In this episode of The Church Law Podcast, Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, sits down with Nathan “Nate” Adams, partner at Holland & Knight, to unpack the essentials of trademark protection for churches. Whether your church is newly launched or generations old, this conversation will help you understand how to protect your name, avoid common legal pitfalls, and steward your ministry wisely. 

You’ll learn: 

● The difference between a trademark and a trade name 

● What legal protections state or IRS registration don’t provide 

● How churches unintentionally infringe on trademarks 

● Why legal protection is critical when growing an online presence 

● How trademarking aligns with good stewardship 

SHOW NOTES 

Trademark disputes can be messy, even with Christian organizations. Christian ministries and churches can find themselves in trademark issues due to expansion, similar town names, or even disgruntled attendees. For Mars Hill Church in Seattle, they were hoping to expand into California when they were met with another Mars Hill Church in Sacramento. Ironically, this church no longer exists after the tragic downfall of its founder. For a Christian university, the trademark issue can arise from west-coast and east-coast universities within different towns, both named Rochester. Lastly, although rare, disgruntled attendees can attempt to dilute the influence of the organization by creating fake organizations with the same name to discourage attendance. Trademark protections can be vital before any suit is seen on the horizon. Read More regarding these suits here: erikacole.com/churchlawcases/trademarkclashes 

Join the Faithful Foundations Membership today! 2025 Faithful Foundations Membership enrollment 

Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church. 

Unlock exclusive insights and expert advice by subscribing to The Church Attorney® YouTube Channel! Get access to video podcasts, live recordings, and much more—designed to help you navigate the legal landscape of church management with confidence. Don’t miss out—subscribe today! 

Connect with Nathan Adams: 

● ww.hklaw.com/en/professionals/a/adams-nathan-a 

● www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-adams-86380412 

Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. 

See all episodes of Church Law. 

The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. 

Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. Learn more at erikacole.com.