Name, Image & Likeness for Student Athletes and Influencers

The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in collaboration with Sun Devil Athletics, the McCarthy Institute, and the Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program is pleased to host the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Deputy Director Derrick Brent and the first ever USPTO Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) for Student Athletes and Influencers Event in the Great Hall on October 10, 2024.

The event is free and open to the public (please register using the link above) and will include complimentary breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon reception with students, athletes, attorneys, and USPTO Leaders.  Among the speakers will be Freddie Crittenden III, 2024 Paris Olympian in the 110 Hurdles.

Whether you’re an emerging influencer or a seasoned athlete, this dynamic program offers invaluable insights and tools to transform your passion into profit. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with peers, and take your brand to the next level.  Speakers and panelists will include:

Kate Fitzgerald, a senior on the ASU Women’s Beach Volleyball team, will join USPTO’s Deputy Director Derrick Brent for a fireside chat during this event to discuss how she licensed her own clothing brand with ASU and how NIL rules drove her business strategy.  

David L. Berdan, the USPTO’s General Counsel and Jason Lott, the USPTO’s Managing Attorney of Trademarks Outreach will offer guidance on best practices for trademark rights and filings.  

Rachael Bacchus, ASU’s General Manager, NIL and an expert in name, image, and likeness rights in athletics and beyond will share her experiences working with student athletes and their families.  Insightful and lively sessions, panels, and speakers will also cover:

• • The basics of NIL rules and related governance
  • How to build an effective brand
  • Common pitfalls regarding NIL contracts
  • Trademark prosecution before the USPTO
  • Benefits to registering a trademark with the USPTO

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About the McCarthy Institute | The McCarthy Institute is named after J. Thomas McCarthy, its Founding Director and world-renowned author of the multi-volume treatise, McCarthy on Trademarks and Unfair Competition Law, which has been cited in over 7,000 judicial opinions. The McCarthy Institute has built a vibrant community of IP and branding professionals focused on the latest developments in intellectual property law, and the related technologies rapidly changing our world. 

About the Allan “Bud” Selig Sports Law and Business Program | The SLB program is named for MLB Commissioner Emeritus (and ASU Law faculty member) Allan “Bud” Selig.  Its mission is to prepare students for lifelong careers in sports and is the only program in the U.S. that combines sports, law and business into one comprehensive degree program.

About Sun Devil Athletics | As a new member of the Big 12, ASU student athletes compete at the highest level of competition in fourteen women’s sports and ten men’s sports, which collectively have won over 100 national championships, most recently in 2024 with ASU Men’s Swimming & Diving’s first NCAA title in team history.