About the Role & Team

The Trademark Clearance Manager will be an integral team member of the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Business Affairs Department. The person will have day-to-day responsibilities for handling the trademark clearance process across the Disney Experiences (DX) businesses. This team works collaboratively with other Business and Legal Affairs teams that include DX’s creative, product development, licensing, finance, and franchise management groups to gain an understanding of business objectives and make decisions regarding legal strategies.

What You Will Do

• Reviews, evaluates, and communicates available information to make appropriate recommendations about trademark submissions and filings to business clients and internal partners.

• Reviews and summarizes legal opinions for the trademark and editorial clearance process for all franchise teams to lead and minimize risks to the Company and licensees.
• Consults with Intellectual Property Legal teams and provides business plans and recommendations for trademark filing strategies.
• Partners with business clients to ensure budgetary compliance and report possible pirated products to the Antipiracy team.
• Meets regularly with franchise teams to resolve business strategy to analyze best practices for trademark clearances and filings as necessary for new properties, logos, brands, taglines, character names, locations, and elements.
• Provides Business Affairs support for consumer product clearances and branding guidelines for Walt Disney Animation, Pixar Studios, and Disney Branded Television.
• Reviews and approves packaging, product development, branding style guides for trademark and third-party issues and trademark renewals.
• Prepares and gives trademark clearance presentations to internal clients, including training on the use of trademark tracking and submission systems.
• Collaborates with IP Legal to gather evidence such as proof of use, business plans, licensee information, and financial information to support trademark claims, oppositions, and cancellations.
• Supervises Trademark Associate who handles, tracks and summarizes legal opinions.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• A minimum of 8 years of experience handling intellectual property issues and related matters, particularly for trademark clearances, prosecution, and maintenance.
• At least 3 years of leadership/managing experience.
• Experience using U.S. Patent and Trademark Office programs and commercial trademark clearance 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.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to learn quickly, adapt to a rapidly changing environment, manage a high-volume workload, and balance competing priorities.
• Operationally driven and comfortable applying technological solutions to drive efficiencies.
• Consumer product experience a plus

Education

• A bachelor’s degree or qualifications.

Preferred Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree and/or qualifications to be a paralegal by certification or education and work experience as set forth by the American Bar Association and/or any applicable state codes.

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The hiring range for this position in Burbank/Glendale, CA is $102,000 to $136,700 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.