#trademarks – Can you own a hashtag TM? (Legal Road Map® Podcast S3E73)

#trademarks – Can you own a hashtag TM? (Legal Road Map® Podcast S3E73)

Author: Autumn Witt Boyd | Go-To Lawyer for Online Entrepreneurs February 11, 2019 Duration: 24:03

Hashtags are everywhere these days. It may seem appealing to register one that you use in your business as a trademark, but is it even possible?

In this week's episode you'll learn:

  1. How to figure out if you're really using a hashtag as a trademark
  2. Why using your hashtag outside of social media may help you protect it as a trademark
  3. The downsides to registering your trademark with a hashtag instead of just the words
  4. Why a registered trademark hashtag is really difficult to enforce

Key takeaway: It takes some special circumstances to make the time and effort needed to register a hashtag as a trademark worth it. Consulting with a trusted legal advisor ahead of time can help you determine if you're ready to take on the task or not.

Visit www.awbfirm.com/podcast73 for a transcript and show notes, and sign up to get a free 5 Minute Intellectual Property Audit worksheet.  You'll learn how you can make more money from the copyrights and trademarks in your business (you can also sign up there to be the first to know when new episodes are live and receive other legal updates and special offers from the AWB Firm).

Resources:

Get your free ticket NOW for the Online Course Success Summit, classes will be live Feb. 11-22: http://awbfirm.com/ocss/

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.


Navigating the legal landscape of an online business often feels like deciphering a foreign language. Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs translates that complex language into actionable advice you can use right away. Hosted by Autumn Witt Boyd, a practicing attorney who focuses specifically on creative and digital businesses, this podcast serves as a reliable guide through the common yet confusing legal questions entrepreneurs face daily. Each episode tackles practical topics, from the essential contracts you need to protect your work and client relationships to understanding the real purpose behind website policies like terms of service and privacy notices. You’ll hear clear explanations on how copyright and trademark law applies to your original content, branding, and products, helping you secure your intellectual property without unnecessary jargon. Think of it as a regular consultation with a trusted expert, designed to demystify the law so you can make informed decisions and focus on growing your venture with greater confidence and security. Tune in for straightforward conversations that replace legal anxiety with a practical plan, making this podcast an invaluable resource for any entrepreneur building a business in the digital space.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs
Podcast Episodes
Legal for course creators - independent contractors (S4E91) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
You're a busy entrepreneur, and you *probably* can't handle every single task it takes to create a successful online course. You'll likely need to enlist the help of graphic designers, copywriters, videographers, and mor…
Legal for course creators - payment plan problems (S4E89) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
If you sell an online course, digital product, or do business online, you may offer payment plans to your customers. But what do you do when the customer stops paying? In this episode you'll learn: If it's possible to to…
Legal for course creators: Student problems  (S4E87) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
If you are providing an online course or digital products to students, members, or customers, you're bound to come across a few tricky situations sooner or later. But are you doing all you can on the front end to prevent…
Legal for course creators: Terms of Use with your students (S4E85) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:41
Terms of Use, Terms of Service… whatever you call it, you might not think of it as a contract, but it is – and an important one at that! This week's solo episode is all about this critical contract between you and your c…
Course creator interview: Jaclyn Mellone on contracts (S4E84) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
Go-to gal Jaclyn Mellone joins Autumn on the podcast to talk about the importance of contracts and her atypical path to running a successful online business. In this episode, you'll learn: Why new practices, without doin…
Legal for course creators: Privacy Policies & GDPR (S4E83) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
If you're running an online business, it's highly likely that you're collecting some form of personal information from your website visitors. But do your visitors know what happens to their data once they've given it to…