World IP Day 2025 Q&A between Ehi Oviasu-Kahn and Stephanie Pottick

In celebration of World Intellectual Property Day 2025, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) sat down with Stephanie Pottick, IP attorney and expert in licensing, trademarks, and copyrights, to discuss the critical role of intellectual property in the toy and entertainment industries. Moderated by WiT Chairwoman of the Board of Directors Ehi Oviasu-Kahn, this conversation explores how creators can protect their innovations, avoid common pitfalls, and unlock the full economic potential of their ideas—especially women navigating the IP landscape.

Ehi: Let’s start with the big picture—what role does intellectual property play in driving innovation within the toy and entertainment industries? And why is it so important that inventors and creatives understand their rights early in the process?

Stephanie: Intellectual property (IP) plays a huge role in driving innovation because it allows creator(s) and inventor(s) to benefit and profit from what they’ve created. Understanding your rights early in the process can be the difference between success and failure, especially since intellectual property ownership is key.

Ehi: This year’s World IP Day theme is IP and Music, a celebration of how intellectual property empowers creators and shapes culture. What can toy and content creators learn from how musicians approach IP ownership and licensing?

Stephanie: IP and Music are intertwined. Did you know that different components of a song can be protected? For example, the lyrics, the score, and the recording are all different and can be protected separately. Plus, the band name may be protectible as well. Multiple people

can contribute to one composition, which actually can create a bit of a mess when it comes to ownership and licensing. Sometimes that leads to lawsuits - think of bands who break up and wind up arguing over who owns the band name, who controls the recordings, etc. Toy and content creators should take note and realize that when it comes to a toy, or a property, or a book (think text vs. illustrations), anyone who has contributed, technically has a stake in that creation. By thinking about these things and addressing them up front, you can save yourself a world of aggravation not to mention a lawsuit.

Ehi: From your perspective as an IP attorney, what are the most common IP pitfalls you see inventors and entrepreneurs in our industry fall into?

Stephanie: Wow, that’s a great question… how much time do we have? 😉

One of the biggest pitfalls I see is that many inventors and entrepreneurs (and even some established business owners) don’t take IP seriously and don’t think it’s worth the time and investment to protect their IP up front, but they usually regret that after a legal problem arises. It costs a fraction of the fees to protect yourself up front as opposed to having to defend a lawsuit, which can cost tens (and even hundreds) of thousands of dollars.

Another big pitfall I see is not dealing with IP ownership, especially when it comes to hiring freelancers who create logos, illustrations, content, and more. Did you know unless you have something in writing (that’s legally sufficient, of course) a graphic designer owns the IP rights to a logo created for you…even if you paid for it? It’s true.

Ehi: You work with clients ranging from big corporations to solo entrepreneurs. What’s your advice for a small business or first-time inventor looking to protect their creations without an in-house legal team?

Stephanie: First, they should try to educate themselves on IP. Whether it’s searching online or taking online courses, anything you can do to empower yourself with some knowledge should help. Another great way is to become a member of an organization like WiT, where they will find supportive people and amazing educational content. Finally, I think it’s important to find an experienced IP attorney who understands your business and can help you identify what you have, make sure you own it, and then give you your options on how to protect - and profit from - your creations. Typically, only big corporations have in-house legal teams, and even they sometimes work with outside professionals when it comes to IP and other specialized areas.

Ehi: Let’s talk about timing. When should a toy inventor, game designer, or content creator start thinking about IP protection? Is there a “too early” or “too late”?

Stephanie: ASAP, especially when it comes to trademarks. First, you want to make sure no one else is using the name or tagline you’ve come up with. Then, if it looks available, you’ll want to try and protect it sooner than later. That’s because if someone else protects it or uses it before you do, then you may lose it. Of course, when it comes to copyrights, some protection exists upon creation, and with patents, you have to file within a certain amount of time.

Ultimately, what you protect and when you protect it is a business decision based on your situation.

Ehi: Licensing is such a huge part of our industry—can you break down how IP plays into a successful licensing deal? What should inventors keep in mind before entering one?

Stephanie: Licensing is all about IP - it’s essentially renting someone else’s IP for a limited time in connection with specific goods or services for sale in specific territories. IP is everything when it comes to licensing. IP owners should understand the basics of licensing, including IP ownership, protection, royalties, indemnification, and other things they can expect before signing any agreement because once you sign something, you’re typically stuck with it. And empowering yourself by learning what to expect means you should be able to negotiate a better deal.

Ehi: Many WiT members are juggling creative and business hats. What tools or best practices do you recommend to help them integrate IP thinking into their everyday operations?

Stephanie: As we run our businesses, I think it’s important to identify what we’re good at and what we need help with. Having said that, learning about the different aspects of running a business is crucial to have an overview of what to look out for. Thinking about the different types of IP (trademarks, copyrights, patents) when you’re creating can help remind you what may be protectible. Also, as you work with different people, especially outside of your organization, ask yourself if you are sure you own the IP? These can help keep you on track.

Ehi: With so many marketplaces and platforms out there—especially online—it can be easy to get copied. What are some proactive steps creatives can take to protect their work from infringement?

Stephanie: This is a great question! You’re right, it can be easy to get copied, but there are definitely things you can do to protect your work. Consider IP protection. Most platforms have enforcement procedures which protect copyright, trademark, and patent registration holders. Think of Amazon’s brand registry - if you have protected your trademark, they will help you enforce it by taking down infringers. Essentially, if you protect your IP, those platforms will help you enforce it without having to hire a lawyer or file a costly lawsuit.

Ehi: In last year’s World IP Day message, I reflected on how many women struggle to even recognize when they have a protectable asset, let alone take the next steps to register it. From your experience, how can we help more women in our industry move from idea to ownership—and ultimately, to economic empowerment through IP?

Stephanie: We can empower women through mentorship and education. Organizations like WiT provide resources that can help. It starts with education and learning what the different IPs are. Then, once people start to get more comfortable with IP, then they will hopefully gain the confidence they need to move forward.

Ehi: In your view, how can organizations like WiT better support women in understanding and leveraging IP to grow their businesses?

Stephanie: WiT does a great job by providing live and recorded webinars on IP, plus there are numerous events, and the Slack channel where people can connect on IP. I think we need to keep the conversation going and stay updated on the latest developments, including the intersection of IP x AI…but that’s a whole other discussion.

Ehi: Lastly, what gives you hope about the future of IP, especially when it comes to leveling the playing field for women and underrepresented creators in our space?

Stephanie: Getting access to information has never been easier, which definitely helps level the playing field for women and underrepresented creators, but you still need to find the right guides who have achieved what you’re looking to do. Having the right mindset also makes a difference, and here’s a message I want to share to help with that: The legal stuff does not have to be overwhelming or intimidating, and it’s easy to learn the basics so you can get the confidence you need to succeed. Thank you again for the opportunity to talk about IP on World IP Day, Ehi! It’s been fun!