At the 2025 Via Licensing Alliance Bridge Summit in San Francisco, Brian Dorini, Senior Director at Dolby, and Tyrome Brown, Dolby’s Chief Patent Counsel, offered a clear-eyed look at the state of patent pools and the shifting realities of the global SEP ecosystem. Far from being outdated structures, both emphasized that pools remain essential tools for enabling collaboration, reducing friction, and supporting meaningful innovation — even amid regulatory uncertainty.

Dorini described patent pools as “great democratizers of technology,” helping both licensors and implementers navigate increasingly complex standards environments. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, he noted that pools are evolving in response, finding new ways to balance transparency with practical, market-driven licensing solutions.

Brown expanded on this theme from Dolby’s internal perspective. He outlined how Dolby ensures the strength and essentiality of its patent portfolio — through direct participation in standards development, rigorous internal analysis, and independent evaluations. These processes, he explained, are critical not only for maintaining high-quality SEP assets but for building trust across the licensing market.

Both speakers also pointed forward. As Dolby’s technologies extend into areas such as wireless power, EV charging, and other emerging platforms, the role of patent pools is likely to expand. While the fundamental structure of pools may remain consistent, their scope and global influence continue to grow, driven by new implementers, new licensors, and new technological frontiers.

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Recent changes at USPTO are increasingly shaping the context in which Congress considers potential patent legislation.

In the latest episode of Clause 8, the focus turns to how the USPTO’s evolving approach to post-grant proceedings at the PTAB is shaping the broader patent policy debate—and influencing what Congress may (or may not) do next.

The episode features David Jones, Executive Director of the High Tech Inventors Alliance (HTIA) and a longtime Clause 8 favorite, alongside Jeffrey Hantson, a former patent litigator and senior Senate Judiciary Committee staffer who most recently served as Deputy General Counsel to Sen. Dick Durbin after advising Sen. Mazie Hirono on IP issues. Dave and Jeff first crossed paths during the pre-pandemic Section 101 roundtables, and the episode captures their fun, wonky back-and-forth dynamic.

A central theme is whether the USPTO’s recent moves on IPR institution—including its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)—create an opening for Congress to strike a bargain, or instead make legislative compromise harder. Dave and Jeff explore how the introduction of settled expectations, Director John Squires reclaiming institution authority, and broader institution trends are reshaping the conversation around proposals such as the PREVAIL Act.

Jeff frames the core tension in familiar terms for staffers and stakeholders: at some point, should the USPTO be done reassessing a patent’s validity? Dave, for his part, is skeptical that legislation is the answer when the agency is (in his view) drifting from what was envisioned when Congress created the PTAB under the America Invents Act (AIA).

The conversation also explores why PREVAIL advanced further than PERA in the last Congress, why PTAB reform is often easier to grasp on Capitol Hill than Section 101 eligibility, and why Sen. Thom Tillis’ likability—and impending retirement—may matter more than most people realize.

Set against a backdrop of shifting IP leadership on Capitol Hill and mixed administrative signals on patents, the episode offers a candid look at where patent policy may be headed—and what it would take to change course.

🎧 Watch the full episode or listen on your favorite podcast app—and subscribe to the new Clause 8 YouTube channel for bonus content.

From the archives:

* Iancu and Jones Debate Section 101: https://www.voiceofip.com/p/iancu-and-jones-debate-section-101

* HTIA’s David Jones on Winning in DC: https://www.voiceofip.com/p/htias-david-jones-on-winning-in-dc-335

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Corey Salsberg, one of the leading voices on intellectual property policy in the United States, joins Clause 8 to discuss surviving the anti-pharma activism of the last administration, why he’s encouraged by the current administration’s approach to patent policy, and even the scientific possibility of “resurrecting the woolly mammoth.”

