90% of ‘Brand Experts’ Aren’t. Here’s How to Find the 10% Who Are

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how legal teams should evaluate brand expert witnesses by distinguishing true strategic branding expertise from general marketing experience in trademark, consumer perception, and reputational harm litigation. Originally… Continue reading 90% of ‘Brand Experts’ Aren’t. Here’s How to Find the 10% Who Are

Could AI Become the Netflix of Expertise? The Next Wave of IP and Competition Questions

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how artificial intelligence could transform specialized expertise into scalable digital platforms, raising new intellectual property, competition, consumer trust, and marketplace differentiation questions for professional services industries. Originally… Continue reading Could AI Become the Netflix of Expertise? The Next Wave of IP and Competition Questions

Brand It ‘Intelligent,’ You Own What It Says

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping brand accountability, consumer perception, and ownership of AI-generated messaging as companies face growing legal and reputational risks in digital communications. Originally published… Continue reading Brand It ‘Intelligent,’ You Own What It Says

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The Tylenol Case: When Government Speech Destroys Safety Brands

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how government speech, public safety claims, and consumer perception can become critical evidence in litigation involving reputational harm, product liability, and long-term brand damage. Originally published October… Continue reading The Tylenol Case: When Government Speech Destroys Safety Brands

Successful and Enforceable Brands Connect with the Consumer: Lessons From a Recent 10th Circuit Decision

Trademark rubber stamp. Credit: Arcady/Adobe Stock

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how marketing strategy, influencer positioning, packaging design, and consumer messaging can become evidence in product liability, false advertising, and consumer perception litigation. Reprinted with permission from the… Continue reading Successful and Enforceable Brands Connect with the Consumer: Lessons From a Recent 10th Circuit Decision

New Revelations About AI Training Raise Risks for Trademark Distinctiveness

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how Meta’s AI training practices could erode trademark distinctiveness, increase brand confusion, and create new legal risks for professional service firms and trademark attorneys. Originally published July… Continue reading New Revelations About AI Training Raise Risks for Trademark Distinctiveness

The Suspension Bridge Effect: Why Trademark Attorneys Must Protect Entire Brand Systems, Not Just Individual Marks

Credit: Chris LaBasco/Adobe Stock

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how the Lululemon trademark dispute demonstrates why trademark attorneys must protect entire brand systems, consumer perception, and trademark distinctiveness—not just individual marks. Originally published June 20, 2025… Continue reading The Suspension Bridge Effect: Why Trademark Attorneys Must Protect Entire Brand Systems, Not Just Individual Marks

The Dual Threat: How AI Mimics Both Brand Strategy and Creative Execution

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how AI trademark protection must evolve as artificial intelligence reverse engineers brand strategy, creative execution, and proprietary brand assets, creating new intellectual property risks for trademark attorneys.… Continue reading The Dual Threat: How AI Mimics Both Brand Strategy and Creative Execution

Beyond the Logo: How AI Complicates Trademark Protection In the Digital Age

Allen Adamson is Co-Founder of Metaforce, Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and an expert witness in trademark, branding, and consumer perception disputes. This column examines how artificial intelligence is complicating trademark protection, consumer confusion, and brand identity disputes, creating new legal and strategic challenges for companies operating in digital environments. Originally published… Continue reading Beyond the Logo: How AI Complicates Trademark Protection In the Digital Age

Super Bowl 2025: More Ads Take The Field. Will They Score On Game Day?

In my review last week, I highlighted how early front-runners Doritos and FanDuel were smartly playing to football’s unifying appeal. As more brands release their Super Bowl teasers, we’re seeing a concerning trend: Too many advertisers are confusing star power with stopping power. The multi-million-dollar question remains: Who will break through, get noticed, communicate a… Continue reading Super Bowl 2025: More Ads Take The Field. Will They Score On Game Day?