7: Trademark & The Cost Of Protecting Your Brand

08/24/20 • 51 min

All professionals will stumble upon the struggle of balancing costs with deductibility. When is the proper time to spend money on your company or product? Will the money spent be beneficial with the return? Branding your company, service, or product is key to obtaining a successful business platform. Sometimes, this process can be costly, but it could potentially cost you more if you choose to ignore it.

Protecting Brand and Trademarks

This week, Kelly brings Kelley Keller, founder and president of the Keller Law Firm which focuses on domestic and intellectual property issues. Kelley discusses the current - and public - trademark dispute that Lady Antebellum faces with Lady A, and what it means for business owners.

Discover the importance of having guidance during the trademark process, learn what to expect both financially and emotionally, and the consequences of protecting your brand.

Listen to Kelly and Kelley Keller discuss:

Lady Antebellum to Lady A Trademark Conflict
What Trademarks are Used for
Trademark Boundaries
Steps to Take to Avoid Trademark Conflict
Analyzing if your Piece is Distinctive and Financially Important
Cost vs. Return
Consumer Recognition
Marketing Does not Always Mean Ownership
Knowing When to Federally Protect your Brand
Dealing With the Emotional and Financial Sides of Brand Conflict

More About Kelly Phillips Erb:

Kelly is the creator and host of the new Taxgirl podcast series. Kelly is a practicing tax attorney who works with taxpayers like you every day. One of the things that she does is help folks out of tax jams, and hopefully, keep others from getting into them.

Links Mentioned:

Kelly's Website – Taxgirl

Kelley Keller - LinkedIn

Keller Law Firm

Lady Antebellum Trademark Case Info

Protecting Brand and Trademarks

Discover the importance of having guidance during the trademark process, learn what to expect both financially and emotionally, and the consequences of protecting your brand.

Listen to Kelly and Kelley Keller discuss:

Lady Antebellum to Lady A Trademark Conflict
What Trademarks are Used for
Trademark Boundaries
Steps to Take to Avoid Trademark Conflict
Analyzing if your Piece is Distinctive and Financially Important
Cost vs. Return
Consumer Recognition
Marketing Does not Always Mean Ownership
Knowing When to Federally Protect your Brand
Dealing With the Emotional and Financial Sides of Brand Conflict

More About Kelly Phillips Erb:

Links Mentioned:

Kelly's Website – Taxgirl

Kelley Keller - LinkedIn

Keller Law Firm

Lady Antebellum Trademark Case Info

Previous Episode

6: Let’s Talk About Addiction, Mental Illness & Stigma (Yes, Lawyers Have It, Too)

It's been a long and stressful tax season. Mix long hours together with COVID, and there's real worry about mental health for tax professionals. More often than not, one of the barriers to seeking help is stigma: it is difficult for any professional to admit that they are suffering. This week’s episode focuses on the steps you need to take to confront personal mental struggles.

Turning Struggles into Success as a Professional

Joining Kelly this week is Brian Cuban, a lawyer who has faced his share of struggles. Brian is a lawyer, the brother of Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks coach), and a famous author. Brian suffered from drug addiction, self-image problems, depression, and childhood trauma. In this episode, Brian shares his struggles. Brian offers stories, resources, and hope as he discusses mental health stigmas as a professional.

Listen to Kelly and Brian Cuban talk about mental health:

Brian'sHistory with Addiction as a Lawyer
Ego and Profession Can Get in the way of Recovery
Finding Your way out of False Functioning
Identifying a Problem with Consequences and Community
Generational Change
Developing and Adapting is a Must
Brian's Steps to Recovery and Continuing his Profession
Responsibility, Reconcile and Resilience

More About Kelly Phillips Erb:

Links Mentioned:

Kelly's Website - Taxgirl

Brian Cuban - LinkedIn

Brian Cuban's Self Image Book - Shattered Image

The Addicted Lawyer

Peter Principal

ABA

Addiction and Depression Resources:

Alcohol Anonymous

Teletherapy

Lawyers Assistance Program

Smart Recovery

Celebrate Recovery

Next Episode

8: What Successful People Have Learned About Money

What's your relationship with money like? Financial challenges are often tied to mental stigma and what we are conditioned to believe about money - even as children. Often, being conditioned to believe a certain way or having expectations about money can lead business owners to carry shame about their current business or financial situations, which can lead to poor business or financial choices. This week’s episode is all about learning to have a relationship with money that allows you to create success.

Solutions for Small Business Struggles or Shames

Joining Kelly this week is Nicole Lewis-Keeber. Nicole is a business therapist and mindset coach who works with entrepreneurs to help them identify and break stigmas that affect their financial choices. In this episode, Kelly and Nicole focus on the struggles of taxpayers and small businesses, where people often go wrong, and how to address those problems. Nicole differentiates between business success and self-success, teaching listeners just how much self-awareness can impact their bottom line.

Listen to Kelly and Nicole discuss: