Shows
Clause 8From DABUS to ChatGPT and Beyond: How AI Is Reshaping Patent LawArtificial intelligence has been raising foundational questions for patent law long before generative tools entered the mainstream. In this episode of Clause 8, host Eli Mazour speaks with Wen Xie, U.S. Patent Attorney and Founder of Lux Lumen Intellectual Property, about how legal thinking around AI, inventorship, and patent eligibility has evolved—and where it appears to be heading.The conversation traces early debates sparked by the DABUS cases, which framed AI inventorship as a question of whether a machine could be named as an inventor. While those cases clarified that U.S. patent law requires a hu...
2026-02-2452 min
Clause 8How Senator Tillis’ Patent Leadership Provides Path for Cementing Recent USPTO ActionIn the latest episode of Clause 8, recorded in December 2025, Eli Mazour sits down with Peter-Anthony Pappas, Director of Intellectual Property Policy for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary under Senator Thom Tillis, at a moment when the USPTO’s direction is in significant alignment with what Senator Tillis and Senator Chris Coons have been working toward since reviving the Senate IP Subcommittee in 2019. Under new USPTO leadership, the agency has taken meaningful steps to strengthen patent rights over the last year—from significantly reining in the role of the PTAB in invalidating patents to bringing grea...
2026-02-101h 10
Clause 8Head of IP’s Playbook for the AI Infrastructure BoomHow do you protect the IP of a rapidly growing technology company in the dynamic AI sector without slowing engineers or missing what really matters?That question is at the center of this episode of Clause 8, where host Eli Mazour sat down with Subroto Bose, Head of IP at Astera Labs, at the VIA Licensing Alliance’s 2025 Bridge Summit.Prior to Astera, Subroto held IP leadership roles at global semiconductor companies and standards-driven licensing environments. That breadth of experience informs a central theme of the conversation: effective IP strategy is ultimately about predicting the future. Pa...
2026-01-2726 min
Clause 8HP’s Chief IP Counsel on the Advice that Propelled Her SuccessWhile many people talk about mentorship, HP’s Chief IP Counsel Ceyda Maisami and Tradespace’s VP of IP Operations & Client Success Marcia Chang actually live it.In this episode, Ceyda and Marcia join Clause 8 host Eli Mazour for a wide-ranging conversation about mentorship, what it really takes to run IP teams inside large technology companies, and what the rise of AI means for both in-house and outside counsel.They share the story of how they first met at HP, why Ceyda credits Marcia with the advice and encouragement that helped her grow into the Chie...
2026-01-131h 20
Clause 8USPTO’s “One-and-Done” PTAB Approach and its Impact on the Patent Policy DebateRecent 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 S...
2025-12-161h 20
The Inventress PodcastThe Inventress Podcast, Eli Mazour, Patent Attorney, Host of Clause 8 PodcastThis week on The Inventress Podcast I am joined by Eli Mazour, patent attorney and host of the Clause 8 podcast!Listen to the audio version of "The Inventress Podcast" on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and other major podcast platforms by visiting this link: theinventresspodcast - Listen on YouTube, Spotify - Linktree and don't forget to rate, review and subscribe wherever you listen.Follow "The Inventress" on social media:Lisa Ascoleselisaascolese@the_inventressHave a new product or idea and need help? Book a consultation with Lisa Ascolese "...
2025-12-1250 min
Clause 8Novartis’ Global Head of IP Affairs on How Patent Eligibility Mess Threatens Life-Saving Innovation & Why He Remains OptimisticCorey 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...
2025-12-021h 10
Clause 8Pioneers of the Modern Patent Pool Era at Via's Bridge Summit 2025At 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...
2025-11-2138 min
Clause 8Exclusive Interview: USPTO Deputy Commissioner Explains Changes to Examiner Performance PlanIn 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 exped...
2025-11-041h 07
Clause 8“The Inventress” Lisa Ascolese on the Realities of Being an Inventor: You Can’t Skip the WorkWhen 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...
2025-10-2143 min
Clause 8Secrets to Successfully Licensing in Asia from Via LA's Chief Licensing Officer & HDMI LA's PresidentAt 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 discus...
2025-10-0739 min
Clause 8Ex–USPTO Deputy Laura Peter on How America Benefits from University Research and Proposals to Seize IPTech 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...
2025-09-231h 00
Clause 8Why Creativity Needs Ownership: James Edwards on the Biblical Roots of IP & the Future of PatentsIn 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 restrain...
2025-09-0957 min
Clause 8USPTO Changes, Patent Trends, and Judge Newman Through the Lens of Top IP JournalistsFrom 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 BloombergTogether, we unpacked the biggest developments, why they matter, and how th...
2025-08-261h 02
Clause 8Coke Morgan Stewart Ushers in New Era at USPTOPTO 'whistleblower' Julie Burke and patent prosecution guru Clint Mehall join Eli on the season finale of Clause 8 to break down what’s happening at the USPTO—and what’s still left to be done.On this episode, they discuss: *Insights from the Reddit r/patentexaminer thread*Previous and current plans to reduce the record patent application backlog*Should the USPTO withdraw patent eligibility example 47 for AI? *Previous administration’s decision to end AFCP program and ideas for variation of AFCP program to help reduce the backlog*Mi...
2025-04-081h 05
Clause 8Finding the Truth in Patent Valuations—Top 3 Experts Weigh InWhat is the actual value of patents? Inventors and companies invest millions in obtaining patents, believing they are valuable assets. Yet, their true worth is rarely quantified.For this episode of Clause 8, Eli Mazour brings together three of the most insightful experts in the patent valuation space: Michal Malkovich, Vice President at Charles River Associates; Alejandra Loaiza Delgado, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Econ Edge; and Mike Pellegrino, President and Founder of Pellegrino & Associates.Throughout this discussion, you’ll notice that despite their different experiences and perspectives, they share one goal: getting to the truth ab...
2025-03-251h 11
Clause 8How the World's Largest Patent Pool Connects Innovators and ImplementersHost Eli Mazour talks with Heath Hoglund, President of Via LA, to break down the role of patent pools in today’s innovation landscape.Tune in as they discuss:*The balance between licensors and licensees—and how Via LA acts as a bridge between them*Merger of Via Licensing and MPEG LA in 2003 to form Via LA *How Dolby’s strong brand helped it succeed with technology licensing*The challenges of starting a new patent pool program and what makes one successful*Future of patent pools*Hea...
