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.
What are the top 2 challenges in IP enforcement you see affecting your industry over the next year?
The top two challenges in IP enforcement over the coming year are the surge of AI-driven fraud and counterfeits, particularly superfakes, and the demand for a comprehensive global solution. Fraudsters are increasingly using sophisticated AI to create hyper-realistic counterfeit products and market them convincingly as authentic, including through realistic streaming and video content. Tackling these advanced tactics requires equally sophisticated, AI-powered detection systems. Moreover, a holistic global approach is essential—not only addressing counterfeit issues but also broader brand protection infringements, digital risk management, and corporate domain oversight—to ensure brands and products are safeguarded effectively across digital and international landscapes.
How do you show your clients the value of brand protection?
To demonstrate the value of brand protection to clients, emphasize its impact on their bottom line and brand integrity. Highlight how safeguarding intellectual property prevents revenue loss from counterfeit products, unauthorized use, and trademark dilution. Use data-driven insights to illustrate the risks of inaction, such as customer mistrust or market share erosion. Showcase success stories and tailored strategies, including digital monitoring, enforcement actions, and IP audits, that mitigate threats and enhance brand equity. By aligning protection efforts with their business goals, you underscore brand protection as a critical investment that preserves reputation, drives customer loyalty, and sustains competitive advantage.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
One of the best pieces of advice ever given is ‘Control what you can, and let go of what you can’t.’ This wisdom emphasizes focusing your energy on what is within your power—your actions, attitude, and choices—while accepting that some things are beyond your control. It fosters resilience, reduces unnecessary stress, and empowers you to navigate life’s challenges with clarity and purpose.
What 2 things contribute to a successful brand protection program?
For a Brand Protection program to be successful, it is important to incorporate both Proactive and Reactive Elements. The Proactive category should include items such as establishing a comprehensive IP registration program with Legal counsel, monitoring unauthorized sales through a comprehensive buyback program, and participating in IACC training opportunities with CBP and law enforcement. The Reactive category should include items such as utilizing an ecommerce monitoring service for enforcement of IP violations, working closely with brand protection teams at retailers & online platforms and when appropriate, engaging law enforcement for criminal matters.
How can companies use customer feedback to enhance its brand protection program?
Monitoring and organizing consumer feedback can play an important role in a comprehensive Brand Protection program. Consumers are often “brand loyal” and are the first to question brand anomalies in the marketplace. The brands call center/customer care center etc. needs to be trained in identifying and escalating brand protection concerns and ensure such concerns are communicated. These consumer incidents can be further investigated and validated by the Brand Protection team. Often, consumer complaints can provide additional support for pending investigations. An incident management system should be used to store and report information related to consumer complaints.
What hobbies or causes are you passionate about?
I’m an avid Cleveland Sports fan and enjoy cheering on the Cavaliers, Guardians and Browns. Planning the next tailgate or “road trip” are regular conversations in our house. These events get dates circled on calendars and provide a reason to get together with friends and family. There’s always next year!
What’s one piece of advice you can give a brand looking to enforce their IP?
Connect with your peers to take advantage of collective efforts. When I worked in consumer product licensing, I had a network of brands to speak to and collaborate with on mutual concerns and targets. In my current industry, I have been lucky enough to build relationships with my colleagues at other beauty and skincare brands so that we can tackle mutual problems together. You never know where that crucial piece of information is going to come from, so it is important to keep your network growing and your channels of communication open.
How do you show your company the value of a brand protection program?
I work in the legal department, which I always see as a service provider to the larger company. My internal company clients know the value of our program because their business concerns generate my work. When I can demonstrate the estimated revenue that the company is losing to unauthorized products, the visibility of those products to the average consumer, and provide suggestions to reduce that visibility and availability through strategic IP registrations, monitoring and enforcement initiatives, they are usually eager to help and to protect their research and marketing investments.
What hobbies or causes are you passionate about?
I worked as a professional actor for many years, and I still occasionally participate in theatre, film or television productions. Storytelling is my passion. When you watch someone else’s story and feel their emotions through their performance, you come out of the experience with a better understanding of their motivations. Theatre and film are the best mediums I know for increasing compassion and respect among people. I am a huge supporter of the arts!
What is one way a brand with a mature IP enforcement program can take their efforts to the next level?
Once IP enforcement programs mature we often find the value of the program is understood within a small group, or even department, though the benefits of the current investment or that of a potential expansion are unknown to the broader organization. Seek out a functional sponsor in various business units to collaborate on discovering and articulating the benefits to their specific function. How does IP enforcement help Marketing? Sales? Information Security? Channels? Could enforcement be traded for an opportunity? For example, convert gray market sellers into compliant resellers in new markets, enlist passionate customers on social media as influencers.
What are your top 2 recommendations to a brand that is building up its IP enforcement program?
Building an IP enforcement program can be daunting. Here are 2 tips to get you started.
Think strategically, but start targeted. Set out your program starting with a focus on the highest impact platforms, marks and use cases before expanding.
Focus on reducing the harm to your brand, and the opportunity for infringers by, in addition to pure enforcement numbers, measuring the Time-to-Live (TTL) of your program. Review infringements for enforcement regularly, employ effective automation such as proven AI to remove any delay in review. Simply put, the less time infringements are live the more effective your program will be.
Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
I have to say the individual I first worked for right out of college influenced me the most on many levels. He showed me how to create the right environment, support and the acknowledgment that failing small and failing fast opens huge opportunities.
Through this mutually supportive environment you can build a hugely successful team from a group of people achieving well beyond what the group could achieve in isolation. So much so we find ourselves working together again 25 years later. Thanks Rick!
Early-bird registration is open! We look forward to welcoming back brands, government and top IP professionals to engage, collaborate and network with each other. Stay tuned for further information.
