The Creator Economy

On July 1, Australia’s trademark registrar ruled against Eminem in a dispute over an Australian swimwear label called Swim Shady. The headlines framed it as a rapper losing a fight over a pun. That framing misses the actual lesson. Eminem didn’t lose because a swimwear brand out-argued him on confusing similarity. He lost because his […]

Pattie Gonia has spent years building one of the most recognizable names in environmental content creation. The drag queen creator’s platform spans activism, sustainability advocacy, and a personal brand that her audience connects to viscerally. Patagonia — the outdoor apparel company — is suing her for trademark infringement. The requested damages: one dollar. That $1 […]

On March 24, 2026, Alix Earle finally solved the puzzle her fans have been tracking for weeks: Reale Actives. While the skincare community is talking about mandelic acid, brand owners should be looking at the name itself. Alix didn’t just pick a pretty word. “Reale” is an anagram of her surname, Earle. This isn’t just […]

Your Handle Is More Than a Username If you’ve grown past 10,000 followers, your Instagram handle isn’t just a screen name — it’s part of your brand identity. And as your audience grows, so does the risk that someone else might try to capitalize on it. Owning your @handle on a platform doesn’t give you […]