2025-03-1146 min
Clause 8Exclusive: USPTO Union Head Hopeful & Working Well with LeadershipKathy Duda is the President of The Patent Office Professional Association (POPA), which is the union representing USPTO patent examiners. On this episode, she discusses why she remains hopeful amidst current uncertainty around new return to office policies.In the episode, she also discusses:*Positive collaboration with Acting Director Coke Morgan StewartGetting first involved with POPA after it helped her during her pregnancyNegotiating the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the USPTO in 40 yearsWhy she’s not getting a whole lot of sleep recentlyEx...
2025-02-2638 min
Clause 8The Remaining Power of the US Patent SystemJoin Eli Mazour as he explores the vital role of the U.S. patent system in fostering innovation. Entrepreneur Patrick Murray shares his journey from ideation to patent acquisition with Radium Payments, emphasizing the importance of intellectual property in business validation. Lisa Mueller, host of the AUTM on the Air podcast, delves into tech transfer, revealing how universities push innovations from labs to marketplaces. This episode underscores patents as essential drivers of American entrepreneurship and academic innovation, providing a nuanced look at their ongoing impact on business and technology. This is a public episode. If you...
2025-02-1156 min
Clause 8Right Choice for USPTO: Coke Morgan StewartIn this special episode of Clause 8, Eli shares why Coke Morgan Stewart is the perfect person to lead the USPTO. Eli discusses why her selection excites him and the broader implications for the intellectual property field. Reflecting on past directorships and the challenges faced by the USPTO, Eli explores issues such as patent backlogs, Section 101 rejections, and PTAB policies. Highlighting Stewart's experiences and skills, Eli shares his optimism for positive changes under her leadership. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
2025-01-2828 min
AUTM on the Air2025 Predictions for the IP, Tech Transfer, and AI Landscapes With Eli MazourAt 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 ne...
2025-01-1542 min
Clause 8Choice of Next USPTO Director in the Shadow of Patents Saving Cantor Fitzgerald After 9/11What better way to wrap up 2024 than a conversation around the future of the USPTO with David Boundy.David is one of the sharpest minds at the intersection of administrative law and intellectual property. Plus, during his tenure at Cantor Fitzgerald, David worked closely with its visionary CEO, Howard Lutnick, who is leading Trump’s transition team and Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary.This episode includes David’s thoughts on:* Why the next USPTO Director should prioritize examination quality, efficiency, and public interest-driven rule-making.* Advocating for administrative practices that serve innova...
2024-12-3147 min
Clause 8Soft IP in the Start-up Nation with Ariel DubinskyEarlier this year, Eli had the opportunity to spend a day in Israel with Ariel Dubinsky, the founder and owner of Ariel Dubinsky Law Firm. While there, Eli learned that Ariel is at the heart of Israel’s dynamic intellectual property ecosystem. Ariel mainly focuses on trademarks and copyright, which is increasingly important for the so-called “Startup Nation” which saw a record breaking $10.5 billion in startup acquisitions just this year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2024-12-1738 min
Clause 8What’s Keeping Corporate IP Leaders Awake These DaysIn this special episode of Clause 8, host Eli Mazour takes us behind the scenes of the Consero IP Forum, where he spoke with IP leaders about common pain points and solutions. Guests include:* Dimitri Kirimis, Lead Counsel at Cruise* Scott Miller, Chief IP Counsel at Zoetis* Joel Meyer, VP of IP and Innovation Strategy at Digimarc* Praveer Gupta, Director of Patents and Innovation Strategy at Uniphore This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...
2024-12-0328 min
Clause 8Building an IP Strategy for the Final Frontier: A Conversation with Bridget Smith of Relativity Space 🚀This week’s Clause 8 episode features Bridget Smith, Assistant General Counsel and Director, Intellectual Property at Relativity Space—the first company to successfully create and launch a 3D-printed rocket. 🚀Bridget, who previously made waves as a top PTAB practitioner, is now at the helm of IP strategy at Relativity Space, where she’s implementing an innovative approach to IP by using a trade secrets registry. In an industry that moves at light speed, Bridget’s focus on tracking and protecting proprietary know-how is as critical as her work with patents.In this episode:* How Bridget...
2024-11-191h 00
Clause 8Exclusive: USPTO AI Co-Chairs Reassure Stakeholders on Guidance & Share Journey of Shaping USPTO's Approach to AIJerry Ma, Director of Emerging Technologies and Chief AI Officer, and Charles Kim, Deputy Commissioner for the USPTO tell story of co-chairing USPTO's AI working group - sharing insights on USPTO's AI tools guidance, applying §101 for AI-related inventions, and leveraging AI for examination.Together, the two co-lead a group working on AI efforts and according to Jerry are focused on “a human first vision for AI at the agency.”In the episode, host Eli Mazour explores how Jerry and Charles led USPTO’s efforts to deal with AI advancements on the policy front & leverage AI technol...
2024-11-0539 min
Clause 8IP Strategy at Walmart: Balancing Innovation, Protection, and Practicality in a Global Retail GiantIn the ever-evolving world of retail, where technology and innovation are reshaping the industry, managing intellectual property has never been more important. Sri Atluri, Walmart’s Chief IP Counsel, knows this all too well.In this episode of Clause 8 with host Eli Mazour, Sri emphasizes the critical balance between protecting innovations and fostering strategic growth within Walmart’s technological initiatives. She argues for the necessity of continual IP enforcement, detailing how both protection and litigation play essential roles in maintaining Walmart’s competitive advantage. Sri also discusses the evolving landscape of e-commerce and the challenges posed by Sectio...
2024-10-2244 min
Clause 8Qualcomm's General Counsel Ann Chaplin on Patents Fueling InnovationIn this special episode of Clause 8, host Eli Mazour speaks with Ann Cathcart Chaplin at the Qualcomm Museum, which is right at the heart of Qualcomm’s headquarters in San Diego. Ann shares her journey from being an IP litigator to in-house counsel and from GM to Qualcomm.As General Counsel of Qualcomm, Ann oversees all legal matters for the world’s leading innovator of connectivity solutions. Before Qualcomm, she served in a variety of deputy general counsel roles at General Motors (GM). Ann spent most of her career prior to that focused on IP litigation, including as l...
2024-10-0857 min
Clause 8Avanci Vehicle President Laurie Fitzgerald on Building SEP's Field of DreamsLaurie Fitzgerald joins Eli to tell the story of how she led Avanci to an 8-year overnight success. Avanci’s pioneering efforts to provide an efficient, simpler option for the automotive industry to license cellular SEPs are now widely heralded as one of the greatest stories of successful innovation in the patent world. Laurie, who has been with Avanci since 2018, shares her journey and the strategic decisions behind the one-stop shop licensing platform that now boasts participation from 70 licensors and 100 automotive brands.The discussion highlights how Avanci navigated the complexities of linking cellular innovators with automotive manufacturers, de...
