USPTO Launches Trademark and Brand Protection Education at 2026 NFL Draft® in Pittsburgh

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is set to bring its trademark and brand protection educational efforts directly to the 2026 NFL Draft®, taking place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marking the first time the USPTO has established an on-the-ground presence at a major sporting event, the initiative targets athletes, creators, and personal brand builders navigating the complex intersection of intellectual property and commerce.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director John A. Squires will spearhead a World Intellectual Property (IP) Day panel titled “Authenticity: The Name of the Game” on Friday, April 24. The panel will feature Reggie Calhoun Jr., Director of NIL and Revenue Sharing for Colorado Buffaloes football and Founder/Managing Director of ProStrat Innovations, alongside John F. Duffy, Samuel H. McCoy II Professor of Law and Director of the Center on Intellectual Property Law at the University of Virginia School of Law.

This discussion aims to demystify the rapidly evolving realm of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, trademark protection, and the rising threats posed by AI-generated deepfakes. As personal brands become increasingly valuable and vulnerable, the panel will provide insights into safeguarding these assets in today’s digital and commercial environment.

"Draft Week is a key moment at the intersection of collegiate athletics and professional sports when personal brand identity takes on greater business asset attributes for many, many draftees and their families,” Director Squires said. “This is the culmination of all their dedication, hard work, and devotion and we want to make sure young athletes are well equipped in the basics of brand protection from the start, not after something goes wrong."

Fans and attendees can visit the USPTO’s educational booth located inside the NFL Draft® Experience at the Highmark SportsWorks building, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame®. The booth will offer straightforward, practical resources on how trademarks function, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies to reduce impersonation risks.

The USPTO’s initiative, branded “Register. Protect. Score authentic wins.”, is designed to reach a broad audience including athletes, their families, fans, influencers, and anyone cultivating a personal brand. This effort responds to the expanding marketplace created by NIL opportunities, where athletes at all levels are building brands, securing endorsement deals, and monetizing their identities.

Simultaneously, the rise of AI deepfakes and unauthorized use of voice, image, or likeness by bad actors presents new challenges. The USPTO’s educational program seeks to close the knowledge gap by providing practical guidance and official resources to empower brand protectors.

"When your profile rises, the risk of misuse rises with it and bad actors can pounce,” Director Squires emphasized. “As nationwide federal trademark protection intersects increasingly with name, image, and likeness, we believe it’s important for America’s Branding Agency to raise awareness of the basics so people can make informed decisions about using their personal brands in commerce and whether a federal trademark application makes sense for them. We can help."

Positioned metaphorically on the 50-yard line, the USPTO aims to assist individuals in navigating the increasingly complex intellectual property landscape and safeguarding all brands, whether personal or professional.

The USPTO encourages anyone interested in learning more about trademarks and brand protection to consult its official educational resources. The agency notes that this initiative is educational and informational only, does not provide legal advice, endorse private entities, or guarantee outcomes, and that references to events or third parties do not imply endorsement.