Legal Resources

Endorsement deals can be career-defining opportunities or career-ending mistakes. The difference often lies in the details most athletes overlook until it's too...

Your social media presence is one of your most valuable assets as an athlete. It's where you connect with fans, build your personal brand, and create opportunit...

Every time you upload content to YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or any other platform, you're entering into a legal agreement. Most creators never read the Terms o...

The college athletics landscape has been fundamentally transformed by two major developments: the NCAA Transfer Portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) right...

The difference between sponsorship and partnership isn't just semantics. It's the difference between a clean transaction and a complicated relationship. This guide breaks down exactly what separates these deal types and the red flags that should make you walk away.

Your athletic career is a high-leverage, limited-time asset. The clock is always running. Social media is the tool you use to convert that temporary leverage in...

A copyright strike can devastate a creator's channel. Three strikes and you're banned from the platform, losing years of work and your entire audience. Understa...

Launching an online gaming platform is an exhilarating venture, but success hinges on more than just a great game. The online gaming world is one of the most he...

The landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is evolving at a breakneck pace. While individual brand deals were the initial focus, a new and powerful player...

The landscape of college athletics has been transformed by two powerful forces: the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. The portal offer...

The world of college sports has changed. For decades, student-athletes were barred from earning money from their athletic fame. Now, the rules have shifted, ope...

Streaming has turned gaming from a hobby into a career for thousands of content creators. But with that income comes tax responsibility that many streamers aren...

As a startup founder, you wear many hats: CEO, product manager, salesperson, and head of HR. In the early stages, you do what it takes to build momentum and fin...

Winning a gaming tournament can be life-changing—until you realize how much of that prize money goes to taxes, fees, and contractual obligations. Understanding ...

Generative AI tools are changing how startups operate, from creating marketing copy to writing code and designing logos. This technology offers incredible speed...

The esports industry has exploded from a niche hobby into a global entertainment powerhouse, complete with massive prize pools, sold-out arenas, and celebrity p...

The creator economy is often framed as a zero-sum game of individual competition. This is a flawed model. The sharpest operators understand that true scale and ...

Starting a business with co-founders is exciting. You're aligned on vision, passionate about the idea, and ready to build something great together. But without ...

The desire to build something of your own, even while holding a full-time job, is a powerful driver of innovation. Starting a side business or "side hustle" can...

Your content is an asset you built. The goal of monetization is not just to generate revenue, but to do so while retaining control of that asset. Every monetiza...

For a content creator, a copyright strike is one of the most dreaded notifications you can receive. It's a formal takedown request from a copyright holder, and ...

Your creative work is an asset. Whether it's a photograph, a line of code, a song, or a manuscript, it has value. In the digital age, that work can be copied an...

Joining an early-stage startup often means choosing between higher salary and more equity. It's one of the most consequential financial decisions you'll make, a...

Estate planning has always been about passing on your most valuable possessions to the people you care about. For generations, that meant physical assets like r...

For creators, athletes, and entrepreneurs, the words "sponsorship" and "partnership" are often used interchangeably to describe a deal with a brand. While both ...

The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights was not an update to college sports; it was a regime change. The era of amateurism is over. Athletes ...

In the creator economy, your personal brand is your most valuable asset. It's your name, your reputation, and the unique identity you present to the world. Whet...

Artificial intelligence tools have become essential for startups—generating code, creating content, designing graphics, and automating workflows. But AI raises ...

Every creator knows the feeling: you're setting up a new profile on a platform like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, and a long, dense legal document pops up. You...

Your professional athletic career gives you a rare window of high-earning potential. This period is short. The money you make must last a lifetime. Financial in...

Many professionals dream of starting a side business—whether to pursue a passion, generate additional income, or build toward an eventual career transition. But...

An athletic career is a high-stakes, high-reward enterprise. Your body is your primary asset, and your ability to perform is your primary source of income. A si...

Your personal brand is one of your most valuable professional assets. It's how clients, employers, and collaborators perceive you. It's your reputation, your ex...

Digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs represent a growing portion of many professionals' wealth. But traditional estate planning doesn't account for these...

Monitor and act against content theft and infringement.

The world of competitive gaming is exploding. From small mobile games to massive esports tournaments, skill-based gaming platforms are attracting millions of pl...

Every business starts with a "why." It's the driving force, the core belief that turns an idea into a reality. For me, the "why" behind Jacobs Counsel came from...