2024-09-2450 min
Clause 8Alec Sorensen on Keeping IP Rembrandts Out of the AtticWhat is the value of protecting intellectual property (IP)?That’s the fundamental question that most Chief IP Counsel need time to answer to help their companies succeed. However, they’re often bogged down by the daily demands of leading teams that are doing what’s necessary to make sure that they’re obtaining the necessary IP protection. When they do have a chance to pose and answer that question to business executives, they quickly realize that those business executives are concerned with more pressing issues. When they succeed and those business executives start getting excited about the pote...
2024-09-1039 min
Clause 8Re-Release: The Great 101 DebateWe’re looking forward to sharing new episodes from this season starting next Tuesday, including special video episodes on www.VoiceOfIP.com and a series of interviews with the most significant corporate IP leaders in America. In the meantime, we wanted to share episodes released this summer:Former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu and HTIA’s David Jones found a surprising amount of agreement regarding Section 101 on the first ever Clause 8 debateIancu & Jones Debate Section 101 and Find Common GroundFederal Circuit Judge Timothy Dyk shed light on what’s going...
2024-09-031h 06
Clause 8Judge Dyk Defends Today's Federal CircuitFederal Circuit Judge Timothy Dyk discusses his memoir and provides priceless insights into how the Federal Circuit is operating today - 42 years after it was created in 1982 and 24 years after Dyk was confirmed to serve on it in 2000.This episode explores Dyk's perspectives on judges serving together at the Federal Circuit. His reflections and anecdotes offer a unique glimpse into the workings of the Federal Circuit, the decision-making process of a seasoned appellate judge, and various debates surrounding the Federal Circuit and judges retiring.Dyk was nominated to the Federal Circuit in 1998 by President Bill...
2024-08-2041 min
Clause 8Brazil Becoming the Mecca for Patent Enforcement & Chief IP Counsel Seeking Valuable PatentsClause 8 Podcast Show NotesRob Rodrigues and Tatiana Alves - Brazil’s go-to attorneys for strong patent protection and effective enforcement - join Eli to talk about founding RNA Law and offer insider perspectives on successfully navigating the Brazilian patent system.Rob discusses how Brazil’s large market size and the predictability of obtaining injunctions is attracting foreign businesses looking for robust patent protection. He also talks about how Brazil is becoming an even more favorable venue for patent litigation because, with more cases being filed, the knowledge level of judges and the pred...
2024-08-0647 min
Clause 8Iancu & Jones Debate Section 101 and Find Common GroundClause 8 favorites - former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu and HTIA’s David Jones - return for the first ever Clause 8 debate!They debate Section 101, find common ground, and discuss possible paths forward for improving the state of patent eligibility in America.Selected Topics* Impact of Federal Circuit’s State Street decision: "golden age of business method patents”* Supreme Court’s Section 101 decisions: Bilski, Mayo, Myriad, and Alice* Iancu’s role & thoughts about Ariosa v. Sequenom* Why Jones was concerned after Alice and what changed his mind* Federa...
2024-07-231h 06
Clause 8Erich Spangenberg on How to Succeed in Patent MonetizationHis critics have called him “one of the most notorious patent trolls in America.” Many others have tried and failed to emulate his success. However, it’s hard to deny that Erich Spangenberg is in many ways a singular visionary in the world of patents. If there are celebrities in the patent world, it’s Erich Spangenberg.Thanks for reading Voice of IP! Subscribe for free to receive updates.As the founder of IPNav, he completed over 1000 licensing transactions - worth billions of dollars. To the surprise of many, he then joined forces with hedge...
2024-07-0942 min
Clause 8Moneyball for Pharma Patents with Chief IP Counsel Steve CaltriderWhy does an $850 billion pharma company obtain only 50 patents per year?Steve Caltrider, Chief IP Counsel at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, brings over 35 years of experience building valuable pharma patent portfolios and championing patent policies that promote innovation. Before Dana Farber, Steve rose to the role of General Patent Counsel at Eli Lilly. Steve has also served on the USPTO's Public Patent Advisory Committee and is currently the Chair of the ABA Section of IP Law.In this episode, Steve shares the story of why and how he relied on data to reduce Eli Lilly’s...
2024-06-251h 00
Clause 8IP Fray's Legendary Publisher on What Will Happen with EU's SEP Regulation & AI’s Impact on Patent LawFlorian Mueller shares his remarkable journey from leading a major fight against pro-software patent legislation in Europe to becoming one of the most influential voices in the IP world. For over a decade, his FOSS Patents blog became the go-to destination for anyone who wanted to follow developments related to standard-essential patents (SEPs). After a brief hiatus, Florian recently reemerged as the publisher of ip fray, which is quickly starting to play the role for all of IP that FOSS previously played for SEPs.Drawing on his extensive background, Florian provides fascinating insights about what led to...
2024-06-111h 05
Clause 8IBM's Chief Patent Counsel for Americas Mark Vallone on Changing Patent Portfolio StrategyFor almost 30 years - under the leadership of giants like Marshall Phelps, David Kappos, and Manny Schechter, IBM led in obtaining the most patents per year. However, in 2020, IBM made the decision to no longer pursue the goal of “numeric patent leadership.” It went from obtaining over 8500 patents in 2021 to, by some counts, less than 5000. Nonetheless, IBM remains one of the top American patentees.Mark Vallone joins Eli to discuss how he stepped into one of the most significant roles in the patent world last year while this dramatic shift in IBM’s patent strategy was taking place...
2024-03-2854 min
Clause 8Chief Counsel John Lee on Bicameral, Bipartisan Efforts to Advance Section 101 & PTAB LegislationJ. John Lee is the Chief Counsel for IP in the US House of Representatives and helms the House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, which is chaired by Congressman Darrell Issa. In that role, he is one of only four staffers in Congress who focus on IP issues and help set the agenda for what happens with America’s IP system. John joins Eli on this lively episode to discuss how he ended up in that role after serving as a Lead Judge on the PTAB, how he is currently working closely with the oth...
2024-03-141h 18
Clause 8Chief Counsel John Lee on Bicameral, Bipartisan Efforts to Advance Section 101 & PTAB LegislationJ. John Lee is the Chief Counsel for IP in the US House of Representatives and helms the House Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, which is chaired by Congressman Darrell Issa. In that role, he is one of only four staffers in Congress who focus on IP issues and help set the agenda for what happens with America’s IP system.John joins Eli on this lively episode to discuss how he ended up in that role after serving as a Lead Judge on the PTAB, how he is currently working closely with the oth...
