April Besl is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group and Litigation Department. She focuses her practice on intellectual property issues including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, social media, advertising, and internet law. In addition, April has experience assisting clients with emerging issues related to the impact of social media, the web, and technology on their business and marketing strategies. She also has extensive experience in the prosecution, registration, and enforcement of trademarks and copyrights with the US Patent & Trademark Office and US Copyright Office.
Memberships & Affiliations
· Cincinnati Bar Association, Intellectual Property Litigation Committee Member
· Ohio State Bar Association
· American Bar Association
· CincyIP, Vice-President
· bizwomen, Cabinet Member
· International Trademark Association, appointed to U.S. Subcommittee of the Non-Traditional Marks Committee (Effective Jan. 1, 2012)
Experience
Trademark Portfolio Management
Multiple Clients
Trademark portfolio management
User Agreement for Smart Phone Application
Designer of Smart Phone Applications
We negotiated and drafted a user agreement for an individual who designed a smart phone application designed to work in conjunction with local clothes retailers. The application focused on digital shopping by enabling consumers to create avatars of themselves and try on clothes.
Worldwide Rebranding
Payment Processing Solutions Provider
We conducted extensive, worldwide searches and reviews of potential names selected by our client for its rebranding.
Trademark Infringement Litigation
Independently Owned Business
We represented our client's organization in a lawsuit filed against his brother and his brother's company for infringement of a trademark.
New Media Enforcement Actions
Production and marketing company
Ongoing representation of a production and marketing company that manages YouTube talent. We handle a variety of new media matters for the client, including negotiating and drafting talent and independent contractor agreements, including details surrounding production services, marketing, revenue splits, IP ownership and placement of content.
New Media Enforcement Actions
Financial Services Provider
Ongoing representation of a financial services provider that created a prepaid debit card from Visa. We have handled a large number of enforcement actions relating to the infringement and unauthorized use of our client's trademarks, copyrights, and other proprietary information, via the internet through search engine optimization tools, keywords, metadata, and other internet marketing tools.
Rebranding of Name
Arts Organization
We conducted extensive reviews of potential names for the organization and actively worked with our client to narrow down its options and eventually select its new name. Once selected, we successfully prosecuted an application for the new logo with the US Trademark Office to registration.
Publications
May 8, 2012, 5 Things Attorneys Need to Know About Social Media
November 21, 2011, How to Protect Your Company's Most Valuable Asset
December 29, 2010, Ohio Education Law Monthly (December 2010)
Presentations
March 3, 2012, "Copyright Issues for Musicians," Lexington Area Music Alliance
September 1, 2011, "Creating a Social Media Policy for Your Company- Sharing With Your Employees What They Can & Cannot Do on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & Other Social Media Sites," ExecSense Webinar
July 14, 2011, "What General Counsel Need to Know About Protecting Their Company's Trademarks on Social Media Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & Others," ExecSense Webinar
When Dealing with Social Media You Have to Think Outside the Traditional "Norms" of Trademark Enforcement.
February 3, 2011, "Practicing Law in a Social Media World," Semi-Annual Kentucky Prosecutors Convention
Dinsmore & Shohl's April Besl recently gave a presentation at the Semi-Annual Kentucky Prosecutors Convention on Social Media.
January 25, 2011, "Copyright for Libraries: A Roadmap of Copyright Law," Appalachian College Association