As Global Head of IP at Novartis, Salsberg has a unique vantage point on how legal uncertainty affects the future of healthcare innovations. His work testifying before Congress has placed him at the center of the debate over the Supreme Court’s Mayo, Myriad, and Alice decisions — rulings that he thinks have been followed by years of instability around Section 101, threatening investment in critical biotech and diagnostic breakthroughs.

The conversation explores the political landscape surrounding the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), the persistence of myths like “patent thickets,” and the consequences of letting misinformation shape innovation policy. It also highlights what Congress can do to prevent the U.S. from falling behind in the race for gene and AI-driven therapeutics.

Ultimately, Salsberg’s perspective underscores how constructive, good-faith dialogue across industries remains essential to safeguarding innovation.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now on the Clause 8 Podcast.

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At the Via Licensing Alliance’s Bridge Summit 2025 in San Francisco, Clause 8 host Eli Mazour sat down with two leaders who ushered in the modern age of patent pools: Garrard Beeney, founder of Sullivan & Cromwell’s IP practice, and John Sideris, Principal Licensing Counsel at Philips.

Their conversation traces the evolution of patent pools — from the early days of MPEG LA and antitrust uncertainty to today’s complex, global licensing ecosystem.

Garrard Beeney recalls how early skepticism toward joint licensing eventually gave way to an appreciation of how collaboration between innovators can expand access, reduce friction, and drive technological growth. He warns, however, that increasing regulatory interference — particularly in Europe — risks undermining a system that largely works.

John Sideris brings the perspective of a major technology innovator. He discusses how Philips built a licensing culture that values both innovation and fairness, explaining why patent pools remain one of the most efficient and balanced ways to manage IP rights. He also shares a rare insider view into how companies factor intellectual property costs into product development — and why responsible licensing keeps the innovation cycle healthy.

Together, their insights offer a window into how markets, not mandates, can sustain innovation — and why listening across the licensor-licensee divide remains essential for the future of IP.

🔔 Listen now via the Clause 8 Podcast📌 Sponsored by TradeSpace – where ideas take flight🖋️ Subscribe to Voice of IP for more in-depth conversations on patents, licensing, and innovation.

In this episode of Clause 8, Deputy Commissioner for Patents Jerry Lorengo joins host Eli Mazour to share valuable, practical insights for patent professionals navigating the USPTO’s new Performance Appraisal Plan (PAP).

Jerry discusses what’s changed in the latest update — including the revised streamlined review process, new production expectations, and updated interview time policy — and offers guidance on how examiners, applicants, and SPEs can adapt effectively.

He reveals that the streamlined review will now focus only on independent claims, not dependent claims indicated as allowable, and explains how this early-stage supervisory review is designed to expedite prosecution, strengthen examination quality, and help SPEs learn from experienced primary examiners.

Jerry also stresses the importance of collaboration: even with new interview limitations, examiners are encouraged to conduct interviews that help clarify issues and move applications forward.

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#patents #innovation #intellectualproperty #USPTO #Clause8 #VoiceOfIP

When I first heard about Lisa Ascolese, known as “The Inventress,” I knew I wanted to bring her story to Clause 8.

Lisa’s path into inventing began after her family moved to Brooklyn, New York, where her creativity and curiosity found room to grow. She started inventing at a young age, driven by the simple desire to solve everyday problems. That curiosity evolved into a lifelong passion for turning ideas into reality. Her first major success—the Bosom Buddy breastfeeding cape—opened doors to retail shelves, QVC appearances, and a deep understanding of what it truly takes to bring a product to market.

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In our conversation, Lisa and I talk about what inventors often learn the hard way: that success requires persistence, self-belief, and an understanding of both patents and business. She shares how she built Inventing from A to Z, a company that helps independent inventors navigate everything from concept to commercialization, and why she tells every creator:

“A patent doesn’t sell your product—you do.”

Lisa also offers insights for patent attorneys—encouraging them to ask inventors where they see their product being sold before diving into legal protection. Her perspective bridges the gap between invention and entrepreneurship, showing how passion and practicality go hand in hand.

