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...
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USPTO - History Matters
IP Goes Pop
Dive into the rich history of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with this episode of IP Goes Pop!®, guided by USPTO historian Rebekah Oakes and co-hosted by Intellectual Property Attorneys Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue. Explore the USPTO's impact on innovation and the integration of patent rights into the Constitution, highlighted through connections to pop culture icons like National Treasure and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Rebekah shares insights into the USPTO's archives, the digitization of historical patents, and the agency's ongoing efforts to chronicle...
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Technohumanism
IP Goes Pop
Navigate 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 from to frame the discussion. They then discuss...
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Lessons from Movies About Innovators
IP Goes Pop
Get ready for a cinematic exploration of innovation and intellectual property as depicted in popular movies about inventors and creators. In this episode, IP Goes Pop!® co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, peel back the layers of iconic movies that not only inspire us, but also shed light on the realities of building successful businesses and protecting ideas. Starting with 1988’s Tucker: The Man and His Dream, your hosts dive into the story of Preston Tucker and his revolutionary automobile, the Tucker 48. This tale not only epitomizes the spirit of disrupting the status quo...
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I’m a Barbie Girl in an IP World
IP Goes Pop
This episode of IP Goes Pop!®, takes you on a journey through the iconic world of the Barbie universe and brand, exploring its deep-rooted connections with pop culture and intellectual property law. Hop in the dream car and journey with Volpe Koenig Shareholders and podcast hosts, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue to a land of pink corvettes, with a few pitstops at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Kicking off with a discussion of the recent cinematic triumphs of the Barbie movie released this year (2023), your hosts delve into how this classic brand has been brought to...
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McGruff the Crime Dog® and the USPTO Help IP Goes Pop!® Take a Bite Out of Counterfeits
IP Goes Pop
Hosts 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,...
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You Can Patent That?
IP Goes Pop
Join co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue on a new episode of "IP Goes Pop!" that will leave you wondering "You can patent that?!". This episode focuses on a variety of curious and/or unusual patents, demonstrating the wide range of ideas that can result in an issued patent. From the surprising to the peculiar, this episode provides an overview of the “usefulness” threshold in United States patent law. “Listeners will learn about existing patents that are as bizarre as they are “useful,” and how anyone might have an idea that has “utility” and is therefore worthy of a...
info_outlinePut 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 the rare combination of comedy and law in practice together. The episode continues with an exploration of when and how they each discovered Suits and their initial impressions of its portrayal of the legal practice in general.
Beyond the often-outrageous legal tactics that would surely never occur if Pearson-Specter were a real law firm, Michael and Joe break down the “how it would happen” scenarios in four different episodes of Suits that use intellectual property law cases to steer the plot. From unrealistic portrayals of the patent application process to the depiction of characters as legal experts in every area of law, Michael and Joe dissect IP-related inaccuracies and offer insight into IP attorneys' real-world expertise in securing protections for ideas.
The hosts conclude with a reminder not to rely on fictional TV shows for legal advice and stress the importance of hiring licensed and experienced attorneys who actually specialize in the area of law where you may require assistance. Whether you're a legal enthusiast, a pop culture junkie, or just curious about how TV legal dramas stack up against real life, this episode delves into the intriguing world of Suits. Michael and Joe reveal the truth behind the fiction with humor and insights, providing a take on the legal realities often glossed over by Hollywood.
Key Moments:
02:48 Television Shows that Focus on IP Law -- IP Goes Pop!® Season 2 EP 7 - Down in the (Silicon) Valley
6:53 Suits TV Show
11:44 Patent Law in Suits Season 1 Episode 1
16:29 IP Dispute and Infringement in Suits Season 3 Ep 13
20:44 Patent and Fair Use in Suits Season 6 Ep 16
27:48 Copyright Case, Suits Season 8 EP 12
29:30 TV Show Legal Fictions (Suits and Beyond)
36:39 Final Thoughts
For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.
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