By Ryan Kouame
Attorney Ticora Davis is an author, entrepreneur and purpose activator. She is also the founder of The Creator’s Law Firm –– a Charlotte-based black-owned and women-empowered boutique legal firm that specializes in intellectual property law and consulting services. Davis, who has worked with such companies as VH1, Black Enterprise and Facebook, was recently named an honoree on the Forbes Next 100 List as an entrepreneur that is redefining the American dream.
Davis has a remarkable story of how she overcame adversity to become the leader that she is today. In 2016, the founding attorney at a firm she worked for previously, fired Davis four weeks after her son was born. Instead of allowing bitterness to take over, Davis started The Creator’s Law Firm out of her home with a seven-week-old baby on her hip, three hundred dollars and a dream –– not to prove her previous employer wrong, but to prove herself right and create a safe space for women in the legal industry. Davis uses her story to encourage, empower and inspire others to pursue their God-given talents despite the trials they may face on the path to purpose.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Intellectual Property
Intellectual property law is a conversation that is often bypassed in the Black community. With entrepreneurship on the rise –– trademarks, patents and copyrights are critical to sustaining the success of one’s business and brand to avoid lawsuits, cease and desist letters, and other intellectual property protective measures.
There is higher encouragement for individuals to protect their brand names and a growing trend of business owners protecting their actual first and last names to help mitigate fraud due to an increase in influencer partnerships. Here are some insightful tips and savvy information from Davis for women and creatives of color wanting to avoid legal targets and protect their business, brand and legacy:
- Get a comprehensive trademark clearance done. This helps identify any legal barriers to your company’s use or registration of its trademarks such as the business name, brand name, slogan or logo by getting it registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Apply for a program like the North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (NC LEAP) that coordinates with licensed attorneys who volunteer to provide pro-bono legal advice and assistance to small business owners and non-profit organizations.
- Partner with a law school with a trademark or patent clinic like North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to assist with your legal needs.
Davis recently held the firm’s Second Annual Legacy Trademark Party Experience and announced her retirement from practicing trademark law to expand the firm’s Patent Practice Group. She still plans to provide support and oversight as the CEO and visionary but is passing the baton to allow others to help lead the organization as she charts new territory to service the diverse needs of a growing clientele. If you would like to book, work with, or learn about the services that The Creator’s Law Firm provides, visit www.ticoradavis.com.