast

Talking Athlete Trademarks with Attorney Justin Clark

In this episode, we’re talking about athlete branding and specificlaly athlete trademarks. There are some really important things that athletes should do to protect their rights as an athlete for their name, image and likeness.
Today’s guest is Justin Clark, Managing Attorney at Clark Law Firm, PLLC. Justin has more than a decade of experience in trademark law. He assists businesses in identifying opportunities for brand protection and enforcement to build significant value for the business. His focus includes trademark identification, registration, development, and value-enhancement. From the beginning stages of brand selection through the roll-out of sophisticated licensing programs, he can guide a business through every step of the trademark process.
Justin is an amateur athlete that loves snowboarding, ice hockey, and weightlifting. He played ice hockey in high school and college, but these days he is more of a weekend warrior. When he is not in the office, you can find him in his home gym finding the perfect compound exercises and trying not to deflate a slam ball by throwing it too hard.
In this episode:
How Justin got into the business as a trademark attorney.
The importance of law school and how he grew his experience and portfolio.
Why Justin loves owning his own firm.
Why athletes are using trademarks to protect their athlete brand.
How sports trademarks started in the 1970s.
Trademarking a touchdown celebration.
Merchandise your licensable value.
How to get a trademark and who owns it.
Can your gym or trainer use your name, image and likeness to market their memberships?
Why putting your name on goods and services can monetize your brand and protect your name, image and likeness.
The importance of the first amendment related to name, image and likeness.
Why you should trademark your athlete logo.
Cost of trademarks
Advice for athletes who want to build their athlete brand.
Show links:
J Clark Law Firm
www.jclarklawfirm.com
Pliable's Athlete Branding Playbook
Pliablemarketing.com/athlete
 

Why athletes who write a book have a stronger athlete brand, featuring author Dan Good

Today’s guest is author Dan Good. He is a longtime journalist and book ghostwriter. His biography of baseball star Ken Caminiti was published by Abrams Press in May and has been nominated for a Casey Award as one of the year's best baseball books.
He has worked with thought leaders and CEOs to ghostwrite more than a dozen books. His book ghostwriting projects have involved politics, leadership, tech, ethics, and disability inclusion.
Prior to book writing and ghostwriting, Dan was a news editor and reporter at outlets like the New York Daily News, New York Post, ABC News and NBC News.
In this episode:
Why writing is book is a great way for an athlete to build their athlete brand
Dan’s experience writing sports book 
How long it takes to write a book
How much it costs to pay a ghostwriter to write a book
Why journaling can help athletes write a successful book
The importance of creating a game plan for what the book will be about deciding on who is the intended audience
Dan defines what a “hook of a book” is and why it is important for selling the book
How value of writing a book goes beyond the profit from traditional book sales, including credibility and speaking engagements
The process of getting a book published
How to sell the book and why having a strong athlete brand and marketing platforms will help you get a publisher for your book
The impact of Amazon on book sales
The opportunities that come with self publishing
How to get paid for writing a book
How your book could cement you as an expert and make you newsworthy
Show links:
Pliable Athlete Branding 
https://www.pliablemarketing.com/athlete
Pliable athlete Alyssa Bourque: https://pliablemarketing.com/news/f/athlete-profile-alyssa-bourque-university-of-vermont?blogcategory=Athlete+profiles
Dan Good’s Substack Website
https://dangoodstuff.substack.com/
Connect with Dan Good
Twitter: @DGood73
Email: DGood73@gmail.com

NIL opportunities and education for student athletes, featuring Dr. Eric J. Simeon

Our guest in this episode is Dr. Eric J. Simeon. He currently serves as a higher education consultant and researcher, as well as an agent advisor, and has worked in various aspects of higher education for 20 years. He has held multiple student affairs positions at diverse universities around the country, including in campus life, residence life, and as a mentor for student athletes at Power 5 conference universities.
He has been affiliated with urban and rural institutions of all sizes; multiple Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs); and has an expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as NIL and sports marketing. Dr. Simeon earned his B.A and MSW from Stony Brook University in New York. He completed his PhD. in Higher Education Administration at The Pennsylvania State University, and also holds certifications in Negotiation & Conflict Management (U.S. Institute of Peace); Strategic Diversity Leadership (National Inclusive Excellence Leadership Academy); Higher Education Teaching and Curriculum (Harvard University’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching & Learning); in Sports Marketing (Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications); & in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) from Sports Management World Wide (SMWW).Along with his consulting Dr. Simeon also owns his own fan support and lifestyle apparel brand named Big Cat Nation Limited. He plans to use his various skills/understandings of education, consulting, sports marketing, and NIL to leverage Big Cat Nation as a means to offer NIL opportunities to athletes from his alma matter. Show links:
Pliable Athlete Branding: https://www.pliablemarketing.com/athlete
Educational presentations at high schools and colleges:https://pliablemarketing.com/presentations
Harbor Institute: www.theharborinstutute.com
Connect with Big Cat NationInstagram - @wearebigcatnation- https://www.instagram.com/wearebigcatnation/Twitter - @WeAreBCNation- https://twitter.com/home?lang=enFacebook - Big Cat Nation- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085777717975www.wearebigcatntion.comwww.theharborinsitute.comGuest contact informationesimeon@theharborinstitute.com

NIL Legal Questions Answered by Sports and Business Attorney Joshua Frieser

Joshua M. Frieser, is a sports and business lawyer and Principal Attorney at Frieser Legal. His practice is focused on the representation of athletes, agents, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. 
While working to solve the unique legal needs that they have, Josh represents athletes in internal disciplinary proceedings and NIL licensing agreements, as well as in related intellectual property and business planning matters. In addition to serving as counsel to college and professional athletes and agents, Josh represents sports industry start-ups and small businesses as primary outside counsel.
In this episode:
How Josh got into the sports business
Common questions from athletes related to NIL
NIL representation rules in different states
Why it's important to work with a registered marking agent in your state
Why athletes need to know their college’s uniform and logo use policy
Branded apparel and equipment for college and professional athletes
Questions about NIL activities during competition 
NIL deals, partnerships, contracts and post-game press conferences
The future of name, image and likeness for high school and college athletes, including uniform legislation 
What the NCAA hiring Charlie Baker as President means for the future of NIL and legislation
What high school athletes need to know about NIL
Show links:
Frieser Legal: https://frieserlegal.com/meet-josh/
Pliable Athlete Branding: https://www.pliablemarketing.com/athlete
Connect:
Follow Frieser Legal on Twitter at @JoshFrieser
Email Josh at josh@frieserlegal.com