All episodes

This episode explains what technical innovations in games can be patented and highlights the differences in patent law across various regions like Europe and the USA. It also addresses the strategic reasons why companies might seek patents, despite historical industry reluctance, and touches upon challenges related to user-generated content and moral rights. Ultimately, the episode suggests that understanding and strategically managing IP, including patents, is becoming crucial for those involved in game development.

Klinski suggests investing in patents as a lower-risk, higher-efficiency approach to capital deployment in the technology sector. He highlights how patents can function like financial options, offering exposure to upside while limiting downside, and notes that China's investment landscape is already embracing this strategy. This episode also discusses how engineers often miss patentable innovations, particularly in digital domains, and stresses the importance of timing patent investments within the technology lifecycle to capture maximum value. Ultimately, Klinski presents patents as a powerful tool for innovation finance, capable of outperforming traditional equity investments when approached strategically.

While technical legal knowledge remains fundamental, the piece argues that abilities like communication, empathy, and clear explanation are becoming increasingly vital for success, framing IP as a fundamentally people-centric business. Boicova-Wynants suggests that developing these skills early, understanding client needs beyond the technical, and strategically leveraging digital communication are key to building trust and demonstrating value in a competitive landscape. The discussion also touches on the psychology of IP decision-making and the role of mentorship in honing these essential capabilities.

In this second episode of the Personal Growth series, we explore why business development has become a core skill for IP professionals—and what it really means in practice. Today, success in IP requires more than legal or technical expertise. Professionals must know how to position themselves, attract the right clients, and offer services that align with strategic business goals.
This episode explains how relationship-building, clear market positioning, and client-centered innovation are shaping the new IP career path. It offers insights into how business development turns expertise into trust, visibility, and long-term opportunity—while helping you shape your independent profile or grow...

This episode highlights how the industry background significantly enhances the ability to understand clients' needs and craft effective IP strategies for patent attorney Bernd Boesherz. The episode emphasises the importance of bridging the communication gap between attorneys and businesses, moving beyond technical specifics to grasp broader strategic goals. Ultimately, it argues that contemporary patent attorneys must function as strategic partners, viewing patents as valuable business assets and embracing the ongoing digital transformation in the IP field.

The episode explains the difference between standards and frameworks, highlighting six widely adopted initiatives: CDP, SASB, TCFD, GRI, CDSB, and IIRC. It outlines difficulties such as confusion, inconsistency, implementation obstacles, and varying interpretations of materiality. It concludes by calling for greater clarity, collaboration, and coherence to improve ESG reporting and comparability.

Verganti highlights that radical innovation, or "epiphanies," come from challenging assumptions and reframing purpose, not just solving problems. He suggests that the rise of AI presents an opportunity to create new forms of expression, rather than replacing human creators. The text posits that true design is about creating meaning and advocates for inside-out innovation, driven by the innovator's vision, over traditional user-centric methods. Ultimately, Verganti stresses the need for creators, critics, and industries to reframe their thinking to navigate technological disruption and shape a meaningful future.

This episode explains what constitutes a trade secret, highlighting its differences from other IP like patents, and notes recent legal developments globally. The text further discusses the numerous management challenges associated with trade secrets, including risks from employees and collaborators, and proposes best practices such as documentation, layered protection strategies, and using metadata. Finally, it characterises trade secret management as a process that companies mature through, stressing the necessity for active management to fully leverage these assets.

This marketing approach, which evolved from the 1980s, uses push and pull techniques to target both B2B and B2C markets. While it offers benefits like price premiums and market power, it also poses risks such as dependency on OEM quality. This episode distinguish ingredient branding from co-branding and highlight the importance of material relevance, consumer visibility, and strategic labelling for success. It also dives into the concept of inverse ingredient branding where the OEM promotes the component.

Drawing upon a 2015 academic study on brand identity and a 2024 legal analysis of trademark risk using examples like Nescafé and Tate & Lyle's Golden Syrup, they explain how elements such as packaging, messaging, and logos contribute to consumer perception. This episode stress the importance of trademark clearance and retaining distinctive brand components to avoid legal issues and loss of equity. A five-step roadmap is offered, integrating identity audits, legal screening, design testing, phased rollout, and IP protection, demonstrating that successful rebranding requires coordination between marketing, design, legal, and consumer insights.