RIPL Effect

In the third episode of her RIPL Effect podcast series, Reinhart Shareholder Heidi Thole explores a staple of the spooky season – horror film and television – examining the ins and outs of copyright – what it protects and what it doesn’t. Throughout the episode, Thole draws on several well-known examples from popular works of media, including Yellowjackets, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Nosferatu.

In our second episode of RIPL Effect, Reinhart Shareholder Heidi Thole draws inspiration from the Ryder Cup — a long-standing international golf competition pitting the U.S. against Europe — to explore a timely comparison of U.S. and EU trademark law. She breaks down four key areas of difference, including: Scope of protection; basis of trademark rights; application process; and maintenance and renewal.

Thole explains the advantages, drawbacks and strategic considerations within each system, providing practical guidance on how to protect and manage trademarks more effectively across jurisdictions.

Welcome to the premiere of Reinhart’s new podcast series, RIPL Effect. Reinhart Shareholder Heidi Thole will be serving up industry insights, business-critical knowledge and actionable information that craft brewers, distillers or anyone else interested in trademarks can use to protect their own work and brands. Guest experts will also join Thole in future episodes to discuss trending topics and legal updates across a variety of different industries.

In this first episode, Thole takes a look into the world of trademarks, providing a comprehensive overview of what they are, how they work, and their importance in branding and marketing at the intersection of brewing and distilling. Thole also discusses the different types of trademarks that exist, their strength levels and the benefits of registering one. Additionally, the episode examines legal considerations such as trademark infringement and enforcement, and challenges like using a celebrity’s likeness or copyrighted material in branding.