Trademark Clearance, Manager

About the Role & Team:

This person will be an integral team member of the Disney Experiences Business Affairs (BA) Department. The person will have day-to-day responsibilities for managing the trademark clearance operations and strategies across the Disney Experiences (DX) businesses. This person is expected to work in a highly collaborative fashion with other Business Affairs and Legal members of The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) and members of the DX creative, product development, licensing, marketing, finance and franchise management groups to gain an understanding of business objectives to make decisions regarding legal strategies.

What You Will Do

Scope of duties: Manages trademark clearances and trademark filing strategies by researching, evaluating and communicating available information to make appropriate recommendations about trademark filings to business clients and internal partners.

• Manage BA trademark clearance operations, including tracking and processing trademark clearance requests, and auditing and improving clearance operations for efficiency.
• Manage trademark clearances and trademark filing strategies by reviewing, evaluating and communicating available information to make appropriate recommendations about trademarks to business clients and internal partners.
• Summarize trademark legal opinions for all consumer product franchise teams to manage and minimize risks to the Company and licensees. Consult with IP Legal and business clients on scope of use and any creative changes required to mitigate risk.
• Consult with IP Legal and provide business plans with recommendations for trademark filing strategies.
• Collaborates with business clients when necessary to ensure budgetary compliance.
• Meet regularly with franchise teams to determine business strategy in order to analyze best practices for trademark clearances and filings as necessary for new properties, logos, brands, taglines, character names, locations, and elements.
• Provide Business Affairs IP risk support to TWDC franchises relating to consumer product clearances and branding guidelines.
• Review and approve packaging, product development, branding, and marketing style guides and assets for trademark, contract, brand guidelines, and other intellectual property issues.
• Prepare and deliver trademark clearance presentations on trademark principles and Business Affairs operations.
• Collaborate with IP Legal to gather evidence such as proof of use, business plans, licensee information, and financial information to support trademark filings, claims, oppositions, and cancellations.
• Collaborate with IP Legal on trademark clearance, filing, maintenance, and enforcement strategies.
• Work with business clients to report possible pirated products to the Antipiracy team.
• Works on other projects as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• 3 or more years experience in handling intellectual property issues and related matters, particularly with respect to trademark clearances, prosecution, and maintenance.
• Strong interpersonal skills (collaborative ways of working within team, cross-functionally and with business clients), analytical skills, and verbal and writing skills (discussion, analysis, succinctly summarizing key issues).
• Experience using U.S. Patent and Trademark Office programs and commercial trademark clearance programs.
• Experience using trademark docketing 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.
• High energy and enthusiasm, self-motivated, able to work independently.
• Advanced working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to a rapidly-changing environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with business counterparts, understand business/ marketing strategies, assess risks and counsel appropriate action.
• Superb organizational strength, capability to manage a large workload and juggle many competing priorities.
• Operationally driven and comfortable applying technological solutions to drive efficiencies.
• Consumer product experience a plus.

Education

• B.A./ B.S., or equivalent; and/or qualified paralegal by certification or education and work experience as set forth by the American Bar Association and/or applicable state codes.

The hiring range for this position in California is $78,200 to $104,800 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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