USPTO Hour: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)

USPTO Alert

USPTO Hour webinar: Name, Image, and Likeness

Join us tomorrow, February 4, from noon to 1 p.m. ET for a special edition of the USPTO Hour, hosted by the Office of Public Engagement (OPE). This session will feature information about name, image, likeness (NIL) and branding for athletes, entertainers, and influencers.

We will welcome opening remarks from Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) John A. Squires. Attendees will also hear about the basics of NIL from special guest John F. Duffy, Samuel H. McCoy II Professor of Law and Director of the University of Virginia School of Law's Center on Intellectual Property Law.

Topics include:

NIL rules and related governance
Importance of branding
Tips for filing a trademark application

Additional speakers:

Elizabeth Dougherty, Southeast Regional Outreach Office, Director, USPTO
Liz Jackson, Northeast Regional Outreach Office, Acting Director, USPTO

Please register to attend and submit your questions to USPTOHour@uspto.gov, along with any ideas or topics for future USPTO Hours.

Register today

USPTO Hours are held every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. ET. In February 2026, we will feature sessions from the following:

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Office of the Commissioner for Patents
Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks

For more information, including presentation materials and recordings of past sessions, visit the USPTO Hour webpage.

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