Entertainment Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark

Gordon Firemark’s Summer ’25 Speaking Engagements

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

August 18-21 – Dallas, Texas! PODCAST MOVEMENT

I'm pleased to be asked back for the 10th year of this premier podcasting community event!

I'm scheduled for two sessions:

First, I'll be joined by my fellow podcast-attorney, Lindsay Bowen for:

Two Truths and a Lie: Podcasting Legal & Business Myths Busted
(live, interactive game-show)

and I'll also be Presenting:

Your Podcast Legal Toolkit:
Copyrights, Trademarks, and Contracts Made Simple

I hope you to see you there!

Learn More and Register here

August 21-24 – Atlanta, GA! VIDFEST EXPO

I'm delighted to be among over 40 speakers and industry experts on the BEST ways to grow and monetize your Youtube Channel. My talk is entitled:

“4 Things Creators Need To Do To Legally Protect Their Channels and Content (Without Hiring Expensive Lawyers)”

The event is for anyone interested in:

How to Use A.I. to Scale Your Visibility and Streamline Video Content Creation
How to Use Youtube to Expand Your Business by Selling Digital Products to Niche Audiences
How To Get Your First 1,000 subscribers as a Go-To Thought Leader in Your Industry
Essential Equipment on a Budget To Help You Bootstrap a YouTube Channel + Get Confident on Camera
How to Sell High-Tcket Consulting or Advisory Services via Youtube Even With a Small Audience
AND MORE!

I am presenting on Friday the 22nd and am personally inviting you to attend!
Register Now and use my code “Firemark10” for a discount to join us .

What You Stand to Lose Without a Trademark: Why Inaction Is the Real Threat to Your Brand

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

You’ve poured time, creativity, and money into building your brand. Your logo, your podcast name, your signature course or service—they’re not just identifiers. They’re assets.

But if you haven’t registered your trademark, they’re also vulnerable.

In today’s fast-moving creator economy, one overlooked legal step can unravel everything you’ve built. And while many entrepreneurs intend to handle trademarks “eventually,” waiting often turns into rebranding under pressure, losing an audience, or even facing expensive legal disputes you never saw coming.

Here’s what’s really at stake.

If You Don’t Register Your Trademark, You Risk Losing:

Your Brand Name (Yes, Really)
Without a registered trademark, someone else could legally claim your name—even if you were using it first. If they file before you, they gain presumptive nationwide rights. You could be forced to change your brand entirely, forfeiting the recognition and trust you’ve worked so hard to earn.

The Right to Grow Your Business Freely
Trademark rights without registration are limited to where you’re already operating. That means if you try to expand into new markets—even online—you might be blocked by someone who filed before you. Your own growth can suddenly put you on the wrong side of the law.

The Co-Creation Trap: How Overlooking One Clause Can Lose You Your Business

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

You find a great collaborator. Maybe it’s a co-host, a designer, a content expert. Things click. You’re excited. You agree to “just get started.”

But what you don’t do? You don’t sign an agreement.

That small oversight could cost you everything.

Here’s the trap:

AI in Music & Film: Innovation, Ownership, and the Legal Pitfalls You Can’t Ignore

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

The use of artificial intelligence in entertainment is no longer hypothetical—it’s happening right now. From AI-generated soundtracks to virtual actors and immersive experiences for platforms like Apple Vision Pro, creators across the spectrum are embracing this new creative toolbox. But here’s what most folks don’t realize: AI creativity is outpacing legal clarity—and that creates serious… Continue Reading

The Domino Effect of Delayed Legal Decisions

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

“It’s just a quick launch.”“I’ll circle back to the legal stuff later.”“I’ve got a great name — I’ll file the trademark after I build an audience.” If you’ve ever said anything like this, you’re not alone. But there’s a domino effect that kicks in when you treat legal as a later task. And once it… Continue Reading

Entertainment Law Update Episode 179 Now Available

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

In this episode, we unpack the latest legal developments shaping the entertainment industry, from Mariah Carey’s copyright victory to a major ruling on AI authorship and new challenges for platforms like Roblox. We also explore Duke University’s trademark objection to The White Lotus, the ongoing battle over Superman rights, and key updates in the AI… Continue Reading

AI, Ethics & the Law: What Creators Must Know in 2025

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

Artificial intelligence has arrived on set—whether we’re ready or not. From scriptwriting and voice cloning to visual effects and even casting, AI is no longer just a future-facing buzzword. It’s here, and it’s changing the game for filmmakers, especially in the documentary and independent film world, but also in podcasting, digital video, and throughout the… Continue Reading

Why Every Content Creator Needs an Asset Inventory (And a System to Keep It Updated)

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

If you’re a content creator, whether as a podcaster, YouTuber, course creator, or social media influencer, you already know you’re in the business of creating stuff. But here’s what you might not have fully grasped: you’re also in the business of owning stuff. And that stuff—your intellectual property—isn’t just your art. It’s your assets. Your… Continue Reading

Why Creatives Need a Fractional General Counsel—An Entertainment Lawyer Before the Deal (or Disaster) Hits

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

Let me ask you something. When was the last time you brought in a lawyer before a deal got complicated? Or before your collaborator went rogue? Or before your inbox lit up with a scary-looking cease-and-desist? If you’re like most creators, your answer is probably: “Well… never.” And look, I get it. Creative entrepreneurs—podcasters, filmmakers,… Continue Reading

AI and Copyright Law: What Creators Need to Know

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Gordon Firemark • 0 Comments

A March 18, 2025 court ruling has provided important clarity on the growing conversation about artificial intelligence and copyright law. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, the D.C. Circuit Court addressed a question that’s becoming increasingly relevant for content creators: Can a work created solely by an AI system qualify for copyright protection? The Case Stephen Thaler… Continue Reading

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August 18-21 – Dallas, Texas! ​PODCAST MOVEMENT​

Two Truths and a Lie: Podcasting Legal & Business Myths Busted (live, interactive game-show)

Your Podcast Legal Toolkit: Copyrights, Trademarks, and Contracts Made Simple

August 21-24 – Atlanta, GA! ​VIDFEST EXPO​