An Athlete’s Identity: The Power of NIL and Rise of Intellectual Property in College Sports
The rise of NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals in recent years has expanded college athletes’ access to funds beyond scholarships. Now, these young athletes are transformed into marketable brands, which raises pressing legal questions and issues about licensing agreements and trademarks.
When Identity Becomes a Brand: What the Beckham Family’s Trademarks Teaches Us
Trademark law protects names as indicators of brand origin, not as expressions of personal identity. Trademark law transforms names, such as the Beckham family’s names, into economic assets, which ultimately matters in the era of personal branding.