IP Monday Law Blog 

In the NIL era of college sports, athletes are moving fast: launching personal brands, apparel, and merchandise, while attention is high. Speed matters. But when a brand name feels instantly familiar, that familiarity can sometimes be a legal warning sign rather than a strength.

I’m seeing a growing pattern: NIL brands built around phrases that intentionally echo well-known movie titles, characters, or pop-culture names, often through rhyme, cadence, or wordplay. They feel clever and marketable. And they often create trademark risk that isn’t obvious at first glance.