The Value of Trademarks for Authors, Speakers, and Creators

ByMarkport

Whether you’re writing a book, hosting a podcast, or speaking on stage, your personal brand is the face of your business. It’s how people find you, trust you, and remember you. However, without proper protection, your brand is vulnerable to misuse and dilution.

Why Acting Early Matters

In today’s crowded content landscape, similar ideas can appear at the same time across the globe. Someone else could be working on a project with a title or tagline similar to yours. If they register their trademark first, you could be forced to rebrand everything, or worse, face legal action.

This is why securing your trademark rights early is critical. The first to register gets to own the title, the name, the image, and the followers.

How Trademarks Support Your Brand’s Growth

A registered trademark gives you the legal right to use your brand for the goods or services listed in your registration. It allows you to:

  • Take legal action against anyone who uses your brand without permission
  • Reduce the risk of confusion in the marketplace
  • Build credibility when entering licensing, sponsorship, and collaboration deals
  • Add commercial value to your brand by making it a recognised, protected asset

Real-World Examples

  • Robert Kiyosaki trademarked Rich Dad, Poor Dad to protect its use across books, online courses, and educational products.
  • Simon Sinek turned the phrase Start With Why into a trademarked concept, securing his books, keynotes, and training programs.
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson registered StarTalk, his popular science podcast, ensuring control over its name and usage.

When you trademark your book title, podcast name, or speaking tour slogan, you set clear boundaries. You’re sending a powerful message that your work isn’t up for grabs.

Why International Protection Matters

Most content is published online and reaches audiences far beyond your home country. If your brand is accessible globally, your trademark protection should be too. Without international coverage, you risk losing control in markets where your content is gaining traction.

Where to Expand Your Protection

Consider covering:

  • Countries where you have followers, listeners, or readers
  • Markets where you sell or license content
  • Major digital markets such as Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK, EU, and Asia-Pacific
  • Countries where your publishing language is widely spoken or understood

Secure Your Digital Assets Too

It’s also essential to secure your domain name and social media handles. These are often the first touchpoints for your audience. If someone else takes your name online, it can confuse your followers, weaken your brand, and lead to lost opportunities.

For example, your Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube handles should match your brand name as closely as possible. If your brand is Brilliant Minds Podcast but someone else owns @brilliantminds on Instagram, your audience might follow the wrong account, or worse, a copycat.

What You Can Do Today

At Markport, we help authors, speakers, and content creators take control of their brand. We assist with:

  • Trademark registration in Australia and globally
  • Strategic brand name protection
  • Digital asset protection, including domains and social handles
  • IP advice tailored to creative businesses

It’s smart, cost-effective, and future-focused. Let’s protect your intellectual property before someone else profits from it.

Talk to us about protecting your personal brand today: https://markport.com.au/contact-us/


Useful links:
Harvard Business School Online. (2022, July 26). Personal branding: What it is & why it matters. HBS Online. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/personal-branding-at-work

Avery, J., & Greenwald, R. (2023, May–June). A new approach to building your personal brand. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/05/a-new-approach-to-building-your-personal-brand