2024-03-141h 18
Clause 8Europe's New Unified Patent Court: Exclusive Interview with Judge Michael FleuchausIn this special two-part episode, we delve into the creation, implementation, and strategic importance of Europe's Unified Patent Court (UPC) with UPC Judge Michael Fleuchaus and Dr. Benjamin Grau. The first part of the show highlights Judge Fleuchaus' experience as a newly appointed technical qualified judge at the UPC. Judge Fleuchaus discusses the motivations behind the UPC's establishment and overarching goal to streamline patent litigation across the European Union. He also discusses his role as a technical judge working alongside experienced legally qualified judges and shares the perspective they bring to handling cases together at the UPC. This segment provides pr...
2024-02-2955 min
Clause 8Resetting the Narrative on IP Rights in AmericaThis year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce brought together a diverse group of stakeholders and thought leaders in support of a framework of IP Principles. These IP Principles are part of an initiative to help America overcome a sustained effort to demonize intellectual property rights over the last 15-20 years. Patrick Kilbride and Brad Watts, from the U.S. Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC), join Eli to talk about leading this initiative, the current narrative on IP rights and the forces that shaped it, the themes of the IP Principles document, and what...
2023-12-191h 08
Clause 8Matteo Sabattini on Licensing Igniting Virtuous Cycle of InnovationMatteo Sabattini is well known in DC patent policy circles from his previous role as Director of IP Policy at Ericsson. He now joins Eli from Italy to discuss his new role as President and Chief Licensing Officer of Convida, what he learned from his time in DC, keys to building a successful licensing program, why recent attempts to regulate licensing of standard essential patents (SEPs) are misguided, and much more! Selected Timestamps | 0:11:03 | How shifting value from devices to services & platforms impacts who should license patents | | 0:17:46 | Licensing fueling further innovation | ...
2023-12-121h 03
Clause 8Ed Murgitroyd on Disrupting IP Legal Services & Lessons from his DadEd Murgitroyd joins Eli Mazour to tell the stories of building Murgitroyd into one of Europe’s biggest IP law firms and his disruptive new venture Hexos IP. Murgitroyd was founded by Ed’s father Ian Murgitroyd in Scotland in 1975. Ed eventually joined his father and became the CEO of Murgitroyd before it was acquired by a private equity firm, Sovereign, in 2019. On this episode, Ed talks about: Story of his father, Ian Murgitroyd, starting Murgitroyd in Glasgow in 1975 thanks to a loan from a mysterious benefactor Growing into one of the world’s biggest hubs for IP servi...
2023-12-051h 23
Clause 8Ofinno: The Little SEP Engine That CouldOfinno’s founder Esmael Dinan and CEO Kavon Nasabzadeh join the Clause 8 podcast to tell Ofinno’s unique story of succeeding in the patent monetization space and talk about its plans for the future. After spending years as an inventor at a large operating company, Esmael came to the conclusion that most such companies aren’t good at obtaining valuable standard essential patents (SEPs) on their own. This spurred him to found Ofinno in 2011, an R&D lab that would obtain such patents. He almost quit after spending his savings and initially failing to find any buyer for Ofinno...
2023-11-281h 01
Clause 8Kfir Luzzatto: Bring Amit Soussana HomeAmit Soussana is an IP attorney at one of Israel’s leading IP firms, Luzzato and Luzzatto. She is also one of more than 240 people – including babies, children, women, the elderly, and the disabled - who were brutally taken hostage by terrorists from Gaza on October 7th. More than 40 days later, almost all of them are still being held hostage. Kfir Luzzatto, the senior partner of Amit’s law firm, joins Clause 8 to talk about the story of that horrific day, Amit, the ongoing horror that the hostages’ families are experiencing, and the urgent efforts to increase...
2023-11-1923 min
Clause 8Time to Embrace Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) & AI FutureClause 8 is back for a new season! To start the season, Eli – for the first time on Clause 8 - shares his own thoughts at length about the hottest debates in the patent world. On this episode, Eli discusses: The horrific October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel and more than 240 Israelis still being held captured by the terrorists His “first IP interview” with then Israel Patent Office Director Asa Kling ChatGPT spurring changing attitudes towards potential of AI compared to when he interviewed DABUS’ legal mastermind Ryan Abbott Patent practitioners failing to embrace new software tools & skepticism...
2023-11-1244 min
Clause 8Exclusive Interview with Judge Pauline Newman’s Attorney Greg DolinWhen Judge Pauline Newman helped create the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1982 to have exclusive jurisdiction over patent cases, no one could’ve guessed the drama that would follow almost 40 years after she joined the court herself. In April, Gene Quinn broke the news on IPWatchdog about a complaint filed by the Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit against Newman for being unable to effectively discharge the duties of her office. Days later, Newman showed up and spoke at Fordham Law School’s annual IP conference in New York in a way that comp...
2023-08-011h 10
Clause 8SPECIAL EP: If Twitter Sues…with Gaston KroubWill Twitter's meager patent portfolio doom Elon Musk’s hopes of “strictly enforcing” Twitter’s IP rights? Eli is joined by return guest Gaston Kroub on this special episode to discuss how an unprecedented IP dispute between two of the world’s richest men might play out. In response to Meta successfully launching Threads, Musk’s go to lawyer Alex Spiro sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg expressing "serious concerns that Meta...has engaged in systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitter's trade secrets and other intellectual property" and intention to "strictly enforce its intellectual property rights." Although the le...
2023-07-2430 min
Clause 8Ex-USPTO GC Nick Matich on Rulemaking & the PTABUSPTO Director Kathi Vidal’s decision to issue the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) is the latest major controversy surrounding the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The American Invents Act (AIA) created the PTAB to supposedly provide a cheaper, faster alternative to district court patent litigation. However, the PTAB quickly gained a reputation for being a patent “death squad” that allows defendants to repeatedly challenge the same patents until those patents are invalidated. During the last administration, former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu tried to correct that by limiting when patents could be challenged at the PTAB. B...
2023-07-1459 min
The SEP Couch with Tim Pohlmann#24 Eli Mazour | The art of SEP claim draftingEli Mazour is a Partner with Harrity & Harrity LLP where he leads the firm’s patent prosecution team. Eli’s practice focuses on helping large technology companies build valuable, high-quality SEP portfolios in an efficient manner. In this role, he develops and implements best practices for managing workflow and innovative, data-driven patent prosecution strategies for reaching favorable results at the USPTO. Eli also helps clients evaluate existing patent portfolios, identify strategic areas for patenting, and create processes for harvesting disclosures of patentable inventions. In addition, he has been involved with licensing negotiations, patent infringement investigations, clearance of products (freedom to ope...
