We’re diving into a challenge that’s been brewing in the world of intellectual property (IP) for quite some time: The public’s misunderstanding of IP, particularly trademarks.

Last year, 2023 INTA President Jomarie Fredericks took a proactive step by assembling a Presidential Task Force to address this issue. Their mission: To explore how the media can help make IP more accessible and relatable to the general public.

IP isn’t exactly light reading. It’s a complex field, and that’s where the media comes in. They play a crucial role in “unlocking” IP, helping the public grasp its significant role in the global economy, in society, and in their daily lives.

The Task Force didn’t just theorize. They dug in, getting to the grass roots of the issue. They examined current media coverage of IP and conducted surveys to understand consumer perceptions of IP, of counterfeits, trademarks, trademark enforcement, and other related topics.

To get a comprehensive view, they surveyed four jurisdictions across different continents, looking for any generational, gender, or jurisdictional differences.

Their report, titled Unlocking IP, published earlier this year, shed light on a critical issue: the consequences of inaccurate or incomplete IP reporting in mainstream media. The message was clear—the media bears a responsibility to educate the public accurately on IP matters. The report is publicly available and includes the survey findings.

In this episode of Brand and New, we’re exploring the perspective of a visionary media CEO and a seasoned IP journalist, both experts at navigating and communicating intricate subjects in our rapidly evolving media landscape.

Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic, one of America’s most prestigious and long-standing magazines. Under Nicholas’ leadership, The Atlantic has seen record subscriber growth and earned the top honor for magazines, General Excellence, at the National Magazine Awards in both 2022 and 2023.

Trevor Little is managing editor of IAM and World Trademark Review. Mr. Little has over three decades of experience as a legal and business journalist. He is a long-time INTA member and one of two INTA members who led the Unlocking IP Presidential Task Force.

Related Resources

About Nicholas Thompson

About Trevor Little

Unlocking IP Presidential Task Force Report

Unlocking IP Press Release (INTA Bulletin, July 2024)

Unlocking IP: INTA’s Media Mission (INTA Bulletin, July 2024)