Stroke Of Genius

Whether they realize it or not, the kids and teenagers of today live in an unprecedented age of IP. They’re surrounded by trademarked logos, copyrighted songs and characters, and patented products that they can’t live without. More young people are also creating content themselves thanks to the rise of social media sites like Instagram and TikTok. On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis heads back to school, for a lesson from IP expert, educator and content creator Tony Iliakostas, aka the IP professor. Together, they discuss the importance of IP to the next generation of inventors and content creators and explore how best to connect with that younger demographic using pop-culture references and social media engagement.A special thank you to the young inventors featured in this episode! You can learn more about Invention Convention, which helps these young inventors and entrepreneurs get their start, by following this link. You may also want to listen to our episod

When readers were introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926, you’d struggle to find a more pure, innocent literary character. But in the years since we first met the cuddly creature, something changed, and that change has allowed Pooh to be portrayed in a new film as… a bloodthirsty serial killer!? Yes, you read that correctly -- the beloved bear has swapped his love of honey for a love of blood. How could this happen?!On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis is joined by Christine Xiao, an Associate at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP, to discuss what happens when copyright protection ends for famous pop culture characters. Pooh, for example, entered the public domain in January of 2022, creating the opportunity for the character to be used in derivative works by other creators. Christine and Raha also tackle the important distinctions between copyrights and trademarks, and touch on which other famous characters could soon find themselves in the same situation as Winnie-the-Pooh. To le

Paul Jabara’s glittering show business career was cut short tragically after he lost his life at just 43 due to AIDS. Now, the disease that took his life is no longer a death sentence thanks to strides made in the pharmaceutical industry. The advancement of AIDS treatment, in addition to other medications, would not be possible without the vital protections of intellectual property rights. On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis is joined by Henry Hadad, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at global biopharmaceutical company, Bristol-Myers Squibb, who discusses the importance of upholding intellectual property rights in drug development and clarifies misconceptions around the price of drugs. Henry also describes the impact of losing his uncle Paul Jabara and how this influenced his decision to pursue a career in drug development. To learn more about the life and work of Paul Jabara, you can visit this website created by his family. Henry Hadad has written and spoken

When pursuing a career as a singer, songwriter, or musician, intellectual property probably isn’t the first thing most people think of. But as you’ll hear on this episode of Stroke of Genius, there’s a good reason one of the biggest bands on the planet has a surprisingly comprehensive IP protection strategy! Join host Raha Francis, as she sits down with Brazil-based IP lawyer, music critic, and singer-songwriter Ana Clara Ribeiro to discuss the “BTS effect.” The South Korean boy band has seen monumental, world-wide success, thanks in no small part to the way it aggressively protects and monetizes a wide range of IP, using a combination of copyright, trademarks, and even patents -- which aren’t a common option for musical artists. Whether you’re an aspiring musician yourself, or just a die-hard BTS fan, this episode is sure to ‘strike a chord.’To learn more about the different types of IP protection, and which ones best apply to your work or business, you find a series of useful resources on the

You might be aware that you lost out on a job opportunity or bank loan because of an algorithm or artificial intelligence. Despite the great promise of AI and machine learning, the technology has also proven to be problematic, particularly for people of color and members of other minority groups. But as you’ll hear on this episode of Stroke of Genius, the intellectual property system could be a huge boon for anyone working toward more ethical AI. To learn how, host Raha Francissits down for a special panel discussion with a pair of leading IP attorneys working in the AI space; Roberta Young from Shook, Hardy & Bacon, and Alex Bridge, from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Together, they discuss how IP law not only allows companies to refine and improve their products while protecting them from competitors, but how it also incentivizes additional investment in better AI going forward. To learn more about the Intellectual Property Owners Education foundation, visit their website. The

It’s one of the oldest forms of human expression: painting. And for as long as human beings have been creating, they’ve also looked on as other people created art and thought to themselves: “Hey, I can do that too!” So where do we draw the line -- or paint it -- between inspiration and appropriation? On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis is joined by a mixed-media artist from Montreal, Canada, who’s had the unfortunate experience of discovering her own work being sold online without her permission. Ishita Banerjee, aka SoulCurryArt, says she was never taught about intellectual property in art school, so she’s now taken it upon herself to educate both her fellow artists and consumers of fine art about the ins and outs of IP protection for creatives. As you’ll hear, the IP system can benefit artists in a number of ways -- and Ishita also has thoughts on the role of NFTs and the blockchain in providing additional protection for artists.  You can learn more about cop

Are you losing any sleep over the climate crisis? After another summer of heatwaves and wildfires around the world, the topic of sustainability is more top of mind than ever. Confronting this global crisis are countless “green” inventors, entrepreneurs, and corporations working on new ways to cut emissions and reduce our dependence on products derived from fossil fuels. And it’s right here, at the intersection of innovation and sustainability, where intellectual property plays a critical role.On this episode of Stroke of Genius, host Raha Francis sits down with the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation’s newly declared ‘Inventor of the Year’, Luke Haverhals, the CEO of Natural Fiber Welding. Luke and his team at NFW have developed a new way of making the textiles in everything from t-shirts and sneakers to car interiors, using only plant-based materials. Their process is “circular,” which means their products need never end up in a landfill! As you’ll hear, I.P. protection was

