Protecting Trademarks and Intellectual Property

Is the intellectual property at your nonprofit protected?  Do you know what is considered intellectual property? What if someone else uses the name of the fundraiser that you do every year? What can you do about it? This episode looks at how your nonprofit can protect its intellectual property. Protecting your nonprofit's assets, your name, logo, events and more, is an important part of maximizing your impact. Our guest, Jeanne Seewald, will help answer these questions and make sense of trademark and copyright law as it applies to nonprofit organizations. Jeanne is a partner and Board member at Hahn Loeser and Parks LLP. Her practice focuses on intellectual property, general business, and mergers and acquisitions.In this episode you'll discover:If someone takes the name of my event can I do anything? 02:58Different kinds of trademarks and how they protect you differently. 03:51Can a trademark alone keep your property safe? Are their any risks? 04:43What's the difference between a trademark and a copyright? 05:22What are examples of intellectual property in a nonprofit? 07:37Intellectual property is an asset! 08:15What if someone takes the concept of your event? Is that protected? 08:41Client story: what happens when you don't protect your assets. 11:06If a nonprofit member's kid helps make a logo for an event, is that his property? or the organizations'? 14:20What can you do if you infringe on someone's trademark? And how to avoid it. 16:58Startling trends with domain name thieves 18:25How to protect your organizations assets now! 21:30This episode's Coaches Corner answers the listener's question in "Part Two: How Can Nonprofits be More Intentional with the Workforce Development Ladder?' 24:20Have a question about nonprofits? Email your Coaches Corner question to IMPACTcoaches@IMPACTability.net Sign up here for the monthly IMPACTability® newsletter for insights and tips insights on fundraising and nonprofit management from top experts in the field.This podcast comes to you from IMPACTability® powered by Soukup Strategic Solutions.IMPACTability® is an online coaching program that helps nonprofit leaders maximize their impact. With Impact Coaches, nonprofit leaders can achieve career goals and have a greater impact on the world around them. Impact Coaches will help you address real-world challenges that you experience in your own nonprofit. By focusing on your strengths as a leader, Impact Coaches can help you apply your knowledge and skills to have a greater impact.Nonprofit Coaching: https://impactability.net (Learn more about IMPACTability® and how to work with a nonprofit coach).Soukup Strategic Solutions, Inc. was founded in 2012 by the company’s president, Sheryl Soukup, to provide nonprofit organizations with expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management. The company offers consulting, coaching, and full-service grant writing, marketing, donor database management, strategic planning, and much more.Nonprofit consulting and outsourcing solutions: