Stroke of Genius

Whether they realize it or not, the kids and teenagers of today live in an unprecedented age of IP. They’re surrounded by trademarked logos, copyrighted songs and characters, and patented products that they can’t live without. More young people are also creating content themselves thanks to the rise of social media sites like Instagram and TikTok. On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis heads back to school, for a lesson from IP expert, educator and content creator Tony Iliakostas, aka the IP professor. Together, they discuss the importance of IP to the next generation of inventors and content creators and explore how best to connect with that younger demographic using pop-culture references and social media engagement.A special thank you to the young inventors featured in this episode! You can learn more about Invention Convention, which helps these young inventors and entrepreneurs get their start, by following this link. You may also want to listen to our episode on Emerging Entrepreneurs from season four, which you can find here.

When readers were introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926, you’d struggle to find a more pure, innocent literary character. But in the years since we first met the cuddly creature, something changed, and that change has allowed Pooh to be portrayed in a new film as… a bloodthirsty serial killer!? Yes, you read that correctly -- the beloved bear has swapped his love of honey for a love of blood. How could this happen?!On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis is joined by Christine Xiao, an Associate at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP, to discuss what happens when copyright protection ends for famous pop culture characters. Pooh, for example, entered the public domain in January of 2022, creating the opportunity for the character to be used in derivative works by other creators. Christine and Raha also tackle the important distinctions between copyrights and trademarks, and touch on which other famous characters could soon find themselves in the same situation as Winnie-the-Pooh. To learn more about Christine Xiao you can visit her profile at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP, or follow the link to read her article about Winnie-the-Pooh in IP Watchdog. The Texas Standard also has a fascinating piece about What expiring copyright protections mean for our media landscape.  

Paul Jabara’s glittering show business career was cut short tragically after he lost his life at just 43 due to AIDS. Now, the disease that took his life is no longer a death sentence thanks to strides made in the pharmaceutical industry. The advancement of AIDS treatment, in addition to other medications, would not be possible without the vital protections of intellectual property rights. On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis is joined by Henry Hadad, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at global biopharmaceutical company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, who discusses the importance of upholding intellectual property rights in drug development and clarifies misconceptions around the price of drugs. Henry also describes the impact of losing his uncle Paul Jabara and how this influenced his decision to pursue a career in drug development. To learn more about the life and work of Paul Jabara, you can visit this website created by his family. Henry Hadad has written and spoken extensively about the importance of the IP protection system to the drug development process. You can find some of his comments on Bloomberg Lawand Profile Magazine. He also moderated a special discussion about Patent Rights in the Pandemic in 2021 hosted by the IPO Education Foundation, which you can watch here.

When pursuing a career as a singer, songwriter, or musician, intellectual property probably isn’t the first thing most people think of. But as you’ll hear on this episode of Stroke of Genius, there’s a good reason one of the biggest bands on the planet has a surprisingly comprehensive IP protection strategy! Join host Raha Francis, as she sits down with Brazil-based IP lawyer, music critic, and singer-songwriter Ana Clara Ribeiro to discuss the “BTS effect.” The South Korean boy band has seen monumental, world-wide success, thanks in no small part to the way it aggressively protects and monetizes a wide range of IP, using a combination of copyright, trademarks, and even patents -- which aren’t a common option for musical artists. Whether you’re an aspiring musician yourself, or just a die-hard BTS fan, this episode is sure to ‘strike a chord.’To learn more about the different types of IP protection, and which ones best apply to your work or business, you find a series of useful resources on the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation’s website. You can read Ana’s article about BTS and IP in the March, 2022 edition of WIPO Magazine, or find more of her work at PopMatters.com.

You might be aware that you lost out on a job opportunity or bank loan because of an algorithm or artificial intelligence. Despite the great promise of AI and machine learning, the technology has also proven to be problematic, particularly for people of color and members of other minority groups. But as you’ll hear on this episode of Stroke of Genius, the intellectual property system could be a huge boon for anyone working toward more ethical AI. To learn how, host Raha Francissits down for a special panel discussion with a pair of leading IP attorneys working in the AI space; Roberta Young from Shook, Hardy & Bacon, and Alex Bridge, from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Together, they discuss how IP law not only allows companies to refine and improve their products while protecting them from competitors, but how it also incentivizes additional investment in better AI going forward. To learn more about the Intellectual Property Owners Education foundation, visit their website. The topic of bias in artificial intelligence was also the focus of a previous episode of Stroke of Genius, which you can find here.

It’s one of the oldest forms of human expression: painting. And for as long as human beings have been creating, they’ve also looked on as other people created art and thought to themselves: “Hey, I can do that too!” So where do we draw the line -- or paint it -- between inspiration and appropriation? On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis is joined by a mixed-media artist from Montreal, Canada, who’s had the unfortunate experience of discovering her own work being sold online without her permission. Ishita Banerjee, aka SoulCurryArt, says she was never taught about intellectual property in art school, so she’s now taken it upon herself to educate both her fellow artists and consumers of fine art about the ins and outs of IP protection for creatives. As you’ll hear, the IP system can benefit artists in a number of ways -- and Ishita also has thoughts on the role of NFTs and the blockchain in providing additional protection for artists.  You can learn more about copyright by visiting IPOEF.org/behindtheidea or by watching this video. Check out Ishita Banerjee and see her collection of “Mad Men Modern” art on her website or on Etsy. She’s also a great follow on Instagram. Her experience of having art stolen and sold online has picked up some media coverage. To ensure the art you're buying is authentic, there are plenty of resources online, including this article.

Are you losing any sleep over the climate crisis? After another summer of heatwaves and wildfires around the world, the topic of sustainability is more top of mind than ever. Confronting this global crisis are countless “green” inventors, entrepreneurs, and corporations working on new ways to cut emissions and reduce our dependence on products derived from fossil fuels. And it’s right here, at the intersection of innovation and sustainability, where intellectual property plays a critical role.On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis sits down with the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation’s newly declared ‘Inventor of the Year’, Luke Haverhals, the CEO of Natural Fiber Welding. Luke and his team at NFW have developed a new way of making the textiles in everything from t-shirts and sneakers to car interiors, using only plant-based materials. Their process is “circular,” which means their products need never end up in a landfill! As you’ll hear, I.P. protection was a crucial component of Luke’s journey from a farm boy in Iowa, to the US Naval Academy in Maryland, to founding his very own company in Illinois. Make sure to listen to the end, Luke shares some invaluable I.P. advice for aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs.Click here to learn more about the IPOEF’s ‘Inventor of the Year’ Award, and Natural Fiber Welding's patented MIRUM and CLARUS products. You can watch the sustainability webinar that Raha mentioned featuring GE and Coty here. For past episodes of Stroke of Genius and the very latest news and information from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation, just visit ipoef.org. Special thank you to our episode sponsor Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner!

For entrepreneurs and inventors, it’s the holy grail of reality TV appearances: landing a spot on Shark Tank® . But whether you’re planning to make a pitch to a Shark or to any other potential investor -- you’re often asked if you have a patent for your product. And as you’ll hear on this season premiere of Stroke of Genius®, there are many benefits of protecting your IP with a patent! Join host Raha Francis as she sits down with Max Feber, former Shark Tank guest and inventor of the Bruw coffee system, and IP attorney Brent Seitz, to find out how IP protection is critical for any entrepreneur who wants to protect, valuate, or sell their products. You’ll also hear how Max used patents to fend off people who tried to lay claim to his idea, and gain valuable insights about the protection process from Brent, who’s helped countless other startups and SMEs secure their own IP.You can find a series of short videos about the importance of patents and other forms of IP protection on the IPOEF’s website. To learn more about the Bruw coffee system, click here. For more information about how Harness IP helped Max secure his patent, you can read this news release.

Intellectual property dates back millenia, to a time when chefs in the Greek city of Sybaris were granted monopolies to create certain baked goods in 500 B.C.E. Today, more than two-thousand years later, the debate around intellectual property protection rages on. Some claim the current system is flawed but the reality is intellectual property protections have played a pivotal role in advancing technology and driving innovation that is critical to our modern lives. In Season 5 of Stroke of Genius®, brought to you by Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF), we’ll explore some common myths and misconceptions surrounding intellectual property protection. We’ll also provide a greater understanding of what IP means for members of under-served communities. With help from entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, technologists, lawyers, and other industry leaders, Stroke of Genius will dive into the importance of IP protection and reveal the surprising ways in which IP continues to shape all of our lives for the better.Hold onto your logo – it’s going to be a fascinating ride!