2023-07-0442 min
Clause 8Shawn Lillemo on Building Software Tools for a Patent FirmEli is joined by colleague Shawn Lillemo, Head of Software Development at their firm Harrity, to talk about the firm’s tech journey. Shawn and Eli talk about why and how the firm started its own software development team to create tools to improve how it handles its patent preparation and prosecution work, Shawn’s superstar team in Ukraine, the future role of AI, and much more: The slow embrace of technology by patent firms United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)’s adoption of technology and where they are now How Shawn’s backgro...
2023-06-1658 min
Clause 8New Episodes Coming SoonThank you for listening to the Clause 8 podcast. We hope you’ve enjoyed the episodes so far this season. We’re on a short break but we’ll be back next week with more episodes. Please consider subscribing and taking a few moments to share this podcast with others and giving us a rating in your favorite podcast app. It helps this podcast reach new audiences. Eli is always welcome to hear any thoughts or ideas for the podcast. You can find him @EliMazour on Twitter. Or visit voiceofip.com for more info...
2023-06-0902 min
Clause 8Joff Wild on Founding IAM for Chief IP Officers & EU Commission’s anti-SEP CrusadeJoff Wild on Founding IAM for Chief IP Officers & EU Commission’s anti-SEP Crusade “It became obvious to me that IP was a lot more than laws and court decisions and regulations. IP was becoming a fundamental business asset, one that people could use to generate profits, build partnerships, go out into the markets, and raise cash. But no one was writing about that there was no coverage of that. So that said to me, there was an opportunity to create something new.” IAM’s founding editor Joff Wild joins Eli from ‘across the pond’ to talk about...
2023-05-191h 05
Clause 8Tom Irving on Litigating 1st Hatch-Waxman Case & Mentoring 1000s in Patent FieldEli is joined by the legend of the patent bar, the virtuoso of Federal Circuit decisions – Tom Irving. They discuss the rise of the pharmaceutical patent practice, the creation and current state of the Federal Circuit, why and how Tom mentored 1000s of patent attorneys, best practices for patent prosecution, and much more! Chief Judge Moore’s efforts to oust Judge Newman How Tom ended up practicing patent law Why there are so many patent attorneys from and in Utah Joining Finnegan, Henderson in the 70s How general patent prac...
2023-05-0553 min
Clause 8Tim Pohlmann on Founding IPlytics & Hosting The SEP CouchTim Pohlmann is the founder and CEO of IPlytics, which provides software analytics tools for standard essential patents (SEPs). Tim is also one of the world’s leading economists that focuses on the subject of SEPs, and was recently commissioned by the EU Commission to provide empirical studies for their work regarding SEPs. Tim’s podcast, The SEP Couch, features discussions with a very diverse group of industry leaders, prominent attorneys, academics, and policy makers on the subject of SEPs). On this episode, Tim and Eli discuss: The SEP Couch Podcast, including Eli’s favor...
2023-04-2159 min
Clause 8HTIA’s David Jones on Winning in DCDavid Jones is the Executive Director of the High Tech Inventors Alliance (HTIA), which advocates on patent policy issues on behalf of some of the largest tech companies in the world. When Dave became the head of HTIA in 2019, it seemed that DC was finally turning against the “patent troll” narrative driving patent policy in Congress and the executive branch. However, that did not last long: efforts to pass Section 101 reform failed to gain traction in Congress; the current administration rolled back efforts to restrain the role of the PTAB under the previous administration; and an unprecedented lobbyi...
2023-04-071h 20
The Intellectual Capitalist® ShowEpisode 6: Interview with Eli Mazour, Patent Prosecutor & Host of The Clause 8 PodcastIn this episode your host, Tony D'Angelo interviews Eli Mazour. Eli is a Partner with Harrity & Harrity LLP in Fairfax, Virginia, where he leads the firm's patent prosecution team. Eli's practice focuses on helping large technology companies build valuable, high-quality patent portfolios in an efficient manner. In this role, he develops and implements best practices for managing workflow and innovative, data-driven patent prosecution strategies for reaching favorable results at the USPTO. Eli is also the creator and host of the Clause 8 podcast, which features interviews with the most interesting members of the IP community. To learn more about Eli and his work plea...
2023-03-3055 min
Clause 8Commissioner Stoll on Being Part of ‘First Family’ of Patent LawFormer Patent Commissioner Robert Stoll joins the Clause 8 podcast to talk about working his way up from being an examiner to being the commissioner over his 30+ year-long career at the USPTO. As commissioner, Bob helped former USTPO Director David Kappos implement the American Invents Act (AIA) and transform how the USPTO’s patent examiners operate. Before that, he served as USPTO’s head of the Office of Legislation and International Affairs under Director John Dudas. Now out of government, he freely shares what he thought about what happened at the USPTO during his time there as an executive, why he stay...
2023-03-2442 min
Clause 8World’s #1 IP Dealmaker You Haven't Heard of...YetIf you’ve come across a national news story about some brash character making lots of money from patent deals, chances are that the person making those deals happen behind the scenes was an unassuming lawyer in Israel. Her name is Lillian Shaked. On this episode, Lillian tells the story of how she went from being a commercial attorney in Israel to working with who’s who of patent monetization legends around the world and likely working on more major patent deals than any other attorney in the world. Lillian also talks about her relatively recent transition from be...
2023-03-1045 min
Clause 8USPTO Director Kathi Vidal Defends America's Patent SystemKathi Vidal returns to the Clause 8 podcast to talk about her first year as the Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In an expansive conversation, Director Vidal talks about what she hopes to accomplish, explains and defends the current process for exploring and making changes to the patent system, and responds to criticisms regarding the state of the system. Even close observers of her time as Director are bound to be surprised by many comments she offers on this episode. On this episode, Director Vidal and Eli discuss: Offer to become Director & pr...
2023-02-2457 min
Clause 8How the PTAB Killed Molly Metz’s PatentsFive-time world jump rope champion Molly Metz and her husband Dirk Tomsin talk about the highs and lows of innovation, entrepreneurship, and relying on America’s patent system. A serious car accident spurred Molly to invent a new type of jump rope that revolutionized jump roping and the use of jump roping for CrossFit. Thanks to patents that were awarded to her by the US Patent Office (USPTO) for the invention, Molly’s company – JumpNrope – started making the jump ropes completely in America and licensing the patents to various fitness companies that eagerly relied on her jump roping technology. It s...
