search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts TikTok Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts TikTok
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Infographics
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor Newsletters
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Low Slope RoofingSteep Slope Roofing

VIDEO: Roofers Need to Protect Intellectual Property

By Art Aisner, Editor-in-Chief
April 28, 2023

Roofing contractors can always do a better job of protecting the parts of their business that drive their success, whether that be a leading salesperson, engaging marketing strategy or internal workflow process. Add intellectual property to the list, said RC Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney in this latest Legal Insights video. 

Cotney, of Adams and Reese, explained that trademarks, patents and other legal documentation is often overlooked by roofers that don’t quite understand the importance of staying vigilant with their own intellectual property. That can include the company’s name, logo, slogan, and business processes, when applicable. He recounted a recent call from a contractor that forgot to renew his annual corporate information for his business license. Another contractor swept in and began using it to generate business, creating quite a legal mess for the initial roofer. He did not formally trademark his business name with the state or federal authorities.  

“The process can be a little lengthy, and detailed, but it makes your argument a lot stronger if you do have one,” Cotney said in this brief episode.

Listen to this Roofing Contractor Podcast Watch this Roofing Contractor Video

KEYWORDS: Adams & Reese branding legal issues in AEC

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Aisner200

Art Aisner is Editor-in-Chief of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He spent the bulk of his career as a multi-media journalist for newspapers and television stations before joining the RC team in 2015. He is the driving force behind the publication’s content development, editorial strategy and other initiatives that serve growing audiences in the roofing space.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor's Top 100

    Benchmarking the Best in Roofing

    The 2026 Top 100 roofing contractors are revealed,...
    Top 100 Roofing Contractors
    By: Art Aisner and Tanja Kern
  • KEE membrane application on a roof

    A Beginner’s Guide to Single-Ply Roofing Membranes

    While PVC and TPO appear extremely similar, the chemistry...
    Low Slope Roofing
    By: Peter Gross
  • A couple stands facing a very nice home

    The Homeowner's Roofing Journey in 2026

    RC asked homeowners what their roofing journey was like,...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Art Aisner
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the Newsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • A finished comercial roof with a white coating
    Sponsored byFlashCo

    Best Practices for Allocating Scarce Labor Resources: Don’t Forget the Accessories

  • A metal roof
    Sponsored byWestlake Royal Building Products

    Metal Roofing Products That Protect Homes from Hurricanes and Build Pro Reputations

  • 3 men standing on a loading dock near a semi truck
    Sponsored by10X Roofing

    Why Good Roofers Struggle to Grow

Popular Stories

Androscoggin County Courthouse

Legal Roundup: Roofing Contractors Face Criminal Charges in Four States

3 men standing on a loading dock near a semi truck

Why Good Roofers Struggle to Grow

Tesla Solar Roof

Tesla Solar Roof Exit Leaves Contractors Facing Costs, Service Questions

Events

July 28, 2026

How Top Home Services Companies Turn Every Conversation Into Predictable Revenue

On Demand In this webinar, we'll outline how top contractors are turning every conversation into predictable revenue by coaching every comfort advisor visit, not just the ones a manager rides along on.

September 24, 2026

The 7 Promotes to Grow Your Roofing Business

Most roofing owners are great at the work. Knowing how to communicate what you do, why it matters, and what sets your business apart is just as important.

This session breaks down the 7 Promotes every roofing owner should know. From your personal story and value proposition to your hiring pitch, each one helps you communicate more clearly with homeowners, employees, and potential hires.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • How Roofers Can Prepare for Google's LSA Migration

    Google Local Services Ads Change: What Roofers Need to Know

    See More
  • 6 Changes To I-9 Forms Roofers Need to Know

    See More
  • tax-debt-cancellation

    What Roofers Need to Know About Filing 2022 Taxes

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • performance

    Performance-Based Building Design: From Below Grade to Floors, Walls, Roofs, and Windows to Finishes, 2nd Edition

  • business.png

    How to Succeed With Your Own Construction Business

  • Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design and Construction of Building Over Structure

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • March 31, 2026

    The Number One Reason Roofers Lose Money on Insurance Jobs and How to Fix It

    On-Demand Insurance supplementing is one of the biggest profit leaks on insurance jobs, costing contractors time, money, and control. In this session, we’ll discuss how proper training and process alignment can help teams manage supplementing more effectively keeping key decisions in-house and profits where they belong.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing