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...
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Halloween Spooktacular 3: Losing Your Monster
IP Goes Pop
Have you ever wondered how your favorite Halloween monsters became pop culture icons? In this Spooktacular episode of IP Goes Pop!®, hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue dive into the fascinating legal stories behind Frankenstein, Dracula, and Zombies, revealing how intellectual property (IP) law shapes their enduring legacies. What to Expect: Frankenstein: Explore the evolution of Mary Shelley’s creation and how Universal Studios' iconic design—complete with neck bolts and green skin—became legally protected. Discover why retelling Shelley’s tale is fair game, but copying...
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Artificial Intelligence: A Deeper Dive into Pop Culture Part 2
IP Goes Pop
How are deepfakes—those eerily convincing, digitally altered images and videos—reshaping our world? Intellectual property attorneys Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue dive back into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can affect, or even alter, intellectual property (IP) rights. From AI-generated songs mimicking megastars like Drake and The Weeknd to creating digital doubles of actors and extras in films the implications of these technologies are palpable. Michael and Joe break down “deepfakes” and how these technologies could lead to copyright...
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Artificial Intelligence: Is Imitation Still Flattery? Part 1
IP Goes Pop
Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue kick off a two-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on intellectual property (IP) rights in an individual’s persona. They delve into generative AI, explaining how it creates text, images, and voices that closely mimic human attributes, and discuss the right of publicity, a legal doctrine that protects an individual's likeness and voice from unauthorized commercial use. The hosts explore AI's portrayal of humans in pop culture, citing films like Terminator 2, S1m0ne, and Her to illustrate AI's potential to replicate human beings....
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It’s Not Bragging If It’s True: The IP of TV Series “Suits”
IP Goes Pop
Put on your best suit and step into the world of TV legal dramas with podcast co-hosts, IP attorneys, and shareholders Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, as they guide you through the realities, quirks and possible departures from reality depicted in the TV show Suits. Whether you're a seasoned fan of Suits or have never watched an episode, this installment of IP Goes Pop!® has something for everyone. Michael and Joe lead off the episode by discussing TV shows that have focused on intellectual property law issues, such as Canada’s The IP Section and HBO’s Silicon Valley, which demonstrate...
info_outlineNavigate the interface of IP and transformative technologies that can augment human capabilities, both in science fiction and emerging reality with Co-hosts, Shareholders, and Intellectual Property attorneys Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue. If you're interested in intellectual property, bioethical dilemmas, the future of technology, or just love a good legal quandary set against a backdrop of pop culture, this episode is tailored for you.
The hosts draw upon well-known figures such as DC Comics' Cyborg, Marvel's Winter Soldier, and the Borg from Star Trek to frame the discussion. They then discuss William Gibson in Neuromancer and the “ahead of its time” film adaptation Johnny Mnemonic, starring Keanu Reeves.
Complexities around the patenting of bioengineered life forms and examining what distinguishes bioengineered entities (like synthetic insulin) from unpatentable naturally occurring elements are discussed. This includes Neurolink chips, currently safeguarded by patents, which hold the promise of revolutionary medical treatments and cognitive enhancements.
Michael and Joe also highlight on questions of inventorship in an era where human augmentation might become a source of creativity or innovation. The ripples of this technological integration are touched on by principles outlined in the Patent Act and Copyright Act, sparking a debate on the intersections between legal protocols for artificial intelligence and looming human technology augmentation.
As Joe anticipates the normalization of AR and VR technologies with the introduction of Apple Vision Pro, this conversation underscores the significance for pioneers to bravely adopt—and adapt to—these emerging innovations. Simultaneously, the episode ponders the legal frameworks that have yet to fully grapple with such advancements.
So, put on your thinking caps, open a window in your Apple Vision Pro, or turn on your Neuralink Chips and stay curious about the future of IP and technology!
Timestamps:
01:19 Defining Techno-Humanism
02:36 Exploring human-machine combination in comic book characters
06:58 Star Trek and The Borg Collective
09:29 Influence of William Gibson on Science Fiction
15:12 Blade Runner (1982)
20:04 Augmenting Human Bodies with Technology and Patenting Life Forms
29:34 Final Thoughts – Resistance is Futile
For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.
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