For anyone ready to turn ideas into impact, Lisa’s story is both inspiring and instructive. Her new book, “The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing The Right Way: All Or Nothing, Now Or Never”, is an essential companion for creators determined to make their vision real.

🎧 Listen to the Full Episode now on YouTube here 📌 Sponsored by Tradespace – where ideas take flight.

At the Via LA 2025 Bridge Summit in San Francisco, Clause 8 host Eli Mazour sat down with two leaders who play pivotal roles in connecting innovators and licensees around the world:

* Jane Bu, Chief Licensing Officer at Via LA, the world’s largest patent pool. (You can listen to Eli’s previous conversation with Via’s President, Heath Hoglund, here).

* Rob Tobias, CEO & President of HDMI LA, the organization formed by Hitachi, Matsushita, Maxell, Philips, Silicon Image, Sony, Thomson and Toshiba to manage and promote the now ubiquitous HDMI interface.

In this episode, the discussion turns to the difficulties of licensing in Asia — not as an abstract policy topic, but as a practical reality shaped by culture, relationships, and business expectations.

Jane Bu reflects on how negotiations in Asian markets often rely less on formal processes and more on mutual trust built through repeated, in-person engagement. She also discusses China’s transformation from a latecomer in IP to one of the most active and sophisticated licensing environments in the world — and why patience and long-term relationship-building remain essential for licensors and licensees alike.

From a different perspective, Rob Tobias explains how HDMI’s licensing framework relies on more than patents alone. He outlines how trademarks and brand protection have played a central role in ensuring compliance, maintaining quality, and driving global adoption of the HDMI standard — including in complex markets such as China and India.

Together, their insights highlight how successful licensing in Asia depends as much on understanding people and context as it does on legal or technical structures.

🔔 Listen now via the Clause 8 Podcast 📌 Sponsored by TradeSpace – where ideas take flight 🖋️Subscribe to Voice of IP for more in-depth conversations on patents, licensing, and innovation.

Tech transfer has long been a critical but often overlooked part of the intellectual property system. For decades, the Bayh-Dole Act has guided how federally funded research moves from university labs into the marketplace. The system has generated hundreds of thousands of inventions and startups — and, as Laura Peter notes, led to nearly $2 trillion in economic growth through tech transfer. While widely regarded as a success, new march-in rights and “patent revenue sharing” proposals from policymakers seek to change that.

In this episode of the Clause 8 Podcast, Eli spoke with Laura Peter, former Deputy Director of the USPTO in the first Trump administration and current Executive Director of Research Commercialization and Partnerships at UNC Charlotte. With experience in Silicon Valley, government, and academia, Laura brings a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing tech transfer today.

They cover:

* How Laura first met Andrei Iancu — and how that led to her appointment as Deputy Director when he was chosen as the Director of the USPTO.

* Lessons learned working in the first Trump administration about what to expect on the IP policy front this time around.

* The distinct role patents play for startups versus large companies.

* The lasting impact of the Bayh-Dole Act and how it reshaped tech transfer.

* How funding cuts, private investment pressures, and PTAB swings are affecting university research.

* Laura’s observation that proposals from the last administration to seize IP rights to lower drug prices haven’t been rescinded — and what that could mean for future policy.

Why it matters

The Bayh-Dole framework has been a cornerstone of U.S. innovation for more than forty years. Changes to how federally funded research is commercialized — whether through funding cuts, new government claims on patents, or expanded march-in rights — could redefine the balance between universities, startups, and industry. Laura’s perspective highlights not only the risks and opportunities, but also how unresolved policy proposals on government seizure of IP could reshape future debates.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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👉 Should the government play a bigger role in how university research is commercialized? Share your thoughts in the comments.

In To Invent Is Divine: Creativity and Ownership, Jim makes the case that creativity and ownership are inseparable—and that weakening intellectual property rights threatens the flourishing that invention enables. He draws connections between faith, history, and policy to explore why protecting intellectual property is about more than law or economics.

