Social Pros Podcast · Convince & Convert

Intellectual Property, AI, and Influencers: Decoding the Legal Implications of Marketing in 2025 with Ruth Carter from Geek Law Firm

May 2, 2025·38 min·3 clips

Here's why marketers and lawyers are always at odds - and how to fix it.

Legal should arrive early. Ruth treats marketing risk as something teams can sort through before the work is trapped at the final approval gate. The question is not only whether someone copied a photo or trademark. It is what response makes sense for the business. Registration changes the menu of options. For copyright claims, Ruth says registration has to happen before a lawsuit, and the timing affects possible damages. Winning is not the same as collecting. She keeps that part refreshingly practical by pointing out that many infringers do not have money, so litigation can burn time even when the legal argument is solid. A flowchart beats panic. For a photographer, that might mean knowing when to send a cease and desist or use a DMCA takedown. For bigger teams, write the process down. Ruth describes an internal setup where an organization scans the internet, collects links, and asks counsel which cases actually look infringing. Not every match deserves a fight. A use in another country may sit outside a U.S. trademark. An accidental misuse may call for a softer first note. Tone is part of the strategy. Ruth gives the example of an owner-to-owner email that leaves room for the other side simply not knowing. That is legal work people can actually use. The larger point: marketers and lawyers need a shared list of concerns before the opportunity has already slipped away. Late review kills momentum. The compromise is simple enough: let marketing explore what is possible, but give legal enough room to protect the team without becoming the final roadblock.

As heard by us

A practical legal reset for marketers who need to move fast without stalling the work.

This episode treats marketing law as a working process, not a pop quiz. Ruth Carter lays out when copyright matters, when trademark matters, and what to do when someone takes work.

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Why you'd press play

Need a marketer-friendly map of IP risk before launch day?

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