McGruff the Crime Dog® and the USPTO Help IP Goes Pop!® Take a Bite Out of Counterfeits
Release Date: 07/12/2023
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_outlineHosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined by: Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Kathi Vidal; Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council, Paul DelPonte; and the legendary McGruff the Crime Dog®. Our guests share their insights on the impact of counterfeits on society, the economy, and individual safety.
The panel kicks off with a discussion of public service characters and their roles in environmental awareness and education. The panel then explores the issue of counterfeit goods. Here, the panel considers the impact of counterfeit goods on children, society, how counterfeit goods can be connected to organized crime, and how IP is involved in combating this global problem. Director Vidal provides insights into the role of the USPTO in protecting consumers from the dangers of counterfeit goods and highlights the importance of educating consumers about the real-world risks associated with counterfeit products.
Listeners will learn about the "Go for Real" campaign, a joint initiative by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), aimed at educating the public, particularly teens and tweens, about the risks associated with counterfeit products and the importance of making smart buying decisions and respecting intellectual property rights.
Director DelPonte shares his experiences leading NCPC and the organization's efforts to promote greater civic engagement and public education on crime prevention. We hear from both him and McGruff about using the power of the internet to reach and empower a new generation to “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®.” You’ll learn about ways you, your colleagues, and even your kids can become “dupe detectives” and improve your ability to spot fakes.
Produced by the United States Patent and Trademark Office; no copyright is claimed by the United States in this presentation or associated materials.
Resources provided by the USPTO and NCPC:
Paul-DelPonte_bio.pdf (ncpc.org)
McGruff the Crime Dog® teams up with USPTO to take a bite out of fake goods sold online | USPTO
Shop Smart and Stay Safe This Season | U.S. Department of Commerce
Roundtable: Future strategies in anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy | USPTO
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