In this episode of Naming in the AI Age, Mike Carr and Ashley Elliott discuss how to reduce legal risk in brand naming, using the Smucker’s vs. Trader Joe’s case as an example. They contrast descriptive names like Trader Joe’s Crustless Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwiches - clear but hard to protect - with distinctive names like Smucker’s Uncrustables, which are unique and ownable. Mike and Ashley explain that naming strategy should align with business goals: private labels can lean o...
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In this episode of Naming in the AI Age, Mike Carr and Ashley Elliott discuss how to reduce legal risk in brand naming, using the Smucker’s vs. Trader Joe’s case as an example. They contrast descriptive names like Trader Joe’s Crustless Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwiches - clear but hard to protect - with distinctive names like Smucker’s Uncrustables, which are unique and ownable. Mike and Ashley explain that naming strategy should align with business goals: private labels can lean o...
A USPTO search is a good first step, but it doesn’t guarantee brand protection. The federal database only covers federally filed trademarks, leaving out state registers, the Trademark Official Gazette (with recently approved marks), and common law rights from simply using a name in commerce. That means small businesses, Etsy shops, YouTube channels, or local restaurants may have enforceable rights even if they don’t appear in the USPTO system. To avoid conflicts and build a strong brand, a cl...
Naming in an AI Age
In this episode of Naming in the AI Age, Mike Carr and Ashley Elliott discuss how to reduce legal risk in brand naming, using the Smucker’s vs. Trader Joe’s case as an example. They contrast descriptive names like Trader Joe’s Crustless Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwiches - clear but hard to protect - with distinctive names like Smucker’s Uncrustables, which are unique and ownable. Mike and Ashley explain that naming strategy should align with business goals: private labels can lean o...
