At the beginning of this new year and a new administration, we wanted to examine what trends, challenges, and opportunities lie ahead for technology transfer professionals and IP practitioners.

My guest is Eli Mazour, an intellectual property attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP and host of the Clause 8 podcast. Eli is known for his intricate understanding of the patent system and his unique ability to help clients build valuable, litigation-ready patent portfolios that drive business goals. He’s also a trusted voice on patent policy and legislative developments.

Eli and I discuss predictions for how the new administration could shape patent and intellectual property policy, the potential direction of Congress on patent reform, and how cutting-edge technologies like AI are influencing IP strategy.

If you work in Technology Transfer, you won’t want to miss Eli’s expert take on how these changes might impact your office’s priorities, partnerships, and patent portfolios.

In This Episode:

[02:00] It's going to be an interesting new year with a new administration.

[03:02] Major factors and big players shaping IP in 2025. Howard Lutnick will be in charge of the Commerce Department which oversees the PTO.

[05:05] Past policy proposals rolled out to theoretically reduce drug prices. There is a huge backlog for examining patent applications.

[07:38] There's also going to be openings for improvements on the hill.

[09:45] Innovators need some type of predictable logic with patents.

[12:14] The revised guidance at the USPTO was a huge benefit.

[13:02] How the balance between innovation incentives and market competition will evolve under the new administration.

[14:48] It's interesting how they're looking for more innovators in the defense space. Companies don't want to lose all of their IP to the government.

 [15:43] The importance of creating an ecosystem that supports innovation and allows innovators to keep their IP rights.

[17:19] How the march-in rights issues changed the discussion about making investments.

[18:16] Sectors that will probably have heightened patent activity or regulatory focus.

[22:29] How will the next administration approach AI-related intellectual property issues?

[27:57] Eli talks about AI tools for drafting and prosecution. Rooney

[29:00] A lot of stuff to save an attorney's time could be done through automation.

[31:16] It takes a lot of time to clean up AI-related work, but it could help make applications more robust.

[32:29] Eli talks about the types of tools that he's excited about.

[34:04] What policymakers should think about the impact of AI driven Innovations on IP Frameworks.

[37:17] Eli's top recommendations he would share with Congress for strengthening Innovation and protecting inventors.

[38:51] Possible bipartisan opportunities for reform.

[40:15] Hopefully, we'll see an emphasis on allowing innovators to be more secure in the rights that they came up with.

[41:17] A big innovation trend includes companies trying to figure out how to make AI work for them.

Resources: 

Eli Mazour - Foley & Lardner LLP

Eli Mazour - LinkedIn

Clause 8 Podcast