2023-02-101h 02
Clause 8Bruce Berman on Telling a Patent StoryBruce Berman is the PR guru of the IP world. As CEO of Brody Berman Associates, he has implemented marketing and business development programs on behalf of more than 200 IP portfolios and businesses. And, in 2016, he founded the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding, an independent non-profit that raises awareness of the use and impact of intellectual property on individuals and businesses. He is also the host of the Understanding IP Matters podcast. In this episode of the Clause 8 Podcast, Berman delves into the who, what, when, and how of telling IP stories to help promote causes in the patent worl...
2023-01-2744 min
Clause 8Bob Giles – Exclusive Interview with Qualcomm's New Chief IP CounselQualcomm is responsible for the smartphone revolution. It started working on the technology back when many thought it was impossible. Besides everyday users, one of the biggest beneficiaries of Qualcomm’ technology was Apple. Apple relied on the technology to make iPhones that grew its market cap to a record of $3 Trillion. However, eventually, Apple decided it was paying Qualcomm too much for the technology. And, instead of agreeing to one fair arbitration process to settle the dispute, Apple decided to rely on scorched-earth litigation. The dispute between Apple and Qualcomm quickly blossomed into more than 100 cases...
2022-05-101h 01
Clause 8Ray Millien - Volvo's past Chief IP Officer & CEO of Harness IPWhat is outside counsel’s real job? How do you make patents part of a 100-year-old company’s DNA? Why did Ocean Tomo fail to become the Goldman Sachs of patents? How do you get opposing counsel to offer you a dream job? The Renaissance Man of IP – Raymond Millien – shares these secrets on the latest episode of Clause 8. Ray previously served as Chief IP Office at Volvo and is now the CEO of the IP boutique, Harness IP. Prior to that, Ray served as the general counsel of a groundbreaking IP business, helped rebuilt the IP program of a Fortune 10...
2022-04-2657 min
Clause 8Prof. Tim Hsieh on Value of District Court Judges Having Patent ExpertiseShow Notes Is it preferable for patent cases to be handled by district court judges who have relevant expertise and experience? Senator Leahy can’t make up his mind. Leahy’s eponymous Leahy-Smith American Invents Act created the Patent Pilot Program. The program allowed federal district court judges in select districts to volunteer to handle patent cases. The goal was for certain judges to have increased expertise – and as a result – do a better job. However, after the program expired and Judge Alan Albright started attracting patent cases to his Waco court room in the Western Di...
2022-04-1259 min
Clause 8Phil Warrick on Working with Sen. Coons to Improve Patent SystemHow is patent policy made in Congress? Few know better than Philip Warrick. Phil served as Senator Coons’ top IP advisor after Coons helped restart the Senate’s IP Subcommittee. In that role, Phil helped lead the subcommittees’ efforts to improve America’s patent system, including legislation to fix the patent eligibility mess. Those efforts were a dramatic departure from Congress’s previous fixation on the “patent troll” narrative. After Coons friend and fellow Delawarean, Joe Biden, was elected as president, the innovation community was hopeful that Coons would use his top role on the Subcommittee to prioritize patent i...
2022-03-291h 04
Clause 8Louis Carbonneau on Brokering Patents After the Patent Gold RushThe golden age for patent brokers has come and gone but that doesn’t stop Louis Carbonneau. “There are very, very few patent brokers nowadays. We’re just one of a handful left. And frankly, we get about four or five portfolios every single day that people want us to broker. We only say yes 1% or 2% of the time.” As one of the world’s leading patent brokers, the CEO and Founder of Tangible IP has brokered over 4,500 patents and boasts close to 30 years in the industry. With experience as Microsoft’s former General Manager of Internation...
2022-03-151h 03
Clause 8Ryan Abbott on Why Patent Law Should Recognize AI InventorsGood lawyers effectively deal with the present. Very few have what it takes to create the future. Professor Ryan Abbott is doing just that. He leads the DABUS project: the first time ever an AI machine has been named as an inventor on a patent application. Most thought that the project was an interesting academic exercise that was unlikely to go anywhere. Some - uncharitably - dismissed it as "a publicity stunt." Yet, the DABUS project did get a patent in South Africa. And, an Australian judge ruled that AI machine can be recognized as...
2022-03-0154 min
Clause 8Prof. Dan Brown and Dan Jr.’s Patent Battle Against a Retail GiantProf. Dan Brown and his son, Dan Brown Jr., are straight out of central casting. Prof. Brown, the father, grew up in a working-class Irish family on Chicago’s South Side before eventually becoming a professor of engineering at Northwestern University. Dan Jr. is a moppy-haired marketing genius who is now President of LoggerHead Tools. As a result of a father-son argument, Prof. Brown invented an award-winning tool called the Bionic Wrench and pursued the audacious idea of manufacturing it in entirely in America. Sears positioned itself to become their exclusive retailer when the initial order of 300,000 units sold out be...
2022-02-151h 10
Clause 8Josh Landau - On Lobbying for Weaker Patent Rights and “Making a PB&J Sandwich”The first episode of this season of Clause 8 featured the most recent USPTO Director - Andrei Iancu - discussing his efforts to strengthen America’s patent system over the last three years. One of the most publicly vocal opponents of those efforts was Josh Landau, patent counsel at the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA). Now that those views are in ascendancy in the Biden administration and Congress, it made sense to finish this season by talking to Josh. It was Josh who first broke the news on CCIA’s Patent Progress blog that Sen. Patrick Leahy was takin...
2021-07-0653 min
Clause 8Mark Han: Applying Lessons from Intellectual Ventures to Helping Innovative Doctors“Jeff [Roh] knew for every person like [him], who is able to succeed, there's countless others who aren't. They just fall flat because they encounter resistance and give up. And so he was on a mission to make other inventors and surgeons be successful as well." Don’t miss this latest episode of Clause 8 with President and Chief Legal Officer of IntuitiveX, Mark Han, about the new business model they have created to help innovators in the medical field. Mark cut his teeth working for the largest and most notorious “patent troll” Intellectual Ventures (IV). During the...
2021-06-2949 min
Clause 8Chris Agrawal: AIPF’s President on Growing $1 Billion Portfolio & Succeeding in IP FieldChris Agrawal is President of the Association of Intellectual Property Firms and partner at Bookoff McAndrews. He was instrumental in one of the biggest patent transactions in history and the reason Eli got into patent law in the first place. If you’re a startup founder or an executive at a growth stage company worrying about patent protection or wondering how to scale your patent program, download and listen to this episode today. On how AIPF helped IP firms navigate the pandemic: “I was really thankful to have the association because we were all talking with e...
