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 th ..read more

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 copyrigh ..read more

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 ..read more

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 prot ..read more

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; Robert ..read more

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 taugh ..read more

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 Intellectua ..read more

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 ..read more

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 fo ..read more

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 ..read more