Highlights from our conversation:

* From Genesis to Jefferson: How creation implies ownership, and why even some Founders wrestled with protecting that principle in law.

* Cycles of Patent Strength and Weakness: Why America’s “golden age” of inventors gave way to Progressive Era restraints—and how history may be repeating itself.

* Policy at the Crossroads: Jim breaks down three bipartisan bills—PARA, PREVAIL, and RESTORE—and what it will take to get them passed.

* Leadership at the USPTO: Why Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart has already made an impact, and Jim perspective on the incoming Director John Squires and the path that he should follow.

* Bipartisanship Matters: From his work with Eagle Forum, Jim explains why protecting patents requires coalition-building across party lines.

Why it matters

Creativity without ownership can lead to secrecy, stagnation, and scarcity. When the two are combined, society benefits from innovation and progress. Jim’s perspective offers both philosophical and practical insight into the patent debates shaping America’s innovation future.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

📘 Learn more about James’s book “To Invent Is Divine, Creativity and Ownership” here.

👉 Do you think America needs stronger patent rights to fuel the next wave of innovation? Share your thoughts in the comments.

📢 Giveaway: Everyone who subscribes to the Clause 8 YouTube channel and comments on this episode’s video with the hashtag #Clause8Podcast will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of James Edwards’s book To Invent Is Divine: Creativity and Ownership

From Coke Morgan Stewart’s decisive actions at the USPTO, to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s unexpected “patent tax” trial balloon, to the ongoing Federal Circuit drama — it felt impossible to figure out where to start telling the story.

The only way to make sense of it all was to bring in three of our favorite journalists who cover these issues every day:

* Eileen McDermott, Editor-in-Chief of IPWatchdog

* Dani Kass, Senior Reporter at Law360

* Michael Shapiro, Senior Reporter at Bloomberg

Together, we unpacked the biggest developments, why they matter, and how they’re being covered — with behind-the-scenes stories and candid insights about what it’s like to report on patents and IP.

What We Covered

USPTO’s New Direction

* Coke Morgan Stewart’s rapid moves as acting director — especially at the PTAB

* How she’s balancing speed, decisiveness, and practical limits

Patent Tax Story

* The Wall Street Journal report on a possible tax on patent value

* Lutnick’s role and Stewart’s public comments walking a fine line

Choosing a USPTO Director & John Squires

* Breaking news about John Squires’ nomination and confirmation process

* Early signals of what he’ll prioritize as director

Federal Circuit & Judge Newman

* How practitioner tips shape coverage of the court

* Judge Pauline Newman’s saga — and what it’s like getting to know her personally

On the Hill

* Tillis, Coons, and the shifting dynamics in Congress

* Prospects for PERA (101), PREVAIL (PTAB), and RESTORE (injunctions)

Copyright & AI

* The firing of Shira Perlmutter as head of the Copyright Office

* Pushback against the office’s AI guidance

Behind the Notebook

* How these reporters choose stories and what they wish got more attention

* Why they love covering the IP community, despite all the complexities

* Impact of judges, public officials, and Bloomberg terminal users following their coverage

The discussion reveals how much these journalists shape — and are shaped by — the IP world itself. They’re not just reporting on it; they’re in constant dialogue with practitioners, policymakers, and innovators who live with these changes every day. Judges read their work, practitioners feed them stories, and policymakers react to their reporting.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intros01:23 – What’s your vantage point in the IP world?17:53 – How do you decide what’s worth covering in IP news?22:49 – What’s the mood in the patent community right now?32:33 – The proposed ‘patent tax’: threat or opportunity?38:02 – The politics behind selecting a USPTO Director54:21 – Final thoughts and advice for the IP community

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Clause 8’s new season is recorded from our brand-new studio — and, for the first time, every episode will be available in video. If you’d like to support the show and catch all the new video content, please subscribe for free on YouTube so we can reach even more people interested in the IP story.