Gordon Firemark: The Podcast Lawyer

Gordon Firemark is the Podcast Lawyer. I first had a chance to meet him at Podcast Movement in the late 10's. In 2022 I might have had a few cocktails when I asked him about how to manoeuvre cross-broder conflicts between podcasters. In this episode I ask the rest of the questions I had.

We discuss the importance of clear agreements between co-hosts and why you need a guest release forms. We then tackle the complexities of using music in podcasts due to copyright laws. Gordon explains the differences between copyright, trademark, and patent law, and how to protect podcast brand names and segments through trademark registration. But wait! There's more! There's sponsorship agreements, the importance of proper disclosure, and the challenges posed by international regulations, particularly for Canadian podcasters. Gordon also shares a few real-life anecdotes that illustrate the potential pitfalls of not having written agreements or proper permissions, such as costly legal disputes and misunderstandings with sponsors. (This one is jaw dropping)

Practical advice: Get everything in writing, understand your rights, and always prioritize clear communication to avoid legal entanglements in podcasting.

---

Guest Release Form

Who doesn't want something amazing for free? Gordon offers a guest release form you can use to protect you and your podcast guest from legal nonsense.

---

As per usual - we have a video version of the show. If you can't get to the end of the show, consider downloading the audio and taking it with you.

---