Intellectual Property, AI, and Influencers: Decoding the Legal Implications of Marketing in 2025 with Ruth Carter from Geek Law Firm

Episode Description How can marketers stay creative while steering clear of legal landmines? Ruth Carter (they/them), attorney, writer, and speaker at Geek Law Firm, joins Social Pros to unravel the legal implications of today's hottest marketing trends—from AI-generated content to brand collaborations. In this episode, Ruth shares practical guidance on navigating intellectual property, distinguishing between copyright and trademark, and staying compliant without sacrificing innovation. Whether you're experimenting with UGC or working with creators, this conversation is packed with essential legal insights for every marketer. Full Episode Details  Ruth joins hosts Zontee Hou and Sunny Hunt on this episode of Social Pros to unpack the complex legal landscape marketers must navigate in today's ever-evolving industry. Ruth dives into how marketers and content creators should think about intellectual property, contracts, and copyright issues, especially when AI tools are involved in generating content. They explain why contracts should explicitly address AI use, the importance of transparency in data handling, and how marketers can avoid common legal pitfalls when working with third parties. Ruth also emphasizes the need for proactive data governance, especially in regulated industries, and encourages brands to build collaborative relationships with legal teams from the start — not just as a final approval step. Throughout the episode, they offer clear, actionable advice with their signature wit (jokingly referring to themself as a "professional killjoy") and deliver one of the most practical tips yet for anyone in a service-based business. In This Episode: 2:29 -  What marketers need to know about protecting IP, and the differences between trademarks and copyright  5:50 - The specific criteria needed in order to trademark 8:34 -  Leveraging the IP of others for your own purposes without getting into legal trouble  12:05 - What marketers should have in place in preperation for others to license their content 13:24 - Common mistakes and how people get themselves into trouble with legal 15:02 -  Best steps to take when seeing your IP has been stolen and used illegally 18:32 - How AI-generated content relates to copyright 21:04 - Setting expectations and guidelines surrounding AI in third party-created content 22:34 - What Ruth suggests clients have in their contracts regarding AI 24:25 - How to manage confidentiality surrounding AI 26:48 - Being upfront with your audience about data collection 29:49 -  Managing expectations and guardrails of compliance and legal 33:02 - How and why marketers often hit a wall with their legal teams 35:38 - Ruth's advice for aspiring social pros Resources: Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn Visit the Geek Law Firm website Follow Ruth on Instagram   Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.