Understanding IP Matters

The Center For Intellectual Property Understanding
  • 5.0 (4)
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‘Understanding IP Matters,’ is a popular podcast series that enables successful entrepreneurs, inventors, content creators, executives and experts to share their IP story - the good, bad and amazing. The series is brought to you by the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding, an independent non-profit established in 2016. CIPU provides outreach to improve IP awareness, enhance value and promote sharing. www.understandingip.org

  1. AI and IP Law, A Cautious Embrace

    1D AGO

    AI and IP Law, A Cautious Embrace

    Send us a text Wayne Stacy brings a unique perspective from his role as executive director of Berkeley Center for Law and Technology. From his early days as a patent litigator to directing the Silicon Valley USPTO office and earning a Fulbright to work in Nepal, Wayne has witnessed dramatic changes in how technology affects legal practice. This conversation explores how AI is transforming legal education, the evolution of patent litigation costs, and why future lawyers need different skills than previous generations. Key Takeaways: AI enables lawyers to focus on higher-value work by automating routine tasksLegal education must teach AI integration rather than AI avoidanceCross-disciplinary collaboration between law and engineering drives innovation policyFuture lawyers need policy development skills alongside traditional legal trainingBerkeley's position in Silicon Valley creates unique opportunities for public discussionsEntry-level lawyers must scale up capabilities to remain relevant in AI eraUnderstanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    41 min
  2. Capital Can Transform Invention Rights

    JAN 14

    Capital Can Transform Invention Rights

    Send us a text Why do many businesses prefer lawsuits over licensing deals — and what does IP capital mean for innovation? Phil Hartstein, co-founder of Soryn IP Capital and former CEO of Finjan Holdings, shares insights from orchestrating almost $500 million in licensing deals. He explains why patent licensing has shifted from corporate boardrooms to courtrooms, and discusses the economics of patent enforcement, the role of litigation finance in supporting legitimate innovators, and how AI is transforming IP strategy.  Phil reveals what makes patents valuable, why most portfolios contain only single-digit percentages of enforceable assets, and his perspective on patent monetization as a strategic responsibility rather than defensive last resort. Key Takeaways: Most patent portfolios derive value from only single-digit percentages of total assetsCorporate defendants now manage 50-100 active patent lawsuits simultaneouslyPatent litigation costs range from $2-20+ million and take 3-5+ years to resolveLicensing discussions once happened in boardrooms over 9-12 month periodsModern product cycles compress multiple technology clusters into shorter timeframesIP capital helps innovators compete against well-funded corporate defendantsAI tools like ChatGPT are transforming patent analysis and claim construction workflowsPatent monetization strengthens both business balance sheets and the broader innovation ecosystemThe U.S. patent system's constitutional foundation drives American technology developmentStrategic patent enforcement requires demonstrating credibility, capability, and resourcesAbout the Guest: Phil Hartstein is a technology investor, inventor, and intellectual property strategist. He co-founded Soryn IP Capital and previously served as CEO of Finjan Holdings, a public company now owned by Fortress. At Finjen, he oversaw licensing and enforcement of pioneering cybersecurity patents, orchestrating more than $300 million in licensing deals. Phil holds more than two dozen pending and issued patents and has been twice recognized as a top 40 IP dealmaker. 00:00 - Introduction to Phil Hartstein  01:44 - Why companies prefer lawsuits to licenses  03:03 - Boardroom licensing era vs today  04:16 - Soryn IP Capital's role in leveling field  06:35 - Corporate litigation dockets explained  08:47 - Patent lawsuit economics and timelines  10:23 - Funding plaintiffs vs bad actors debate  13:10 - Making capital available for innovators  15:36 - Patent quality and portfolio value  18:07 - Supreme Court's Unwired Planet decision  20:16 - The Alice decision's ongoing impact  23:40 - Patent valuation and market adoption  26:25 - PTAB's role in patent examination  29:14 - Working with litigation finance  31:40 - Evaluating patent portfolio strength  34:22 - International IP enforcement landscape  37:08 - Germany's patent system advantages  39:30 - AI's impact on patent prosecution  42:42 - Racing vintage cars as analog escape  44:40 - Patent monetization as strategic duty Understanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    47 min
  3. 3-D Chess: AI's Race for Market Share and IP Supremacy

