I ♡ Trademarks Conference RoundtablesThe (Copy)Right Stuff: Integrating Copyrights into Brand Strategies
Alt Legal Team | February 05, 2025
We’ll be making the most of our time during the lunch hour at the I ♡ Trademarks Conference by hosting small roundtable discussions on a variety of relevant topics. Each roundtable will have a host assigned to lead the discussion with pertinent questions, allowing you to share knowledge and resources and get to know your fellow conference attendees.
Roundtable Description
In today’s rapidly changing media environment, the lines between branding and creative expression frequently blur—creating both challenges and opportunities for brand owners, content creators, and legal professionals. In this roundtable, Charity Gates (Associate at Cowan DeBaets) will lead a discussion about how the Lanham Act and the Copyright Act intersect. The discussion will highlight recent legal developments and scenarios where one law may supersede the other and include strategies for protecting brand elements that qualify for dual coverage. In particular, participants will discuss:
- How trademarks and copyrights converge and diverge under the Lanham Act and the Copyright Act
- Practical implications for managing IP assets and mitigating risks
- Approaches for safeguarding brand integrity when content straddles branding and creative expression
- Strategies for leveraging dual coverage without overstepping legal boundaries
View all I ♡ Trademarks Conference Roundtables here.
Learn more about the I ♡ Trademarks Conference here.
Roundtable Host
Charity Gates
, Associate, Cowan DeBaets
Charity Gates is an associate attorney at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP, working primarily in the fields of Art Law and IP. While in law school, Charity served as the Articles Editor of the International Comparative, Policy & Ethics Law Review. She also completed internships at Louis Vuitton Americas, Christie’s, the New York State Supreme Court, and CDAS. Charity studied abroad in Paris, France during her time at Emory and is proficient in French. Prior to joining CDAS, Charity worked in a boutique international law firm working with French companies starting their business in the U.S. Charity has prior experience as an associate at a firm providing legal services to visual artists. Additionally, she was a rights and clearance associate at a major news organization, focusing on image rights and intellectual property issues.