We thank all of the participants for contributing and sharing their expertise with us. Member companies are randomly chosen each month to participate as a way to connect and educate our member community. To view our previous member spotlights, click here.
How has online shopping through social media platforms impacted efforts to protect IP, and what strategies are companies adopting to address these challenges?
Undoubtedly, this is an ever-changing and evolving form of commerce, which requires the utmost effort from all those who, in one way or another, work to protect the rights derived from intellectual property—whether they are trademark owners, legal representatives, legal operators, legislators, or others involved in the field.
Monitoring and analyzing the online market, reaching agreements with platforms, cross-referencing information on offenders, taking high-impact actions, obtaining exemplary court rulings, aligning legislation, and regulating platforms are essential to remain competitive in this ongoing battle. Investigators need to constantly develop and revise their strategy to locate the real distributors, their warehouses, factories, and other key locations that are crucial when conducting raids and making a significant impact.
Legal representatives must manage, on one hand, the companies they represent to safeguard their rights, and on the other hand, work with legal operators responsible for enforcing the law. However, the lack of specialization in the field, insufficient human resources, legislation that does not cover new modalities, and logistical and structural limitations hinder the achievement of optimal results.
What are your top 2 recommendations to a brand that is building up its IP enforcement program?
Firstly, ensure the comprehensive registration of trademarks and/or copyrights, as these will be the foundation for developing a proper and efficient IP enforcement program. Additionally, hire the right provider that meets the brand's needs—someone who understands the market where the issue arises and can offer an appropriate strategy to combat it or at least keep it under control. Simply removing infringing posts is not enough; it is essential to go beyond that.
What hobbies or causes are you passionate about?
My hobbies are crossword magazines, and doing puzzles. I can spend hours and hours trying to fit pieces together. I’ve completed dozens of puzzles—the last one had 4,000 pieces, took me three months to finish, and I took it apart as soon as I put the last piece in.
In contrast to the above, what I am truly passionate about is running. I train five times a week and participate in several races throughout the year, but I always focus on one main annual goal: completing a marathon. I dedicate the entire year to experiencing that unique feeling of emotional release, gratitude for being able to do it and for those who support me in achieving it, and the profound sense of satisfaction and pride I feel in myself after crossing the finish line of those 42.195 kilometers. This year I am aiming for the Chicago race.
What is one way a brand with a mature IP enforcement program can take their efforts to the next level?
To take their IP enforcement efforts to the next level, brands should focus on scalability, efficiency, and strategic decision-making. By investing in tools that help structuring enforcement data, automating workflows, and connecting online and offline intelligence, teams can, not only, reduce time spent on administrative tasks, but uncover hidden networks, track repeat offenders, and focus on high-impact actions.
This structured approach also enables better reporting and performance tracking, ensuring continuous improvement. Additionally, having clear reporting and performance tracking helps measure effectiveness and refine strategies over time.
What are your top 2 recommendations to a brand that is building up its IP enforcement program?
- Define Clear Goals and Priorities – Establish what success looks like for your IP enforcement efforts. Whether it’s targeting high-risk infringers, focusing on specific markets, or balancing online and offline actions, having clear priorities ensures resources are used effectively. - Sharing early success stories internally is crucial for building momentum and securing internal buy-in. Highlighting key wins helps demonstrate the value of enforcement efforts, making it easier to gain long-term commitment and support from stakeholders.
What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote?
"The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs… one step at a time.” – Joe Girard.
In work and life, we have to take things step by step. Some steps feel easy, while others make you wonder why you even started—but persistence gets you to the top. And let’s be honest—if one of the best salespeople to ever live said it, there’s probably some truth to it!
What’s one piece of advice you can give a brand looking to enforce their IP?
From an online perspective — Online infringement is rampant at the moment, and finding where to start may be challenging. A good place to start is by prioritising protection on key markets/platforms that have the greatest impact on your business. As you scale and analyse the extent of infringement on these key markets, you should identify which IP rights you have and strategize how you will be able to utilise these on your selected platforms - this will aid you in evaluating how to start with enforcement.
What 2 things contribute to a successful brand protection program?
To begin with, it is crucial to understand what you are trying to protect and where; In-order to identify and strategize the areas/channels for protection, the Brand Protection team must work closely with the sales/marketing team, analysing the return on investment, revenue impact, and growth opportunities, as all these factors can effect the business. Stay vigilant and maintain momentum as you reap the results of enforcement per channel. It may seem like we are playing a game of “whack-a-mole”, but continuous efforts give brands a substantial advantage over infringers, and moreover, these actions can send a clear and firm message to the platforms, resulting in the platform addressing infringement concerns promptly. Continuous efforts also allow you to fine tune your processes and build in efficiencies.
What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote?
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" - Aristotle
There is a powerful message in this phrase, this reminds us that our character is the outcome of every decision we make every day, and achieving excellence isn't a one-time accomplishment but a process that is built over time through consistent effort.
Registration is open! We look forward to welcoming back brands, government and top IP professionals to engage, collaborate and network with each other.