    12/10/2025

    3-D Chess: AI's Race for Market Share and IP Supremacy

    Send us a text Allison Gaul, senior counsel at BCG-X, an invention development and commercialization company, discusses the evolving AI landscape, where intellectual awareness meets real-world strategy. As both a former patent examiner and litigator with a Harvard graduate degree in business analytics, she offers insider perspectives on how companies secure IP rights, why investors now prioritize AI risk policies, and how open source licensing drives market adoption. The conversation explores copyrighted training data challenges, how small learning models compete with foundational LLMs, and why publicly available doesn't mean free to use. Gaul shares practical IP protection strategies for startups and established companies navigating content attribution, energy-efficient blockchain solutions, and the misconceptions engineers hold about software patents. Key Takeaways: • Small, targeted-use models (SLMs) trained on specific datasets are gaining traction because of their relevance and efficiency • Investors are now scrutinizing AI startup' risk and compliance policies more carefully • Open source licensing has become a significant tool for capturing market share • Publicly available content is not automatically free to use; not all LLMs ascribe to this • Blockchain offers potentially reliable solutions for IP tracking despite energy concerns • IP and AI strategy require balancing innovation with responsible ethics • Gen AI adoption began with easy productivity wins across industries • Businesses that are mindful of AI risk are in a better position to attract capital Subscribe to Understanding IP Matters on your preferred platform or visit understandingip.org for more episodes exploring intellectual property with leading innovators and experts. 00:00 - Introduction to Allison Gaul 01:07 - AI race and investor expectations 02:36 - Risk policies investors demand 03:01 - How companies leverage Gen AI 04:21 - Working with foundational model providers 05:34 - Day in the life of a product attorney 06:40 - Multi-dimensional AI competition 08:34 - Open source as market strategy 09:10 - Small learning models vs LLMs 11:02 - Copyright challenges in AI training 13:29 - Content attribution and data rights 15:41 - Licensing deals and fair use debate 17:34 - Legal frameworks catching up 19:20 - Transparency in AI systems 21:25 - Attribution standards discussion 23:38 - Geographic variations in AI law 25:44 - EU regulations and global impact 27:50 - Cross-border compliance challenges 29:33 - Energy concerns in AI development 31:18 - IP education for engineers 33:11 - Patents in software development 35:27 - Ethical IP strategy and responsibility 37:54 - Patent troll misconceptions 39:50 - Attribution vs permission clarified 40:54 - Blockchain solutions and limitations 42:08 - First exposure to IP rights Understanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    45 min
  4. Man of 1000 Faces: The Renaissance Journey of Eric Bear

    11/19/2025

    Man of 1000 Faces: The Renaissance Journey of Eric Bear

    Send us a text When creativity meets intellectual property, innovation has no boundaries. Eric Bear has licensed intellectual property to all major U.S. studios and Fortune 500 companies while maintaining a successful acting career. With over 100 patents covering software and video technology, Eric's seamless expansion invention was popularized by The Matrix and licensed to Disney, Fox, and other major studios. This conversation explores how he balances roles as inventor, entrepreneur, actor, and university professor while navigating patent litigation and startup IP protection. Discover how unconventional career paths can drive business trademark protection and commercial success. Key Takeaways: How Eric licensed technology to all major Hollywood studiosThe connection between acting, invention, and entrepreneurial thinkingNavigating patent litigation while maintaining creative pursuitsBuilding companies around intellectual property course principlesThe role of performance capture technology in modern filmmakingProtecting IP rights while collaborating with Fortune 500 companiesCareer advice for young creators balancing art and businessHow AI impacts creative industries and performer rightsThe importance of following passion over financial incentivesScreen Actors Guild protections for digital likeness rightsUnderstanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    43 min
  5. Copyright Piracy Costs America up to $71 Billion: Hollywood Producer Ruth Vitale Speaks Out

    11/05/2025

    Copyright Piracy Costs America up to $71 Billion: Hollywood Producer Ruth Vitale Speaks Out