2021-06-2248 min
Clause 8Welcome to Clause 8We hope you've enjoyed the episodes we've released so far in this season. We'll be taking a short break and will release the rest of the season very soon. For more information, visit voiceofip.com. And, if you would like to learn more about my firm, visit harrityllp.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2021-06-0802 min
Clause 8Alan Albright - On Becoming the Go-To Judge for Patent CasesIf you’ve ever wondered how and why Judge Alan D Albright - of the Western District Texas - became America’s go-to judge for patent cases, you don’t want to miss this episode. Before Judge Albright was confirmed in 2018, less than 10 patent cases had been filed in Waco district in its entire history. In 2020 alone, he took on almost 800 new patent cases, accounting for 20% of all new patent cases filed in the US last year. “Having practised all those years, I get that 99% of the time, while it may appear that the dispute is trivial...
2021-06-011h 04
Clause 8Prof. Stephen Yelderman - A Personal View of How the Supreme Court Approaches IPHow many Supreme Court Justices can you count as friends? Professor Stephen Yelderman, one of America’s leading IP scholars, was recruited to join the Notre Dame Law School faculty by future Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and clerked for Justice Neil Gorsuch before and after he joined the Supreme Court. Prof. Yelderman’s experience of having a personal connection to not one, but two Supreme Court justices, as well as having clerked at the Supreme Court, have provided him with a unique perspective into how the Supreme Court approaches patent and other IP issues. “One...
2021-05-2556 min
Clause 8Andrei Iancu - From Communist Romania To USPTO DirectorAt the end of last year, IPWatchdog asked leaders in the field about their wildest dreams for America’s IP system. The most common answer was for former director of the USPTO Andrei Iancu to continue on as director. Former Deputy USPTO Director Russ Slifer noted that Andrei will be a hard act to follow. Andrei immigrated from communist Romania when he was 13 years old, and still, to this day, believes the US is the best place to be for freedom and opportunity. “I'm a huge fan of innovation and creation, creativity, and the intellectual propert...
2021-05-1844 min
Clause 8Joseph Lentivech - Ex-PTAB Judge on Ex-Parte AppealsJudge Joe Lentivech is a former Administrative Patent Judge. On this episode, he talks about how he became an Administrative Patent Judge, how the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) operates, how to win ex parte appeals, overcoming Section 101 rejections, oral hearings at the PTAB, and much more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2020-11-241h 38
Clause 8Brad Watts - Leading Sen. Thom Tillis’ Efforts to Fix the Section 101 Patent Eligibility MessBrad Watts is the Majority Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. Under the leadership of Sen. Thom Tillis, Brad led the herculean effort to fix the Section 101, patent eligibility mess. In this episode, Eli and Brad talk what really happened during this last attempt at reform, why it wasn’t successful, where to go from here, and much more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2020-09-2154 min
Clause 8Professor Adam Mossoff - How Law School Professors Influence the Patent Policy DebateWelcome to Clause 8 – the Voice of IP. Clause 8 is part of IPWatchdog and hosted by Eli Mazour. If you enjoy listening, please subscribe on your favorite podcasting app, share it with others, and leave a five-star rating. This episode features an interview with Professor Adam Mossoff from George Mason University’s Scalia Law School. He is the leading academic expert when it comes to intellectual property policy issues. Most significantly, he is largely responsible for providing the intellectual foundation that has helped shift the anti-patent narrative in Washington, DC. There’s a good chance that you’ve come acr...
2020-09-011h 04
Clause 8Bruce MacEwen - World’s Leading Expert on the Economics of Law FirmsThis episode features an interview with Bruce MacEwen. He is the founder and president of Adam Smith, Esq. and has written thousands of articles on the economics of law firms. He is recognized as the world’s leading expert in this subject and provides advice to a select number of law firms about how to succeed in the changing legal landscape. During this episode, Bruce and Eli discuss: • Why Bruce thought there was something off about law firms by Thanksgiving of his first year as an associate • How companies select & manage outside counsel • Tension of build...
2020-08-0442 min
Clause 8Sarah Tsou - How To Take Advantage Of Patent Litigation FundingThis episode features an interview with Sarah Tsou, who is an investment manager for patent litigation at the world’s leading litigation funder, Bentham IMF (now part of Omni Bridgeway Limited). The playbook is simple for deep-pocketed defendants facing lawsuits from patent owners with limited resources. Even if a patent owner has a very strong case, the defendant can just drag the case out long enough until the patent owner and his lawyers run out of resources to continue. At best, the patent owners are forced to settle lawsuits for a fraction of what they think they ar...
2020-06-0254 min
Clause 8Brian Pomper - Innovation Alliance’s Efforts to Improve Patent System This episode of Clause 8 features an interview with Brian Pomper of the Innovation Alliance. Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, and Charles Goodyear are some of America’s best-known innovators. Instead of just making and selling the final products, they obtained patents and licensed their innovations to manufacturers. American companies like IBM, Qualcomm, and Dolby have followed this great American tradition of focusing on innovation. However, the patent troll narrative has undermined the idea that innovators should be incentivized and rewarded for their efforts. A string of Supreme Court decisions and the passage of the American In...
2020-05-191h 04
Clause 8Frank Jakes - Carole Baskin’s Legendary Attorney on Defeating the Tiger KingThis episode features an interview with trial attorney Frank Jakes - the founder of the Intellectual Property Group at the firm of Johnson Pope in Tampa, FL. There’s a good chance that you have recently seen him questioning Joe Exotic in the Netflix documentary Tiger King. However, even before successfully representing Carole Baskin and Big Cat Rescue, Frank Jakes was already a legendary trial attorney in Tampa who handled lots of cases involving high-profile parties and interesting personalities and won many millions of dollars in verdicts. Many of those cases involved a wide variety of IP rights. ...
2020-05-051h 09
Clause 8Josh Malone - How the Inventor of Bunch O Balloons WonThe latest episode of the Clause 8 podcast features an interview with Josh Malone – the inventor of Bunch O Balloons and America’s foremost advocate for reliable patent rights. Josh came up with the idea for Bunch O Balloons to help his kids fill up 100 water balloons in less than one minute. It eventually became the most popular toy in America. However, before Bunch O Balloons even came to market, another company copied it and started selling its own versions of the product. Luckily – or so he thought at the time – Josh filed a patent application for his Bunch O Balloons...
