One of the hardest parts of starting a podcast is deciding what it will be called. Because it’s kind of everything? But what should you do if someone takes your podcast name? And is there any way you can prevent it from being taken in the first place.

Example 1: The Pretty Little Podcast

Meet Caroline Connell, host of The Pretty Little Podcast. In April, Caroline and her sister Phoebe found out their podcast “The Pretty Little Podcast” with over 100 episodes (ranked in the top 1% of podcasts globally via ListenNotes) was getting a competitor of the exact same name and topic.

Two actors from the show Pretty Little Liars were starting their own podcast named “The Pretty Little Podcast”. Whether they would also discuss past episodes and dish on the show overall.

After bringing the story to TikTok and getting thousands of fans to reach out to the upcoming PodCo Podcast, the second Pretty Little Podcast decides to change their name to “Pretty Little Liars: True Crime”.

Listen to The Pretty Little Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Example 2: For the Girls

Meet Victoria Alario, Host of For the Girls, in June Victoria found out another popular TikTok creator was starting a podcast with a nearly identical name and creative design as her podcast “For the Girls”.

For the Girls was created in 2021 and has almost 150 episodes, it is currently ranking in the top 0.5% of podcasts. While the new podcast, hosted by Becca Moore is technically named “For the Girls with Becca Moore”, the retro glam telephone, bed and strikingly similar stylings of their podcast covers have caused both Victoria and her fans to raise concerns with Becca’s podcast and creative team.

While this is a common phrase used by many creators online and people in everyday coversation it seems very unlikely no one from Becca’s team saw this, or the similarity between the podcasts.

Listen to For the Girls on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Podcast Name?

1. Hire a Lawyer and Get a Trademark ASAP: The only way to legally protect your podcast name and yourself is to hire a professional and/or file a trademark for your podcast name to protect anyone else using it. Technically, any podcast names are trademarked upon their first published episode and considered “intellectual property.”
2. Do Your Research and Have Integrity: If you are starting a podcast or working with a team to start a podcast, do your research before starting the podcast. See if any other podcasts already exist with this name and if they are still actively posting new episodes.
3. Reach Out Directly: As we’ve seen multiple times when a larger creator tries to overhaul a smaller creator’s work, if they’re held accountable by either the creator or the listener base at large, it can help change their mind before the podcast is launched. Never be afraid to ask or speak up for yourself.
4. All Press is Good Press?: I truly believe in most cases of podcasts having the same name, all press is good press. You aren’t going to lose followers or listeners, in fact you might get more from people looking up the other podcast. If there’s nothing you can do, make hay while the sun shines.
5. Claim Your Ground: Once you’ve decided the name of your podcast be sure to take every social media handle, get your website domain and leave no stone unturned.

For New Podcasts Follow These Steps:

1. Verify Ownership: First, confirm that the podcast name you want is not actually taken. Do a thorough search on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. After that, check social media handles and domain names to make sure they’re available.
2. Read the Room: If you find another podcast with a similar name, consider how similar the other podcast’s content is to yours and what variations the name might have. If the content and target audience are entirely different, it might not be a big issue. However, if they are similar, you should take further steps to differentiate your podcast.
3. Check Trademarks: Always research if the podcast name is trademarked. You can do this through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website or other relevant trademark databases.
4. Contact the Other Podcast: Reach out to the other podcaster directly. Especially if the podcast appears to be inactive. Explain your potential name and situation and see if a mutual agreement can be reached. This could involve one of you changing the name slightly to avoid confusion.
5. Consider Rebranding: If a resolution can’t be reached, consider rebranding your podcast. It might seem daunting, but a fresh name could offer new marketing opportunities and a chance to reinvigorate your brand.
6. Secure The Podcast Name: Once you’ve chosen a name, take steps to secure it. Register the domain name, secure social media handles, and consider trademarking the name to prevent future issues. This proactive approach can save you from headaches down the road.

Please note, I’m not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. All scenarios shared in this post are alleged and for educational purposes only. If you are planning on (ever) monetizing your podcast you should take proper steps to protect the name of the podcast and your brand.

If you’re an independent podcaster that’s having conflict with a larger creator of production company, please send me a message and I’ll help out however I can.

support@morganfranklin.media

Want more information about how to start and make money podcasting?

Listen to Podcasts for Profit on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Find all my free resources for starting a podcast here.