Intellectual Property News with Richard Gearhart

Richard Gearhart
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Stay ahead of the legal curve with Intellectual Property News with Richard Gearhart, a fast-paced segment that breaks down the latest developments in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and emerging tech law. Designed for entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators, this segment translates complex legal updates into clear, actionable insights—helping you protect your ideas, avoid costly mistakes, and spot new opportunities in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

  1. Oct 8

    Can Netflix Make the Original Trademark Owner Look Like the Copycat? The K-Pop Demon Hunters Case

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. What happens when a small brand that has used a trademark for decades suddenly finds itself overshadowed by a global entertainment giant? In this episode we examine the Netflix K-Pop Demon Hunters and Demon Hunter trademark dispute and explains the unusual legal concept of reverse confusion—when a larger, more heavily marketed brand can cause consumers to believe the original trademark owner is actually the copycat. This Intellectual Property News segment explores why entrepreneurs should conduct trademark searches early, register important marks, document their use, and monitor potentially conflicting brands before investing heavily in a name. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Netflix vs Demon Hunter trademark lawsuit(00:00:52) - Explaining reverse confusion(00:01:49) - Lessons for entrepreneurs and big companies(00:02:58) - Closing and resources

  2. Oct 2

    Yes, You Can Trademark a Smell—Here’s How It Works

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. Can you trademark a smell? Believe it or not, you can. In this episode we explore the surprising world of scent trademarks, including Hasbro’s federal trademark for the distinctive Play-Doh scent, scented sewing thread, and even the smell of freshly cut grass registered for tennis balls. Learn why trademark law is really about brand recognition and how entrepreneurs can protect distinctive customer experiences—not just names, logos, colors, and sounds. The bigger lesson: some of your most valuable intellectual property may be something customers experience without even realizing they’re remembering it. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Can You Trademark a Smell?(00:00:45) - How Trademark Law Works(00:01:13) - Limits on Scent Trademarks(00:01:59) - Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Closing

  3. Sep 10

    A $300 Million Patent Verdict Became $0: The Unpredictable Reality of IP Litigation

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. A $300 million patent verdict against Apple ultimately became $0. In this episode of Intellectual Property News, Richard Gearhart examines the dramatic patent dispute involving Apple and LTE technology, where three trials produced verdicts of $506 million, $300 million, and finally no infringement. Discover why patent litigation can be so unpredictable, how procedural errors can overturn massive verdicts, and why entrepreneurs should carefully weigh the costs and risks of taking an intellectual property dispute to court. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/ Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro: The $300M Patent Verdict Story(00:00:19) - Case History: Three Trials, Three Verdicts(00:01:41) - Why Litigation Outcomes Are So Unpredictable(00:02:27) - The Lesson: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

  4. Aug 27

    Who Owns Your Voice in the Age of AI? The Google Voice Lawsuit Explained

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. Can AI legally imitate your voice without your permission? In this episode of Intellectual Property News, we examine the lawsuit involving Google and longtime public radio host David Green, who claims an AI-generated voice used in Google’s NotebookLM sounds remarkably like him despite Google saying it hired a professional actor to create the voice. The case raises important questions about AI voice cloning, right of publicity, privacy, misappropriation, unfair competition, copyright, and the legal protection of a person’s name, face, voice and likeness. For entrepreneurs, creators and business owners using AI, the case offers a critical warning: intellectual property risks may extend far beyond patents, trademarks and copyrights to the very identity of the people behind a brand. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/

  5. Aug 11

    How Entrepreneurs Can Fight Counterfeits, Piracy and AI Deepfakes

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. This week on Intellectual Property News, we explore Congress’s “Midlife Crisis: IP and the Internet After 40” hearing and the growing push for site blocking to combat foreign websites selling counterfeit goods, pirated content, stolen software and other infringing material. We explain why online IP theft is a growing threat to entrepreneurs, startups, software companies, inventors, creators and brands—and how emerging issues like AI deepfakes, unauthorized voice and likeness replicas, patents, trademarks and copyrights are changing the intellectual property landscape. The key takeaway: protecting your intellectual property isn’t just about registering it anymore—it’s about having effective ways to stop infringement before it damages your business. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/

  6. Jul 28

    Havana Club Trademark Battle: The $Billion Brand Name War Explained

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. Why is Havana Club rum sold by one company in the United States and another everywhere else? In this episode we  unpack the decades-long Havana Club trademark dispute between Bacardi and the Cuban government, revealing how history, politics, international law, and trademark renewals collided in one of the world's most fascinating brand ownership battles. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and innovators will learn why trademarks require ongoing maintenance, how missed renewal deadlines can jeopardize valuable intellectual property, and why protecting your brand today can prevent costly legal battles for decades to come. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/

  7. Jul 21

    Can Your Business Legally Use "World Cup"? The Trademark Rules Explained

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. As excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, entrepreneurs and business owners are preparing promotions, watch parties, merchandise, and marketing campaigns—but many don't realize they're stepping into a trademark minefield. In this episode we explain how FIFA protects its valuable intellectual property, what businesses can and cannot legally say in their advertising, the risks of ambush marketing, real trademark disputes involving the World Cup, and practical strategies for promoting your business without inviting cease-and-desist letters. Whether you own a restaurant, bar, retail shop, or startup, this episode will help you avoid costly IP mistakes while taking advantage of one of the world's biggest sporting events. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/

  8. Jul 16

    The $13 Million Patent Mistake Every Entrepreneur Needs to Avoid

    Intellectual Property News, patent law, trademark law, copyright law, AI law, intellectual property strategy, and innovation protection insights with Richard Gearhart. A six-page design patent. A $13 million judgment. A permanent ban from the U.S. market. In this episode we break down one of the most significant recent design patent cases and explains why every entrepreneur, startup founder, and product company should pay attention. Learn how a product's visual appearance can become a powerful competitive advantage, why willful patent infringement dramatically increases damages, and what this landmark electric motorcycle lawsuit teaches about protecting designs, intellectual property strategy, and avoiding costly legal mistakes. If you have an idea or an invention that you want to protect, Team at Gearhart Law helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into protected assets. You can visit www.learnmoreaboutpatents.com or www.learnmoreabouttrademarks.com or a free consultation and practical guides to get you started. Richard Gearhart, Esq. is a life sciences intellectual property attorney and Founding Partner of Gearhart Law, LLC, with over 30 years of experience helping pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostics, and health-tech companies protect and commercialize innovation. A trained chemist and former senior in-house IP leader, he advises founders, executives, and investors on patents, trademarks, licensing, and IP strategy aligned with fundraising, regulatory pathways, and long-term enterprise value. As an active angel investor, Richard also brings a unique insider perspective on valuation, risk, and growth—making him a trusted voice at the intersection of innovation, law, and business strategy. Read more at: https://gearhartlaw.com/

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Stay ahead of the legal curve with Intellectual Property News with Richard Gearhart, a fast-paced segment that breaks down the latest developments in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and emerging tech law. Designed for entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators, this segment translates complex legal updates into clear, actionable insights—helping you protect your ideas, avoid costly mistakes, and spot new opportunities in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

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