How Can I Protect My Brand Like a Public Figure

Your brand is your baby, and you must do everything to protect it, much like how celebrities and influencers work hard to build their brand, which usually has fan-following in the millions. An example to consider is Ellen DeGeneres, with 31 million followers on Facebook and her show where she interviews celebrities and much more!

It doesn’t matter what the scale of your business is; the more you work to build and protect it, the higher the chances of its success and growth. Below are a few tips to follow that most public figures have practiced to nourish and protect their brand.

1. Build Your Brand

Understand what your company stands from and take it from there. Carry your brand name and make sure to use it where your followers are most likely to be. Once your followers begin to associate themselves with you, they make your business more valuable and end up being your brand advocates.

For instance, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna came years after Rihanna had established herself as a singer and an actress. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey hosts one of America’s most loved TV shows called The Oprah Winfrey Show. It’s been off the air for years, but Winfrey’s legacy continues. These celebrities didn’t start with branded names, but they took the time to develop them.

2. Protect Your Brand By Registering a Trademark

Filing for trademark protection keeps a brands’ assets safe. Be it a song or any intellectual property; it is always a good idea to gain an exclusive right to use your brand’s name at your discretion. Trademark registration also helps create credibility and lets reputable collaborators connect with you and vice versa. You can also gain federal protection from the court in the case that someone tries to use your brand name illegally.

In the past, celebrities have trademarked their songs, catchphrases, and even their babies’ names! For example, Hailey Bieber had filed for the trademark “Hailey Bieber” shortly before she filed for another brand, “Bieber Beauty,” if she ever wanted to launch a cosmetics line. Strange? It seems like it, but this is not uncommon.

The Kardashians are always filing for trademarks that leave everyone astonished, too! Kim Kardashian currently has the trademark registrations for all three of her children; North West, Saint West, and Chicago West.

3. Enforce Your Rights

As a trademark owner, you have to be on the lookout for knockoffs of your brand constantly. To sustain a high value for your brand, you have to enforce your rights and keep other people from using your brand. At times, a cease-and-desist letter needs to be issued. A cease-and-desist letter is to warn the party at fault – the party using your brand name without permission – of your brand rights so they can be aware of the capacity in which they can or cannot use your brand name.

You have to be careful to handle the matter gracefully to avoid the spotlight as a public figure. However, it would help if you were not afraid of being assertive and fierce to get the infringer to stop.

Ariana Grande sued clothing brand Forever 21 and its cosmetic brand, Riley Rose, for their use of a look-alike model and her lyrics for $10 million. Similarly, Sandra Bullock has sued websites for displaying misleading ads to stop fake online endorsements in her name.

4. The Use Of “Common Thread”

As you expand, all of your new ventures should have a “common thread” that helps people connect to the original, prominent brand. For instance, Oprah Winfrey started Harpo (which is essentially Oprah spelled backward) Productions and O, The Oprah Magazine which also comes out of the “Oprah Winfrey” brand name.

Kylie Jenner established a cosmetics brand named Kylie Cosmetics, and similar is the case for fashion icon Jeffery Star. Star has a brand named Jeffrey Star and sells clothing, sunglasses, and watches.

The use of common threads is pretty standard given how it helps carry brand loyalty and value through your audiences. If someone is already a fan of your original brand, it will take you lesser time to convince them as you venture and grow as a brand yourself. As a result, it’s critical to create a link among your brands for customers to relate. This makes protecting your brand name simpler since only one or a few people use it.

Summary

As a public figure, it is necessary to build and protect your brand to avoid legal issues and maintain a high value for your name. There are a few ways to do this, including registering your trademark, enforcing your rights, and using common threads. By following these simple steps, you can help ensure the longevity and success of your brand. Of course, different brands go through different journeys, but the important thing to remember is to safeguard your brand so that it remains valuable and intact. Building an empire and taking it through the journey of success and growth is dependent on how hard you are willing to work for it.

Visit our trademark registration page to learn more about how you can protect your brand with a trademark.