IP Goes Pop

What can the world of wizards, witches, and magic teach us about real-world intellectual property? The global franchise that is the Harry Potter universe has been both a pioneer and target of IP litigation.

This episode will provide some observations for creating a fictional world that has aspects protectable in the real world.

When it comes to protecting your intellectual property, there are no magic spells, potions, or wands to be waved. There are, however, trademarks, patents, and copyrights that each provide IP protection for you or your company, in order to protect a brand, work of authorship, or idea.

IP Law is not magic, but it can be quite complex. No one can predict what projects or ideas will become a global phenomenon, but everyone can take the steps to protect their IP.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

1. US20140240102A1 - The System and Method for Tracking a Passive Wand and Actuating an Effect, Based on a Detected Wand Path.

For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter, and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

This episode of IP Goes Pop! traces the development of a brand from its inception to a seminal trademark.

No matter the size of a business, it is important to grow your brand and establish goodwill in your name - and for that, you need a strong trademark. In this podcast episode, IP Goes Pop! co-hosts, Volpe Koenig Shareholders, and intellectual property lawyers, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, welcome Philadelphia's own Pete Ciarrocchi, founder of Chickie's & Pete's Sports Bar and Crab House.

When did Pete realize he was on to something protectable? How did he know he had an idea worth investing in and promoting? These are questions all entrepreneurs need to ask themselves as they seek to reach a broader customer base. There are many ways to protect your brand once you have one, and obtaining a federal trademark registration can be critical. Protecting your brand is an investment and a cornerstone for why IP law exists.

What can business owners learn from this well-seasoned success story? Order a basket of fries for the table and find out! This podcast is not legal advice, we encourage you to seek out a trademark attorney to walk you through all of the information needed to get started with a trademark or patent.

Episode Links:

1. Pete Ciarrocchi
2. SNL - Gap Girls Skit
3. John Mulaney - Fries for Table Bit
4. Chickie's & Pete's Crab with the Halo Logo
5. P.C. Caddy U.S. Utility Patent
6. "P.C. Caddy" Dipping sauce holder Design Patent

For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can stay connected with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter, and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

Explore football movies, toys, patents, and trademarks that have shaped the sport in modern times. From the technology built into the players' helmets, to the glowing first-down line you see on television, intellectual property has a huge impact on the way we interface with football.

As we look ahead to the big game, join co-hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joe Gushue, along with their guest, IP Watchdog President and CEO, Gene Quinn, as they break down the IP that has shaped the sport.

Patents discussed in this episode:

1. US1648850A, "Football helmet"
2. US1684566A, "Ten-Yard line"
3. US6229550B1, "Blending a graphic"

For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can stay connected with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

Co-hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, are back for a journey into the public domain. What do Bambi, Mickey Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh all have in common? Besides remaining lovable pop-culture icons, these cartoon characters are all part of copyrighted works entering the public domain.

With the help of their fellow Shareholder John O'Malley, they walk through the history of copyright term (how long copyrights last), how and when copyrighted works enter the public domain, and the way this area of law continues to evolve as famous and high-value works enter the public domain.

This episode will peak your curiosity about familiar characters, stories, and copyrighted works of art entering the public domain in the next 10 to 20 years and implications for future works.

For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can stay connected with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

Sometimes you have to ask the critical questions, like: Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? How can you turn your holiday invention into a patent-protected idea? In our first-ever IP Goes Pop! Snow-Tacular™, co-hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joe Gushue, unwrap the iconic pop culture movies, traditions, and intellectual property disputes around the most wonderful time of the year.

Grab your hot cocoa and rethink how you turn on your holiday lights, because in this episode, Michael and Joe are joined by registered Patent Agent and "friend of the podcast" Robert Ballarini, holder of two patents for holiday-themed inventions. Bob shares the inspiration behind his inventions, the process of applying for a patent, and how no idea is too outrageous for the holidays.

For full show notes please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

From the iconic Air Jordans to the Reebok Pumps to the undeniable influence of the Chuck Taylor All-Stars, sneakers have become pop-culture currency. As their status has shifted from a piece of sports equipment, meant to be scuffed up, into collectors' items that are kept in pristine conditions, sneaker culture has become a multi-billion dollar market. So how do you, as a brand or consumer, guarantee your shoes are authentic and not just well done knock-offs?

What intellectual property (IP) protections are there for shoes and how do these protections help you in a global market? This week on IP Goes Pop! co-hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, are joined by former New Balance Senior Counsel of Intellectual Property and Global Brand Protection, Dan McKinnon. Dan, who is currently CEO of Proof Authentication, Corp., shares his experience in dealing with the ever-shifting world of counterfeit products, and the IP challenges that arise in the face of, what Dan calls, "parasite brands."

For full show notes please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

Why would a company, from the largest to the smallest, spend years building a reputation using its trademarked name and logo, and then suddenly decide to make a complete change? This week on IP Goes Pop! we explore some famous "rebrands," the ones that worked, the ones that may not have worked. The podcast also looks at what we can learn from Facebook's rebrand to "Meta" (announced October 2021) and what makes it so unique.

Join Volpe Koenig Shareholders and IP Goes Pop! co-hosts, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, along with fellow Volpe Koenig shareholder John O'Malley, as they explore famous rebrands and the intellectual property (IP) implications that can come with them. Our panel discusses common motives that may lead a company to undergo a rebrand and the key pieces of IP that can determine how strong and successful a company's rebrand becomes.

For full show notes please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

In this spooktacular episode of IP Goes Pop! treat yourself to the intellectual property (IP) of Halloween. From the disputes surrounding the iconic Halloween mask to the similarities, and important differences, between some people's favorite friendly ghost, Casper, and the ghost in the Ghostbusters logo, who ya gonna call but IP Goes Pop hosts, and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue?

So, grab your flashlight and your "fun" sized candy bars, as we take you through three cases in intellectual property law that might spook anyone to check their forms and contracts twice. We promise there are no tricks, only treats, on this episode!

For full show notes please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

This week IP Goes Pop! takes to the skies to explore intellectual property in the world of aviation. From the first flight in Kitty Hawk, NC, to the advancements in aircraft that came out of World War I, what patents have taken to the skies since the Wright Brothers first took flight in 1903?

In this episode, Volpe Koenig Shareholders and IP Goes Pop! co-hosts, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, are joined by fellow Volpe Koenig attorney (and seasoned pilot) Tom Mattioli. If you've ever wondered why we use the word "fuselage" for the body of an aircraft, fasten your seatbelt as Michael, Joe, and Tom take you on the turbulent journey of the intellectual property that got us into the skies.

For full show notes please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.

How do comedians protect their jokes or their delivery style? This week IP Goes Pop! goes to the comedy club to find the line between creative freedom and stolen (or borrowed) laughs. Join Volpe Koenig Shareholders and hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue as they welcome Volpe Koenig alum and comedy fan Aneesh Metha, Senior Corporate Counsel for Experiences and Devices at Microsoft.

Michael, Joe, and Aneesh reminisce about comedy shows they have attended, and look at the legal protections a comedian may have, or not have, in performing a joke or an entire routine. From common themes, such as food, marriage, and having kids, to unique topics and styles, IP Goes Pop! stands up for the intellectual property behind the laughs and looks at the ways audience and comedian expectations have shifted over time.

For full show notes please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter and Instagram using the handle @volpeandkoenig.