The legal profession, long defined by tradition and precedent, is undergoing a profound transformation. This change is not driven by a landmark court case or ne...

### Trademarks: Your Brand's First Line of Defense

Making the decision to hire an attorney is a critical step in the journey of any entrepreneur, creator, or professional. The right lawyer does more than just dr...

Raising capital is one of the most critical—and legally complex—aspects of building a startup. Understanding the legal landscape before you start fundraising ca...

Gaming tournaments have evolved from basement gatherings to multi-million dollar events, but with this growth comes significant legal complexity. Whether you're...

For any online gaming operator, the internet offers a world of opportunity, connecting you with millions of potential players. But this borderless digital world...

In the gaming and sports betting industries, understanding geofencing and geolocation is not just a technical consideration—it's a legal necessity. For operator...

In today's creator economy, content licensing represents one of the most powerful ways to monetize your creative work. However, licensing agreements can be comp...

The introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights has transformed college athletics, creating unprecedented opportunities for student-athletes to monet...

A comprehensive guide to prediction markets, exploring their origins, mechanics, current trends, and challenges. Learn how these markets are shaping finance, technology, and culture.

An athlete's brand is no longer confined to the court, field, or track. It lives and breathes on social media, where a single post can reach millions of fans in...

Every startup journey begins with immense passion and a grand vision. Founders dream of rapid growth, market disruption, and building a world-changing company. ...

For an athlete, landing a major endorsement deal feels like a pinnacle moment—a validation of your hard work and a sign that your brand has arrived. The excitem...

As a creator, your brand is everything. It's your name, your logo, your unique style, and the trust you've built with your audience. It's the result of countles...

The world of sports offers incredible opportunities for talented athletes. Fame, financial success, and a platform to make a difference are all within reach. Ho...

The gaming industry is built on data. From user profiles and payment information to in-game behavior and chat logs, modern games collect a vast amount of player...

The NIL era has transformed college athletics, creating unprecedented opportunities for student-athletes to monetize their brands. As this new landscape evolves...

For professional athletes and creators, a contract is more than just a piece of paper; it's the architectural blueprint of your career. Whether it's a team agre...

For an esports player, signing your first professional contract is a monumental achievement. It's the moment your passion transitions into a career, validating ...

Joining a startup in its early stages can be an exhilarating experience, offering a chance to shape a company's future. A key part of these early-stage job offe...

Turning a passion for gaming into a profitable career as a streamer is a dream for many. What starts as broadcasting gameplay to a few friends can evolve into a...

In the thrilling, chaotic early days of a startup, founders are fueled by a shared vision and relentless optimism. You're working late nights, brainstorming on ...

Winning a major esports tournament is a life-changing moment. The thrill of victory, the roar of the crowd, and the massive check with your name on it represent...

Earning money from your Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is a game-changer. Whether you're a college athlete signing your first collective deal or a professional...

For an early-stage startup, the focus is on growth, product development, and finding customers. With so many urgent priorities, data privacy can feel like a sec...

As an athlete or creator, your career is built on capitalizing on unique windows of opportunity. Your peak earning years might be intense but finite, and your i...

As a creator, your content is your currency. Your unique voice, your captivating videos, your stunning designs—these are not just creative expressions; they are...

The opportunity to profit from your Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has transformed what it means to be a college athlete. It's a chance to build your brand, ea...

Player data is a valuable asset but also a liability if mishandled. Compliance with privacy laws is essential.

Your brand is your most valuable asset. Protect it through trademarks, copyrights, and vigilant monitoring.

Your brand is more than just a cool name or a clever logo. It's the story you tell, the reputation you build, and the connection you forge with your customers. ...

For any startup founder, equity is the currency of creation. It's the fuel that attracts co-founders, incentivizes early employees, and secures investment when ...

A contract is the foundation of your professional career as an athlete. Whether it's a team agreement, an endorsement deal, or a NIL contract, the document you ...

In the creator economy, your brand is your most valuable asset. It's what distinguishes you from thousands of other talented individuals and creates lasting val...

As an athlete, you dedicate your life to excellence, sacrifice, and achievement. You've worked tirelessly to build a name, a reputation, and a platform that ext...

The skill-based gaming industry in the United States operates in a complex and fragmented legal landscape.

# Drew Jacobs | Founder, Jacobs Counsel