Skip to content
EN Change language
Request a demoStart now

Podcast · Episode 12 of 25

Taking Swift Action to Protect Your IP with SwiftPaws' Meghan Wolfgram

Meghan Wolfgram, Founder and CEO at SwiftPaws, speaks about how she's protecting her inventions, how she's combating counterfeits, and who she turns to for advice

Listen on
Episode 12 Future of IP Protection

Listen to the full conversation

In this episode, Branddy speaks to Meghan Wolfgram, Founder and CEO at SwiftPaws, a health and wellness lifestyle brand for pets.

Meghan and Branddy talk about how SwiftPaws was created, Meghan's time on Shark Tank, and how they're combating the scams and counterfeits that have popped up since. They also discuss the need for IP protection early on, the processes for getting counterfeits removed, how counterfeit products can be a danger to customers, and advice for entrepreneurs on how to better protect their IP.

Topics discussed

  • How Meghan created SwiftPaws and brought her product to life, and what it was like pitching on Shark Tank.
  • The importance of securing IP protection first before bringing your product into the world.
  • The types of scams and frauds that SwiftPaws has had to contend with, as well as counterfeit products that have cropped up.
  • How the Amazon Patent Evaluation Express (APEX) program works, and how Meghan was able to get a counterfeit product removed.
  • How counterfeit products can not only fool customers but can endanger them as well due to a disregard of safety procedures. 
  • Why Meghan relies on both a strong legal team and her investors for guidance and help if something goes wrong.
  • Advice to other entrepreneurs around IP protection, and to know the policies and procedures of the channels you're selling through.

Guest quotes

#1.)  

"That's the beauty of the USPTO. Our patented trademark system. It's there so that people like me, who are inventors, who are dreamers, can move forward and put their ideas into the world... You have this piece of protection so that you have a chance to really make the most of what you've invented." (9:58)

#2.) 

"It breaks my heart when I see it because people get taken advantage of. Consumers don't always even know what the value of the product is, and they just see that it's cool, and they see, 'About $60? I'd pay for that.' And then they never get anything, and they never really even have a chance to do some recourse. By the time they want to, it's gone. So that's something we've dealt with for years, and that usually happens around the holidays or various times. We're always keeping an eye out for that type of scam." (11:53)

#3.) 

"We went through the process and that's been removed. As smooth as that was, it's still a moment of panic because all of a sudden you see what took you years to create has taken somebody months to recreate — albeit poorly, but that doesn't matter. There's a few things that really hurt, and the first thing is, of course, all that effort. Now, okay, is this going to undercut me? Is this going to take away business?" (14:53)

#4.)

"So just having a strong team around you that you can go to for advice. So when you panic, you've got those panic moments. My first thought is, who do I know that's in my circle that I can go to? So already having those relationships in place saves you from having to find them when there's a problem. It makes you a lot more nimble and faster to respond to." (20:21)

#5.)

"I think my number one piece of advice would be to know the industry that you're in, know the vertical you're in, know what protection you can have, and then know the channel that you're on. ... Every single channel, they actually have really robust terms, rules, processes in place to handle this type of thing. Learn it now, learn it before you need it. That way, when you have to do a DMCA takedown, you know how to do it. It's not a surprise and new, and you're fumbling through the process." (22:02)

Resources mentioned

For the latest episodes, search for “Future of IP Protection” on Spotify, Apple, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

More episodes

Watch on video
All 25 episodes
  1. 25Vivek Jayaram on Educating the Next Generation of IP Lawyers
  2. 24Maura Regan of Licensing International on New Approaches to IP Management
  3. 23Eproint’s Gabriela Bodden Explores IP Challenges in the Caribbean and Latin America
  4. 22WIPO’s Todd Reves on the Latest Developments at the World Intellectual Property Office
  5. 21Maral Behnam-Garcia on the Three Pillars for Brand Success
  6. 20INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo on Transforming IP into a Revenue Center
  7. 19AAFA’s Steve Lamar on Protecting Fashion IP in an Evolving Digital World
  8. 18NRF's Stephanie Martz’s Expert Advice on Harnessing Innovation in Retail
  9. 17Purple’s James Larson on Brand Protection in the Age of AI
  10. 16Nestlé's Myrtha Hurtado Rivas on How IP Protection Strategies Should Respond to Evolving Technology
  11. 15StockX's Paul Foley on How to Build a Brand Protection Authentication Strategy
  12. 14ZipString's Austin Hillam on How to Protect Your Inventions and Keep Innovation Going
  13. 13Kawaii Lighting's Lan Bui on Why Counterfeits Will Never Stand Up Against High-Quality Products
  14. 12Taking Swift Action to Protect Your IP with SwiftPaws' Meghan Wolfgram
  15. 11Warner Music Group's Matthew Walters-Bowens on How Musicians Can Keep Their Creative Work Protected
  16. 10Tapping into IP Protection Resources with Draft Top's Armand Ferranti
  17. 09Navigating the Processes of Knockoff Takedowns with NightCap's Michael Benarde
  18. 08Winning the Game of IP Protection with USAOPOLY's Paul May
  19. 07The Role of IP Professionals in Business Strategy with BEDGEAR's Joseph Codispoti
  20. 06Buzzfeed's Assistant GC on the Growing Landscape of IP Protection and Online Content Creation
  21. 05Keeping Your Brand Protected by Keeping Ahead of Technology
  22. 04Protecting IP - and People's Dreams - Through Collaboration and Anti-Counterfeiting
  23. 03An In-House Counsel's Guide to IP Protection and Licensing at a Large Media Company
  24. 02How Brands Can Achieve Consistent and Scalable Success in Protecting Their IP
  25. 01Beyond IP Enforcement: Protecting Your Brand's Reputation with Data, AI, and Stakeholder Communication

See what’s selling under your name.

Bring a brand and a market. We’ll show you the fakes, imposters and unauthorized sellers, and what removing them is worth.

Or request a demo