The Trademark Clearance Manager will be an integral team member of the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Business Affairs Department. The person will have day-to-day responsibilities for handling the trademark clearance process across the Disney Experiences (DX) businesses.
This team works collaboratively with other Business and Legal Affairs teams that include DX’s creative, product development, licensing, finance, and franchise management groups to gain an understanding of business objectives and make decisions regarding legal strategies.
What You Will Do
- Reviews, evaluates, and communicates available information to make appropriate recommendations about trademark submissions and filings to business clients and internal partners.
- Reviews and summarizes legal opinions for the trademark and editorial clearance process for all franchise teams to lead and minimize risks to the Company and licensees.
- Consults with Intellectual Property Legal teams and provides business plans and recommendations for trademark filing strategies.
- Partners with business clients to ensure budgetary compliance and report possible pirated products to the Antipiracy team.
- Meets regularly with franchise teams to resolve business strategy to analyze best practices for trademark clearances and filings as necessary for new properties, logos, brands, taglines, character names, locations, and elements.
- Provides Business Affairs support for consumer product clearances and branding guidelines for Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Studios, and Disney Branded Television.
- Reviews and approves packaging, product development, branding style guides for trademark and third-party issues and trademark renewals.
- Prepares and gives trademark clearance presentations to internal clients, including training on the use of trademark tracking and submission systems.
- Collaborates with IP Legal to gather evidence such as proof of use, business plans, licensee information, and financial information to support trademark claims, oppositions, and cancellations.
- Supervises Trademark Associate who handles, tracks and summarizes legal opinions.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- A minimum of 8 years of experience handling intellectual property issues and related matters, particularly for trademark clearances, prosecution, and maintenance.
- At least 3 years of leadership/managing experience.
- Experience using U.S. Patent and Trademark Office programs and commercial trademark clearance programs.
- Experience managing trademark filings and office actions with the USPTO, preparing identification and classification of goods and services, and collecting use and specimen evidence.
- Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
- Ability to learn quickly, adapt to a rapidly changing environment, manage a high-volume workload, and balance competing priorities.
- Operationally driven and comfortable applying technological solutions to drive efficiencies.
- Consumer product experience a plus
Education
- A bachelor’s degree or qualifications.
Preferred Education
- A Bachelor’s Degree and/or qualifications to be a paralegal by certification or education and work experience as set forth by the American Bar Association and/or any applicable state codes.
The hiring range for this position in Burbank/Glendale, CA is $102,000 to $136,700 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
About Disney Experiences:
Disney Experiences brings the magic of Disney stories and franchises to life through theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, unique vacation experiences, products and more around the world. Disney shines in the travel industry with six resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Plus, Disney's global consumer products operations include the world's leading licensing business; the world's largest children's publishing brands; one of the world's largest licensors of games across all platforms; and Disney store locations around the world and on the web.
About The Walt Disney Company:
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.
This position is with Disney Consumer Prod & Interactive Media, which is part of a business we call Disney Experiences.
Disney Consumer Prod & Interactive Media is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.
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