    Send us a text Ruth Vitale, Oscar-winning producer and CEO of Creative Future, reveals the devastating impact of copyright piracy on America's entertainment workforce. Piracy costs the economy up to $71 billion annually and threatens 560,000 jobs across film and television. Ruth explains how small business IP protection matters for the 122,000 companies serving Hollywood, why copyright law basics must evolve for the digital age, and what IP protection strategies could save the industry. From malware risks on pirate sites to AI's threat to actor rights, this conversation exposes hard truths about intellectual property education and the urgent need for site blocking legislation. Key Takeaways: Piracy costs the US economy between $29 to 71 billion annuallyFilm and television employ 2.3 million Americans (down from 2.7 million)92% of entertainment businesses employ fewer than 10 peopleGoogle receives 58 million takedown requests weekly—yet pirate sites flourish60 countries have site blocking laws; the US does notVisiting pirate sites carries a 30%+ risk of downloading malwareMovie theaters keep 50% of box office revenueAverage entertainment industry salary: $141,000 vs $94,000 nationallyIndependent filmmakers finance projects with credit cards, can lose everything to piracyAI companies train models on copyrighted content without permission Listen to discover how intellectual property course advocates like Ruth are fighting to protect creative workers and why copyright training matters for every entrepreneur. Understanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    40 min
  6. AI Adoption Moves At The Speed of Trust

    10/22/2025

    AI Adoption Moves At The Speed of Trust

    Send us a text Award-winning educator and IP advocate Daryl Lim joins Bruce Berman to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property education. Broadcasting from Singapore, Daryl shares his global perspective on how AI is reshaping IP frameworks, from the $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement to the emergence of new data rights. This conversation examines IP leadership challenges, the role of blockchain in patent processes, and why marginalized communities need better access to intellectual property protection. Daryl discusses China's rapid IP development, the importance of equity by design in technology governance, and practical startup IP strategies for navigating an increasingly complex landscape. Key Takeaways: AI and IP rights are fundamentally interconnected and evolving togetherThe $1.5 billion Anthropic case settlement sets precedent at $3,000 per bookIP leadership requires moving ahead of trends, not following themChina has transformed from IP pirate nation to major player in 20 yearsBlockchain technology can reduce friction in IP transactionsUniversities became IP believers after the Bayh-Dole Act enabled monetizationContent creators must embrace technology as ally, not enemyGovernment frameworks should align AI development with societal valuesPatent education and copyright training need to be more inclusiveSmall creators need better tools to participate in large-scale licensingUnderstanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    47 min
  7. Patents Don't Block Innovation, Ignorance Does

    10/08/2025

    Patents Don't Block Innovation, Ignorance Does

    Send us a text Join host Bruce Berman for an illuminating conversation with Henry Hadad, Head of Intellectual Property Rights at Bristol-Myers Squibb. This episode explores how intellectual property education and strong patent protection drive medical breakthroughs while addressing common misconceptions about IP rights.  Hadad shares his unique journey from a creative family background—his uncle wrote disco classics like "It's Raining Men"—to becoming a leading voice in pharmaceutical patent strategy. Learn how the patent process explained through real-world examples demonstrates why IP protection strategies are essential for developing life-saving treatments. Discover insights on startup IP challenges, the role of university research, and why patent basics matter more than ever in our innovation-driven economy. Key Takeaways: Strong patent systems drive innovation by providing investment certaintyUniversity research partnerships create vital public-private innovation bridgesPatent licensing enables smaller inventors to monetize their discoveriesAI-generated inventions pose new challenges for patent eligibilityChina's improving IP system creates competitive pressure for US innovationClear communication about IP benefits counters harmful misconceptionsPatent certainty affects venture capital investment decisionsPharmaceutical patents enable continued research into new disease indicationsUnderstanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    42 min
  8. Celebrated MIT engineer and entrepreneur develops medical devices to treat cancer and other diseases

    07/16/2025

    Celebrated MIT engineer and entrepreneur develops medical devices to treat cancer and other diseases

    Send us a text Michael Cima is a researcher, inventor and entrepreneur who has spent 40-years creating advanced medical devices that focus on diagnostics and treatments for cancer, metabolic diseases and trauma. He is also devoted educator mentoring the next generation of creators about the broad benefits of IP rights.  Understanding IP Matters is brought to you by the nonprofit Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU) with generous support from its partners and sponsors. The podcast provides leading innovators and experts the space to share their IP stories.

    42 min
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About

‘Understanding IP Matters,’ is a popular podcast series that enables successful entrepreneurs, inventors, content creators, executives and experts to share their IP story - the good, bad and amazing. The series is brought to you by the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding, an independent non-profit established in 2016. CIPU provides outreach to improve IP awareness, enhance value and promote sharing. www.understandingip.org

Information

  • Creator
    The Center For Intellectual Property Understanding
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Understanding IP Matters
  • Show Website
    Understanding IP Matters