College Meets IP: The Intellectual Property of Higher Education
IP Goes Pop
College may be one of pop culture’s favorite settings, but behind the scenes, universities are serious intellectual property owners. Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue explore how colleges use trademark, copyright, and licensing to protect logos, mascots, colors, slogans, and other brand assets across athletics, merchandise, and media. Using Rudy, Blue Chips, and The Social Network as touchpoints, they also examine how NIL rights have changed college sports, and where the line remains between an athlete’s personal brand and a school’s protected IP. In this episode: How colleges...
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If You're Not Firsts, You're Lasts: Intellectual Property Lasts
IP Goes Pop
In pop culture, “last” often just means “for now.” In intellectual property law, it means something much more concrete. In this episode of IP Goes Pop®, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue explore what “last” really means across film, TV, music, and IP law. From The Last Samurai and The Last Jedi to Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Last of Us, “last” builds emotion, but rarely signals the end. In IP law, it does. The hosts explain how rights expire, can be lost early, become generic, or change by statute. Featuring examples like Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patent and...
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Intellectual Property Firsts: We're #1
IP Goes Pop
“If you’re not first, you’re last!” This week on IP Goes Pop!®, co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue chase down “IP firsts” and explain why these origin stories still matter to creators, brands, and inventors today. The episode opens with our hosts’ personal firsts (early movie-theater memories, ticket-counter hijinks). Then the discussion shifts to media milestones, including the first televised commercial during a live sports broadcast, the first laugh track, and the first prime-time animated series. Moving from the screen to intellectual property firsts. Michael...
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Non-Traditional Trademarks: How Color, Sound, and Scent become Protectable
IP Goes Pop
What color says luxury before you open the box? What sound makes you grab the popcorn before a movie starts? In this episode of IP Goes Pop!®, hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue explore how color, sound, and even scent can function as protectable trademarks. From Smell-O-Vision and John Waters’ Odorama cards (Polyester) to modern twists like The Artist and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (and the trademark fight it sparked), the conversation shows how sensory storytelling grabs attention and how the law can recognize those cues as brand identifiers. Mike and Joe break down secondary meaning...
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Wu-Tang Clan’s One-Of-A-Kind Album Could Rewrite Music Law: Shaolin Secrets
IP Goes Pop
Enter the 36 Chambers of intellectual property as hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue spin the story of Wu-Tang Clan’s mysterious, one-of-a-kind album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, and the first-of-its-kind legal case it inspired. From Staten Island’s kung-fu-infused hip-hop origins to a high-stakes sale cloaked in secrecy, Michael and Joe trace how a creative experiment in artistic exclusivity turned into a potential landmark in trade secret law. When Wu-Tang recorded a single physical copy of Shaolin and sold it under an ultra-restrictive contract, few imagined the album would pass...
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A Spider-Man Patent Saga: From Comics to Court
IP Goes Pop
Swing into the world of intellectual property and untangle the legal threads behind legendary wall-crawling comic book character, Spider-Man. From comic book origins to blockbuster films, hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue trace Spidey’s journey through pop culture, the U.S. Patent Office, and the courtroom. From Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s Amazing Fantasy #15 to Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland on the big screen, Michael and Joe explore how each era shaped Spider-Man’s generational appeal—and his IP story. Listeners’ “spidey senses” will tingle at the tale of a...
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The (Copy) Right Tool for the Job: The Copyright Tool Kit
IP Goes Pop
Filing for a copyright application doesn’t have to be an overly complex chore. You just need the right tools for the job. Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue welcome Jessica Chinnadurai, Attorney Advisor from the U.S. Copyright Office, to introduce the Copyright Office’s . To set the table, Michael and Joseph discuss iconic tools and toolkits from pop culture, including the legendary Swiss Army knife, the versatile Leatherman multi-tool, famous fictional toolkits from MacGyver and Iron Man’s suit, and Ron Swanson’s woodworking expertise. This sets the stage for Jessica's breakdown...
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IP State of the Union Part 2: Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions
IP Goes Pop
In this second installment of "IP State of the Union: Billion-Dollar Character Acquisitions," IP Goes Pop!® co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue explore goodwill—the invisible yet invaluable asset fueling iconic franchises. They break down how studios leverage brand loyalty and cultural impact when acquiring legendary IP, where the goal extends beyond box office numbers to long-term equity through merchandise, theme parks, and fan engagement. The hosts analyze three major franchises: Star Wars (examining whether George Lucas's goodwill continues to pay dividends as Disney shifts toward...
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IP State of the Union: Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions (Part 1)
IP Goes Pop
How have blockbuster IP deals reshaped modern filmmaking? Dive into Hollywood’s most strategic moves—from Disney’s Marvel takeover catalyzed by the success of Iron Man (2008) to the high-stakes integration of Fox properties. IP Goes Pop!® co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue unpack how these mega acquisitions transformed standalone films into sprawling, interconnected cinematic universes that have redefined storytelling and set new profit standards. Michael and Joe also tackle the challenge of franchise fatigue, exploring how studios refresh their lineups by introducing...
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Recognizing and Avoiding Trademark Scams and Hoaxes with Jason Lott of the USPTO
IP Goes Pop
Trademark scams are on the rise, threatening businesses with costly setbacks and legal risks. Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined , Managing Attorney for Trademark Customer Outreach at the (USPTO), to expose the deceptive tactics scammers use and provide practical tips to safeguard your intellectual property. From misleading solicitations and fake invoices to fraudulent renewal notices, this episode unpacks scams at every stage of the trademark process—before filing, during application prosecution, and post-registration. Jason shares real-world examples, red flags to...
info_outlineIP Goes Pop! is back with its second annual Spooktacular! In this episode, things get much spookier as we pit the top four Halloween Monsters against each other. Listen in for a breakdown of these famous characters and archetypes.
Play along as your co-hosts, Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue rank Dracula, Dr. Frankenstein’s Monster, Werewolves, and Mummies. What powers or abilities do they have that set them apart from each other? What movie or television show made them Halloween staples, and do these movies stand the test of time?
Find out who rates highest on the jack-o-lantern meter to be crowned the spookiest monster of Halloween. And gain valuable insights into the methods and tools needed to protect yourself from these scary creatures on the night of the big 3-1.
Of course, no episode of IP Goes Pop! is complete without looking at related intellectual property cases, inventions, or trademarks, and this episode is no exception. You’ll learn how the courts have established precedents for what makes a mask protectable under copyright law or what prevents them from gaining copyright protections. You’ll also hear how your favorite pop-up Halloween stores can sell costumes with characters with names like Hermione Grinder, Juice Demon, or Video Game Guy without going out of business under a pile of lawsuits.
Michael and Joe cover three cases, each having to do with Halloween masks or costumes from famous movies--one with an NBA player and another with a famous yellow fruit. They address the question of what makes something a useful article under copyright law and how the law draws the line between creative works versus things with pure utility, such as a light switch or lamp.
So grab the candy you’ve opened early (or hidden from your kids) and join your go-to pop-culture attorneys, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, for the spookiest Halloween special yet!
We take Halloween seriously here at IP Goes Pop!, so full-sized candy bars only! You may also want to turn on your fog machine and light a candle in your carved-up pumpkin for this one.
Timestamps and Starting Points:
02:39 - First Halloween Spooktacular Recap
03:45 - Ranking the Top Four Halloween Monsters
16:17 - Intellectual Property Laws of Halloween Mask - Are they Protectable
20:41 - Apparel and Costumes – Utility vs. Copyright
30:03 - Parody Costumes
34:05 - Final Halloween Thoughts
For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.
You can stay connected with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.