
Who Owns Your Trademark? Legal Rules Every Startup Founder Should Know
From Inherently Distinctive Podcast by ownyourgenius
September 25, 2025 · 16 min · Episode 11
About this episode
Attorney Mark Goodman discusses the complexities of trademark ownership for startup founders and the implications of legal missteps.
In this episode of Inherently Distinctive, attorney Mark Goodman dives into a deceptively simple question: Who owns your trademark? From LLCs to sole proprietors, Mark breaks down the legal nuances of trademark ownership and the real-world consequences of getting it wrong. He shares hard-earned lessons from real-life trademark disputes, including issues around ownership structure, invalid applications, and improper assignments. Whether you’re a founder, startup team member, or contractor, this episode is packed with essential advice to help you protect your brand and avoid costly missteps.
Topics covered
- trademark ownership
- legal advice
- startup founders
- brand protection
Keywords
- LLC
- sole proprietors
- trademark disputes
- ownership structure
- invalid applications
- improper assignments
More episodes of Inherently Distinctive Podcast
- The Social Media Trap: Protecting Your Brand Online Before It’s Too Late · February 2, 2026 · 19 min
- Protecting Your IP Across State Lines: What Happens When Your Business Expands · January 1, 2026 · 17 min
- Who Really Owns It? Keeping Your Brand, Ideas, and Assets Under the Right Roof · December 18, 2025 · 18 min
- From Idea to Entity: Building a Business That’s Legally Protected from Day One · December 4, 2025 · 20 min
- Patent or Trade Secret? Choosing the Right Protection for Your Innovation · November 20, 2025 · 18 min
- Common Office Actions and How to Overcome Them · November 6, 2025 · 20 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Inherently Distinctive Podcast podcast page.