Starting a podcast is more than hitting “record” and sharing your ideas. You’re building a brand—something listeners come to recognize, trust, and follow. That’s why it’s so important to trademark a podcast early on. Without the right protection, you risk someone else using your name, copying your branding, or creating confusion in the marketplace.
Let’s break down how to trademark your podcast in a way that’s simple, clear, and effective.
Trademarking gives you the legal right to take action against copycats and protect your brand’s reputation. It also makes your podcast appear more professional and credible to both listeners and potential sponsors.
Many podcasters are surprised to learn just how much of their show can be trademarked. If your podcast has a unique name, eye-catching logo, or a distinct slogan or tagline that’s associated with your brand, those elements may qualify for protection.
Keep in mind: your podcast content itself (the audio or episodes) is protected under copyright, not trademark. Visit Copyright.gov to protect your work.
Trademark is all about brand identifiers—what people see and remember when they think of your podcast.
To trademark a podcast, you’ll want to follow a few key steps:
A registered podcast trademark gives you legal ownership and exclusive rights to use that mark in connection with your show.
If another podcast pops up with a similar name, you’ll have the legal grounds to stop them. It also strengthens your position if you want to license or monetize your brand in the future—whether through merch, live events, or syndication deals.
A big mistake that podcasters make is choosing a name that’s too generic or already in use. If your title sounds like hundreds of others out there, it won’t stand out—and worse, it could land you in legal trouble.
But the biggest mistake? Skipping the trademark search. A quick Google or Spotify check isn’t enough. You need a professional-level search that uncovers not only registered marks but also unregistered names in use.
Ideally, you should begin the trademark process before launching your podcast—or at least early in its growth. The longer you wait, the more risk you take on. If someone else registers a similar name first, you could be forced to rebrand entirely.
Your podcast is more than a passion project—it’s your brand. Don’t leave it unprotected. At TradeMark Express, we specialize in comprehensive trademark searches and thorough application preparation. We’ll guide you through every step so you can trademark your podcast with confidence.
Contact us today to safeguard your show and secure your podcast brand for the future.
Trademark Drawing Types: Standard vs. Special Form When filing your trademark application, one of the…
Understanding the Trademark Publication Process Congratulations! Your trademark application has cleared the initial USPTO examination…
Collective Membership Trademarks Ever notice those special logos or symbols that professional association members display…
Trademark Rejection: The False Connection Rule Choosing a trademark for your business might seem straightforward,…
How to Trademark a Cosmetics Brand Launching a cosmetics line is exciting—you get to share…
How Trademark Similarity Can Affect Your Brand When creating a brand, choosing a name or…