Ep. 138 – How to Legally Protect Your Pet Business Brand: A Crash Course in Copyright with Shahrina Ankhi Krol

What would happen if another pet business copied the name, logo or slogan you’ve spent years building a reputation around?

What if they trademarked it before you did… and then legally forced YOU to stop using it?

And how much would it cost to rebrand your entire business, rebuild years of goodwill and explain to all your existing clients why you’ve suddenly changed your name?

In this week’s episode of the Pet Boarding & Daycare Podcast, Dom is joined by pet industry attorney Shahrina Ankhi Krol to talk about one of the most valuable — and most overlooked — assets in your business: your brand. Shahrina explains why your business name, logo and slogan aren’t simply bits of marketing, but valuable assets that need protecting, and shares the frightening story of a pet business owner with four facilities who assumed nobody would ever care enough about her business name to take it… until a larger company did exactly that and eventually sued her to stop using it.

Dom and Shahrina also break down the difference between trademarks and copyright, the mistakes pet business owners make when using photographs and other people’s content, and the increasingly complicated question of who actually owns something created using AI. Shahrina explains why growing your visibility without protecting your brand can actually increase your risk, what can happen to years of customer goodwill if you’re forced to rebrand, and why trademark protection should be viewed in much the same way as insurance — something you put in place BEFORE something goes wrong.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why Your Brand Is a Business Asset – How your name, logo and slogan become valuable pieces of intellectual property as your business grows.
The Danger of Waiting Until Something Goes Wrong – Why discovering somebody else has registered your name can lead to legal bills, damages and a complete rebrand.
Why Bigger Businesses Could Be Watching You – How successful ideas and brands can attract attention, particularly as you become more visible.
What’s the Difference Between Trademark vs Copyright – Shahrina’s simple explanation of what each one protects and why pet business owners need to understand the difference.
The Hidden Danger of Going Viral – Why promoting an unprotected name, logo or slogan to more people can actually leave your business more exposed.

Remember, registration is now open for the biggest Pet Boarding and Daycare Expo on the planet, which is happening at the famous Hershey Lodge. Click here to grab your ticket now!

Huge thanks to our sponsor Focus Answering Service. Remember, every missed call is a missed revenue opportunity; protect your reputation and scale your business with 24/7 live call support: focustele.com

Thanks also to our amazing guest this week Shahrina Ankhi Krol, connect with Shahrina at ankhikrollaw.com

Want to work with the World Leading Pet Business Coach? Add your name to the waitlist for Dom’s Exclusive coaching program The Dog Daycare Success Academy now by clicking here now.

Episode Highlights

[03:59] – Dom introduces Shahrina Ankhi Krol and the importance of trademarks, copyright and protecting your pet business brand.
[08:19] – Dog versus Vogue: the trademark battle that provides a perfect introduction to this week’s topic.
[10:22] – Shahrina explains her legal work with small businesses, startups and pet industry clients across the United States.
[11:16] – From archaeology and excavating Viking sites in Denmark to unexpectedly becoming an attorney.
[18:29] – How a very extravagant cat birthday party helped Shahrina discover a huge gap in the pet industry.
[20:11] – Why most business owners don’t think seriously about trademarks until something bad happens.
[21:01] – Why your name, logo and slogan could be three of the most important assets your business owns.
[25:34] – The four-location pet business owner who ignored the risk, only to eventually be sued and told to stop using her own business name.
[31:55] – Trademark versus copyright: Shahrina gives a simple explanation of the difference and what each protects.
[33:35] – Can you copyright something created using AI? Shahrina explains the current grey area around human and AI-generated work.