IP Talk with Wolf Greenfield

Wolf Greenfield

Conversations about IP-related legal issues, developments and cases of interest.

  1. May 20

    Unexpected Paths to IP Law with Kevin MacDonald

    In some of our previous episodes, we’ve explored the interesting paths that  Wolf Greenfield attorneys have taken as they eventually made their way to IP law. One thing that separates Wolf Greenfield from other firms is the depth of real-world experience many of its attorneys possess. In fact, over half of the professionals at Wolf Greenfield worked in science and technology industries prior to entering law. Kevin MacDonald, a Shareholder in Wolf Greenfield’s Biotechnology practice, is an ideal example. After earning a degree in biology at Boston College, Kevin went to England to get his Master’s in Molecular Biology and then back to North America for his PhD at McGill University’s Institute of Parasitology in Montreal. Before his graduate studies and eventually going to law school, Kevin worked as a Life Science and Healthcare Industry Analyst at the British Consulate-General in Boston. In this episode of IP Talk with Wolf Greenfield,  Kevin discusses his path from the world of science to IP law and his current work assisting clients with IP strategy, portfolio management, and patent prosecution and counseling. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: 01:18 - Kevin’s background in biology 02:33 - How Kevin became interested in parasitology 03:10 - Serving as an analyst at the British Consulate-General 04:21 - Making the switch to law 05:38 - The challenges of transitioning from science to a legal career 06:21 - Kevin’s current practice at Wolf Greenfield 07:20 - Some of the most exciting things happening in biopharma today 08:18 - Kevin’s efforts as a board member of the British American Business Council of New England ###

  2. Apr 23

    At the Intersection of Biotech and AI with Janice Vatland

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting nearly everything in society these days, including the world of biotechnology and life sciences.  In this episode of IP Talk with Wolf Greenfield, Janice Vatland, a Shareholder in Wolf Greenfield's Biotechnology practice, explains important IP considerations for turning groundbreaking discoveries that utilize AI into lasting business value. With nearly 25 years of experience, Janice works with clients of all sizes, including universities, start-ups, and small to mid-sized companies. She also serves as Chair of Wolf Greenfield’s PTO Practice Committee. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: 00:58 - Janice describes her practice at Wolf Greenfield01:57 - The factors that led Janice from her work in science to IP law05:25 - Janice explains how AI is being used in biotech today06:51 - AI systems cannot be listed as inventors, and that creates challenges for companies using AI08:05 - Additional issues with AI that companies need to be mindful of10:54 - Companies are eager to use AI to gain a competitive advantage11:53 - Key IP protection considerations for companies using AI 13:16 - As patents on AI-derived drugs become more common, new legal challenges may arise as companies seek to defend their portfolios16:49 - With science, technology, and AI all moving and changing so quickly, it’s critical for companies to constantly be monitoring and updating their IP strategies

  3. Feb 4

    Michele Moresco on the Transformational Potential of Photonics

    Photonics is rapidly transforming from a primarily academic discipline into a driving force of industrial innovation. As part of this transformation, photonics companies need to treat their intellectual property as a forward-looking business asset.  In this episode of IP Talk with Wolf Greenfield, Michele Moresco, a shareholder in the Electrical & Computer Technologies practice, explains how a  combination of thoughtful patenting, robust trade secret protection, early coordination, and litigation readiness can help companies thrive in this competitive and fast-evolving field.  Prior to joining Wolf Greenfield, Michele worked as a research scientist at Photonic Corporation and was also a postdoctoral associate at MIT, where—among other things—he led the operations of a DARPA-funded project to develop a silicon photonics fabrication platform for high volume manufacturing. Here are a few highlights from the conversation: 01:15 - Michele describes his work at Wolf Greenfield. 02:23 - An overview of photonics—what it is and where we will see its impact. 04:22 - A comprehensive photonics IP strategy goes far beyond simple patent filings and procurement. 06:31 - The intellectual property strategy should be developed early as a company transitions from being an academic initiative to commercialization.   07:55 - Thoughts on the importance of protecting trade secrets. 09:33 - Multiple levels of the supply chain should be covered by a company’s IP strategy.  11:12 - Michele offers an explanation of omnibus applications. 12:58 - Adopting comprehensive defensive strategies early may help deal with competitor disputes in the future.  14:47 - It’s critical for the legal and technical teams to stay properly aligned as the organization grows.  ###

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Conversations about IP-related legal issues, developments and cases of interest.

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