For entrepreneurs and inventors, it’s the holy grail of reality TV appearances: landing a spot on Shark Tank® . But whether you’re planning to make a pitch to a Shark or to any other potential investor -- you’re often asked if you have a patent for your product. And as you’ll hear on this season premiere of Stroke of Genius®, there are many benefits of protecting your IP with a patent! Join host Raha Francis as she sits down with Max Feber, former Shark Tank guest and inventor of the Bruw coffee system, and IP attorney Brent Seitz, to find out how IP protection is critical for any entrepreneur who wants to protect, valuate, or sell their products. You’ll also hear how Max used patents to fend off people who tried to lay claim to his idea, and gain valuable insights about the protection process from Brent, who’s helped countless other startups and SMEs secure their own IP.You can find a series of short videos about the importance of patents and other forms of IP protection on the IPOEF’s&nb

Intellectual property dates back millenia, to a time when chefs in the Greek city of Sybaris were granted monopolies to create certain baked goods in 500 B.C.E. Today, more than two-thousand years later, the debate around intellectual property protection rages on. Some claim the current system is flawed but the reality is intellectual property protections have played a pivotal role in advancing technology and driving innovation that is critical to our modern lives. In Season 5 of Stroke of Genius®, brought to you by Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF), we’ll explore some common myths and misconceptions surrounding intellectual property protection. We’ll also provide a greater understanding of what IP means for members of under-served communities. With help from entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, technologists, lawyers, and other industry leaders, Stroke of Genius will dive into the importance of IP protection and reveal the surprising ways in which IP continues to shape all of our

Many of the problems we face for the future will be solved using machine learning and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has the capability of personalizing our daily technological experience like filtering out spam in our email accounts or allowing our phones to recognize our faces and voices. It will help us to combat climate change, fight pandemics, and advance technology at a rapid pace. But despite all of its good, AI also has the capability to be incredibly biased. Senior technical staff member and Master Inventor at IBM, Tara Astigarraga talks with us about the challenges around AI and how inventors are looking to solve the problems of the future. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women have been inventing to solve problems that they face for years. But despite the fact that women make up roughly 50% of the country's population, only 12% of recognized innovators in the United States are women. There are several reasons for this, and now people are increasingly talking about how to support underrepresented communities, and encourage them to enter the innovation ecosystem. In the episode, you’ll meet a woman entrepreneur who is new to this innovation ecosystem and is working on problem solving for the moment we find ourselves in right now.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes to daily life over the past year has affected the world’s youngest citizens. As schools went virtual, sports and extracurriculars were canceled, and time with friends was off-limits, kids spent the past year trying to find ways to entertain themselves. In this episode, we’ll hear from two young innovators who were spurred by the pandemic stay-at-home orders to invent something new and grow their own business.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Too many times throughout history, the genius of Black innovators has been overlooked because of discrimination. In this episode, we will meet a journalist and a biologist who are helping to dismantle stereotypes about who can have a career in STEM. They are resurrecting the stories of women and people of color who made amazing inventions and contributions to science, with the hopes that these diverse examples of resilience and creativity will inspire students today to draw a different picture of who can be a scientist and inventor.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for a case in which no one dared utter the word at the heart of the dispute. Before that, Simon Tam registered his band name and made a memorial impact on trademark law. In this episode, we’ll explore disputes like these that explain whether or not trademarking immoral, scandalous, or disparaging material is permitted.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Given the advancement in innovation and vaccines since its original release date in June 2020, IPO Education Foundation is re-broadcasting last season's Patents in Pandemic episode focusing on COVID-19. Join experts from across industries as they discuss how intellectual property incentivizes innovation and how it is leveraged during a pandemic.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2021, “vaccine” is one of the most frequently used words throughout the country. But there’s a lot we can learn from past American vaccines too. In this episode, we’ll get into the stories of two very important vaccines, including the first one ever invented.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There were dozens of breathtaking protest art pieces that appeared during the George Floyd protests. But visual art, especially protest art, is precarious. What happens if a building owner wants to get rid of a piece of protest art that is on his property? What happens when intellectual property collides with physical property? Listen as we explore the questions around the rights of activist artists.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Some of America’s most beloved inventions were created by immigrants. But as a nation, our attitude towards immigrants has gone through many phases. Listen as we explore how the mass migration restrictions in the 1920s affected intellectual property, and how one immigrant’s garage startup turned success is saving lives.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Scientists predict that we’ll reach 9 billion people on the planet by 2050. The question for thirty years from now is…how will we feed everyone? Plant biologists are working hard to invent faster plants before we get there. Meanwhile, food deserts today have only been broadened by COVID-19. Listen how driverless delivery technology is bringing food into the communities that might not otherwise be able to get it.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stroke of GeniusⓇ Season 4 shares some of the most important stories in IP today, not just about the rules of patents, trademarks and copyrights, but about the role IP has played in shaping our world and how our world has shaped IP. This season, we chat with entrepreneurs and innovators who have used intellectual property protections to positively affect issues like COVID-19, food deserts and everything in between. Join us as we dig deeper into the journeys of the world’s most influential difference-makers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.