2020-03-181h 02
Clause 8Kevin Jakel (Pt 2) - Unified Patent’s Battles v. SEPs & “Patent Trolls”This episode is the second and final part of our interview with Kevin Jakel, the founder and CEO of Unified Patents. On this episode, we continue the conversation with Kevin about how Unified Patents operates, discuss Unified Patents’ new program for targeting Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), debate whether the patent troll narrative has been overblown, talk about the patent quality problem, and delve into some other patent policy issues related to IPRs and the PTAB. We also find out what Kevin has in common with George Costanza! This is a public episode. If you would like to...
2020-01-2142 min
Clause 8Kevin Jakel (Pt 1) - Exclusive interview with CEO of Unified PatentsKevin Jakel is the founder and CEO of Unified Patents. Since the passage of the American Invents Act (AIA), Unified Patents has been focused on using AIA’s new post-grant proceedings to challenge patents at the PTAB that are owned by so-called non-practicing entities or “patent trolls.” This is an amazing story of rare and impressive innovation in the patent field. It is also a story about how the AIA allowed third parties – that are not directly involved in a patent dispute - to “independently” challenge patents at the PTAB. When Unified Patents is unsuccessful in challenging a patent at...
2020-01-0735 min
Clause 8Gene Quinn - Creating World’s Largest IP Publication & How To Effectively Impact IP PolicyGene Quinn is the founder of IPWatchdog.com. It has been the leading online publication focused on intellectual property for almost twenty years. Although they don't always agree, Federal Circuit judges, Congressional staffers, and K Street follow it closely to stay abreast of latest IP policy-related developments. During the episode, Gene discusses the serendipitous start to IPWatchdog.com, why it has been so successful, and what it's like to be read by Federal Circuit judges and other luminaries. Gene also talks about the IP policy landscape in Washington, DC and how to effectively impact the policy making...
2019-09-101h 14
Clause 8Gilbert Hyatt - David v. Goliath battle of Inventor of Microprocessor v. USPTOGil Hyatt is one of the most significant American innovators in the field of personal computing - the inventor of the microprocessor. And, he has been involved in a David versus Goliath battle with the US Patent and Trademark Office for decades. Initially, Gil was able to successfully obtain patents for his innovations and license them for hundreds of millions of dollars. However, in the mid 1990s, the USPTO started secretly flagging his applications under the Sensitive Applications Warning System (SAWS) program and processed them in a way that prevented him from obtaining any more patents. In response, Gil...
2019-07-1657 min
Clause 8John Harrity - How To Successfully Innovate In The Legal FieldJohn Harrity is the managing partner of Harrity & Harrity LLP and a leader in innovation in the legal field. John, along with his twin brother Paul Harrity, founded the patent preparation and prosecution firm almost twenty years ago. During this episode, we discussed the history of the firm, the secrets to the firm's success, and how to successfully innovate in the legal field. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2019-06-111h 02
Clause 8Makan Delrahim - DoJ’s Head of Antitrust on PatentsMakan Delrahim is the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division. Makan is the first registered patent attorney in that role and has already made some significant changes with regards to the DoJ’s approach to intellectual property issues and encouraging innovation. During this episode, we discussed Makan's personal story, the Antirust Division itself, the intersection between patent and antitrust issues, the relationship between the DoJ and the FTC, Standard Setting Organizations, and many other topics. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...
2019-03-2636 min
Clause 8Kathi Vidal - On Being an IP Lawyer In Silicon ValleyKathi Vidal is the managing partner of of the Silicon Valley office of Winston & Strawn LLP. Kathi is also one of the top patent litigators in America and one of the most interesting thought leaders in the legal industry. During this episode, we discussed how Kathi became so successful, what it’s like to be an IP lawyer in Silicon Valley, the state of patent litigation, strategic patent prosecution, business development, and many other subjects. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...
2019-03-0556 min
Clause 8Aaron Cooper - Passing the AIA as Sen. Leahy’s Chief CounselAaron Cooper was the Chief Counsel for IP and Antitrust Law on the Senate Judiciary Committee during the passage of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) and is now the head of global policy for the trade group BSA (fka the Business Software Alliance). The AIA arguably made the most substantial changes to patent law since the Patent Act of 1836. During the episode, we discuss the passage of the AIA, post-grant proceedings created by the AIA, the role of BSA and other interest groups in shaping intellectual property (IP) policy, current patent-related legislative proposals, and many other...
2019-02-0559 min
Clause 8Tariq Hafiz - Secrets of Successfully Navigating the USPTO from USPTO’s Director of TC 3600 Business MethodsUSPTO's (United States Patent and Trademark Office) Director of Technology Center 3600 Business Methods discusses his career, role at the USPTO, how policy is formulated and implemented at the USPTO, taking over and turning around the TC after the Alice Supreme Court decision, and section 101 rejections. He also provides priceless advice to patent practitioners about how to successfully work with patent examiners and obtain patents. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2018-12-0259 min
Clause 8Henry Waxman - The Hatch-Waxman Act and a Life In CongressFormer Congressman Waxman discusses the passage of the seminal Hatch-Waxman Act, recent proposals to improve the balance between rights of brand name pharmaceutical and generic companies, and his 40-year career in Congress. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2018-10-2652 min
Clause 8Gaston Kroub - Helping Wall Street Understand Patent LitigationIP Columnist for Above the Law and Founding Partner at Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC & Markman Advisors LLC. Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC is an IP litigation boutique & Markman Advisors LLC is a leading consultancy on patent issues for the investment community. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.voiceofip.com
2018-10-081h 02
Clause 8David Kappos - Leading the USPTO & Implementing the AIAIn this episode of the Clause 8 podcast, host Eli Mazour sits down with David Kappos. Mr. Kappos is the former head of intellectual property (IP) at IBM, former Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and now serves as a partner at Cravath. Eli and Mr. Kappos discuss Mr. Kappos’s career at IBM, his time as the director of the USPTO, and his advice for the current administration with regards to IP. As the conversation unfolds, Mr. Kappos shares his own story beginning in law school. He shares about how his dream for a...
2018-09-2041 min
Clause 8Doug Henderson - Starting and Growing World’s Largest IP BoutiqueSampling of stories and topics discussed during the interview: Starting and growing America's largest Intellectual Property (IP) boutique law firm Personal story of going from growing up in Pennsylvania and selling furniture to starting a law firm in downtown DC How having successful fathers influenced Doug Henderson and his co-founder Marcus Finnegan Vision and innovations that contributed to Finnegan Henderson's success Shaping firm culture in a way that allowed next generation of partners to successfully take over the management of the firm Attracting and keeping great clients Keys to retaining talent at a law firm State of the...
2017-11-201h 14