Season 5, Episode 6. Leaf Me Alone: Green or Greenish Trademarks

Behind every “planet-positive” product wrapped in plastic lies the fascinating paradox of greenwashing—where marketing promises grow faster than bamboo but stand on foundations about as sturdy as a soggy paper straw. Welcome to the messy jungle of environmental branding, where not everything labeled clean actually is.

Greenwashing represents the dangerous intersection where trademark law meets environmental claims. Companies build entire brand identities around sustainability without the substance to back them up. However, regulators worldwide are fighting back. The FTC’s Green Guides in the US, the EU’s Green Claims Directive, and similar regulations globally are creating serious consequences for hollow eco-promises.

The casualties of this crackdown are numerous and notable. Volkswagen’s “Clean Diesel” campaign resulted in $30 billion in fines when emissions-cheating devices were discovered. H&M’s “Conscious Collection” faced lawsuits for being mostly fast fashion with minimal sustainable materials. Coca-Cola promotes recycling while consistently ranking as the world’s top plastic polluter. Even financial giants like Goldman Sachs have paid millions for overstating the sustainability of their ESG funds.

The distinction between legitimate certification marks (like Forest Stewardship Council or Energy Star) and self-created eco-labels has become a crucial battleground. When SC Johnson invented its own “GreenList” logo, consumers assumed third-party verification that didn’t exist. The resulting lawsuit demonstrates how sustainability can’t be fabricated through clever branding alone.

For those navigating these green waters, specificity and transparency offer the safest passage. Vague terms like “eco-friendly” invite scrutiny, while precise statements backed by evidence build lasting trust. As trademark lawyers, marketers and entrepreneurs, our challenge is clear: align intellectual property with genuine sustainability, not just environmental aesthetics.

Ready to sharpen your eco-radar and spot corporate green shenanigans? Subscribe now and join us in exploring how intellectual property shapes our world—from the products we buy to the promises we believe. Because in both IP and sustainability, authenticity always outlasts imitation.

Felene Cayetano: Libraries, Authors, And The Caribbean Intangiblia™

What if the most reliable path for a Caribbean author isn’t a viral post or a distant platform, but a seat at the library table and a place in the classroom? We sit down with Feline Keetano—author, librarian, and filmmaker—to map the practical steps that move a book from a local print run into the hands of real readers. From legal deposit to cataloging, from national systems that buy for multiple branches to library-hosted readings that convert attention into sales, Feline shares a grounded playbook for turning craft into income.We dig into the realities of distribution across the Caribbean: why many self-published books sell better locally than to the diaspora, how offline relationships still beat algorithms, and why scouting brick-and-mortar bookstores remains essential. Feline explains how schools and curricula create predictable demand, and how authors can strengthen their proposals with discussion questions, teaching guides, and alignment to standards. Along the way, we unpack regional collaboration—Carefesta connections, rights organizations like CAROSA, and WhatsApp groups that keep authors, librarians, and small publishers in sync despite fragmented infrastructure.Feline also opens up about sustaining a creative life across mediums. Her films preserve Garifuna language and memory, while her writing safeguards family stories and local history. We explore how readings, residencies, and community programs can diversify income, build audience trust, and inspire young writers to see authorship as a viable career. If you’re an independent author, librarian, or small publisher looking for real tactics—from bulk purchases and events to curricula and regional rights—this conversation offers a clear, repeatable path forward.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a writer who needs a boost, and leave a quick review to help more Caribbean stories find their readers.Send us Fan MailCheck out "Protection for the Inventive Mind" – available now on Amazon in print and Kindle formats.The views and opinions expressed (by the host and guest(s)) in this podcast are strictly their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the entities with which they may be affiliated. This podcast should in no way be construed as promoting or criticizing any particular government policy, institutional position, private interest or commercial entity. Any content provided is for informational and educational purposes only.
  1. Felene Cayetano: Libraries, Authors, And The Caribbean
  2. Mikaela Taivassalo: Keeping Minority Languages Alive In A Digital Book World
  3. Season 8
  4. Playing Around INTA 2026: A Scenario Game for IP Lawyers
  5. Sports As IP Strategy

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