1. www.WorldTrademarkReview.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 | 45
The IP team at AE Networks – home to hit television
brands including Duck Dynasty, Storage Wars and Pawn
Stars – is living proof that it is possible to do more with
less. It manages a 1,200-strong trademark portfolio across
more than 100 countries and oversees one of the most
respected licensing programmes in the business. Yet
despite a reduced headcount over the last 12 months,
the department still managed to refine workflows and
maintain its stellar reputation – as reflected by several
recent accolades, including a WTR Industry Award.
This success has been largely due to the result of
a new take on global merchandising, says Christian
Palmieri, AE Networks’ sole IP counsel. “The fame
and goodwill of any hit series often extends well beyond
media,” he notes. “So after the AE IP team modernised
our approach to this challenge, we supported a licensing
programme that covered packaged media, digital
offerings, apparel, gaming, publishing and a wide variety
of novelty items and homewares based on the success
and fame of a number of our series.”
Of course, expanded licensing opportunities are
possible only thanks to the strength of AE’s wide-ranging
trademark portfolio. Palmieri describes AE’s trademark
clearance process as “one of the most comprehensive” in
the industry, adding: “Careful and informed clearances
that avoid objection or obstacles make for a successful
registration and prosecution strategy. Our team takes IP
rights very seriously – both our own and those of others
around the globe – and our IP clearance process has
resulted in great success, not only for our famous marks
but also for our not-yet-famous marks.”
This streamlined process has been further facilitated
by excellent lines of communication with other in-house
departments when it comes to brand names (eg, new
names for television shows). “We speak ‘business’,
meaning we work with our business folks to understand
what they need and assist them in
creating great shows and products
under existing or new brands,
marks and titles that we will have
strong rights in,” Palmieri states.
“So at the clearance stage, we make
sure we advise on pitfalls, and
counsel towards the selection of and
investment in strong marks that can
be enforced and expanded into other
categories versus weaker marks that
we are less able to protect.”
Overall, Palmieri links the IP
team’s triumphant 12 months to his
own pledge to plug in trademark
issues at the soonest possible
opportunity. “We are proactive and
get involved in all sorts of business
meetings to make sure that we hear
of things coming down the pipeline
early in the process,” he explains.
“This means that we, as IP counsel,
can pave the way for new offerings
via clearances, strategic filings and
enforcement as required.” ‘Proactive’
is a common buzzword when it
comes to describing best trademark
practice, but the AE team’s laser
focus on this is proof that it is
absolutely key for success.
Other nominees:
Fox Entertainment Group
Home Box Office
NHL Enterprises
World Wrestling Entertainment
Sports, Entertainment
Media Team of the Year
A+E Networks
Industry
Awards
2016
Aaron Montero
(Eproint), Christian
Palmieri (A+E
Networks), Pedro
Chaves Corrales
(Eproint) and Gabriela
Bodden (Eproint)
onstage
WTR INDUSTRY AWARDS FEATURE