U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to bring trademark and brand protection education to NFL Draft®
USPTO Director John A. Squires to lead World IP Day events on Friday, April 24, kicking off with a special panel discussion on trademark education for athletes, creators, and anyone building their personal brand.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—As America’s Branding Agency, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will bring its name, image, and likeness (NIL) and trademark education to the 2026 NFL Draft® in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 23-25. This is the first time the USPTO has established an on-the-ground educational presence at a major sports setting.
As part of the education, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO John A. Squires will lead a World IP Day panel entitled “Authenticity: The Name of the Game” on Friday, April 24, featuring:
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Jack Wallace, Three-time Paralympian gold medalist
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Reggie Calhoun Jr., Director of NIL and Revenue Sharing for Colorado Buffaloes football and Founder/Managing Director of ProStrat Innovations
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Chelsea Miko, Corporate Consultant, NIL Advocate, and Founder of Miko Brands
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John F. Duffy, Samuel H. McCoy II Professor of Law and Director, Center on Intellectual Property Law, University of Virginia School of Law
The panel will focus on demystifying the evolving world of NIL, trademark protection, and the increasing risks posed by AI deepfakes in an era where brand protection is increasingly valuable— and increasingly vulnerable.
"Draft Week is a key moment at the intersection of collegiate athletics and professional sports when personal brand identity takes on greater business asset attributes for many, many draftees and their families,” said Director Squires. “This is the culmination of all their dedication, hard work, and devotion and we want to make sure young athletes are well equipped in the basics of brand protection from the start, not after something goes wrong."
Fans can visit the USPTO’s education booth inside the NFL Draft® Experience at the Highmark SportsWorks building alongside the Pro Football Hall of Fame®. The USPTO will provide attendees with practical, straightforward resources on how trademarks work, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to reduce impersonation risk. The initiative “Register. Protect. Score authentic wins.” is designed to reach not only athletes and their families, but also fans, influencers, and anyone building a personal brand.
Why now
The growth of NIL opportunities has created a new marketplace where athletes at every level are building brands, signing endorsement deals, and monetizing their identities. At the same time, AI deepfakes and bad actors aren’t asking permission to profit off of someone's voice, image, or likeness. The USPTO's initiative is designed to close the education gap and equip brand protectors with practical guidance and official resources.
"When your profile rises, the risk of misuse rises with it and bad actors can pounce,” said Director Squires. “As nationwide federal trademark protection intersects increasingly with name, image, and likeness, we believe it’s important for America’s Branding Agency to raise awareness of the basics so people can make informed decisions about using their personal brands in commerce and whether a federal trademark application makes sense for them. We can help."
The USPTO sits on the 50-yard line both to help navigate the increasingly complex IP world and protect all brands, personal and professional.
What the USPTO will provide at Draft Week
- An education booth inside the NFL Draft® Experience at the Highmark SportsWorks building, alongside the Pro Football Hall of Fame®, with easy-to-understand trademark and brand-protection resources.
- A World IP Day panel discussion, “Authenticity: The Name of the Game” on Friday, April 24, featuring Director John A. Squires.
- Educational materials on how to protect your brand.
Resources
The USPTO encourages anyone interested in learning more[1] about trademarks and brand protection to visit the following official resources:
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[1] This initiative is educational and informational. The USPTO does not provide legal advice, endorse private entities, or guarantee outcomes. References to events or third parties do not imply endorsement.
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