Fire of Genius

On this episode, associates discuss the recent LEGO lawsuit against a competitor on copyright and trademark grounds because of similarities between LEGO minifigures and action figures produced by the competitor. Associates also overview some other legal battles of toy and gaming companies around their intellectual property rights, including Pokemon, Labubu, and NERF.

This episode was recorded in Spring 2026. 

Appellate review of patent cases gets complicated, especially when legal conclusions rest on disputed facts. In this episode, Adrienne Dellinger, IP Litigation Associate at Caldwell Cassady & Curry PC, joins associates to walk us through how courts handle appellate review of claim construction and obviousness determinations, and why the mixed question of law and fact makes all the difference.

When can an internet provider be held liable for what its users do online? On this episode, associates break down the Supreme Court's decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment and what it means for the future of copyright enforcement in the digital age.

On this episode, audio editors follow Maurer alum Dan Amin's journey from law school to Lucasfilm. Join us for a conversation about following your intuition, the controversial thumbs up emoji, and quintessential Star Wars lore.

On this episode, associates consider the impacts of Artificial Intelligence on the work of different creative industries. The discussion revolves around the Human Artistry Campaign's "Stealing Isn't Innovation" campaign, the ongoing New York Times v. OpenAI case, and how the training of LLMs can involve multiple potential copyright concerns along the process.

On this episode, associates explore the "Squires era" at the USPTO, examining how Director John Squires has leveraged the Arthrex decision to centralize power and drastically lower PTAB institution rates. From the procedural shock of the Blackhawk ruling to the rise of summary denials, the group analyzes whether this shift brings necessary accountability or introduces a new era of unreviewable discretion.

On this episode, associates discuss what it means to be an "Author" under the Copyright Act. The episode dives into Authorship of animals, the divine, and AI in the modern age.

On this episode, associates discuss Amazon's Ring technology which occupies a contested space in modern life, embodying a central conflict between personal security and collective privacy. On one hand, it is marketed and widely adopted as a consumer-friendly home security tool, empowering individuals to protect their property and communities. On the other, it is sharply criticized for its expansive storage of individual's biometric information, as well as for its conflict with existing laws across jurisdictions.

On this episode, associates explore how U.S. patent law might handle a real-world Jurassic Park. From Chakrabarty to Myriad, they dig into whether resurrected species, hybrid genomes, and dino-based pharmaceuticals could ever be patented—or if nature still owns the rights to its oldest creations.

On this episode, associates explore the intricate relationship between Generative AI, the data centers that power it, and the resulting environmental impact.