Recent Episodes

June 10, 2022 IP Goes Pop! Season 3, Episode 6: Character Crossovers-Mixing Up The IP Universe

Volpe Koenig intellectual property attorneys and IP Goes Pop! co-hosts, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue team up once again, traveling to where worlds collide, taking us into the complex legal negotiations that bring together beloved pop-culture characters from different franchises or “universes”. Such crossovers can mix movie or TV characters or stories to the delight of fans. But can super heroes like Batman and Spider-Man crossover to team up and fight crime together? And who will they fight?

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April 29, 2022 IP Goes Pop! Season 3, Episode 5: IP Goes Pop! Plays Ball – The IP of Baseball Cards and NFTs

IP Goes POP! takes you out to the ball game (and the blockchain) for this episode of the podcast, which looks at the shift from “collectible trading cards” to “collectable NFTs”. Podcast co-hosts, Volpe Koenig Shareholders, and intellectual property lawyers, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue round the bases and pull out their most memorable sports cards as they slide home to talk about the intellectual property (IP) of baseball cards, collecting, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

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April 9, 2022 IP Goes Pop!: Abracadabra! – The Spellbinding IP of the Harry Potter Universe

“We solemnly swear we are up to….intellectual property!” From the words that laid out a fictional universe on the page, to a real-world merchandising, film and interactive theme park experience, the Harry Potter universe has become a pop culture staple of the last two decades. In this episode of the IP Goes Pop!® podcast, hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, put on their ‘sorting hats’ and pull back the curtain to reveal the intellectual property (IP) of the ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’.

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March 18, 2022 The Birth of a Brand: IP Goes Pop! Has a Side Order of French Fries

This episode of IP Goes POP! traces the development of a brand from its inception to a seminal trademark. No matter the size of a business, it is important to grow your brand and establish goodwill in your name – and for that you need a strong trademark. In this podcast episode, IP Goes Pop! co-hosts, Volpe Koenig Shareholders, and intellectual property lawyers, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, welcome Philadelphia’s own Pete Ciarrocchi, founder of Chickie’s & Pete’s Sports Bar and Crab House.

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February 17, 2022 IP Goes Pop! Season 3, Episode 2: The Shortest Yard – IP in the End Zone

American football is a sport that permeates the popular culture, but what intellectual property is involved between the end-zones? In this episode of the IP Goes Pop! podcast we explore the movies, toys, patents, and trademarks that have shaped the sport in modern times. From the technology built into the players’ helmets, to the glowing first-down line you see on television, intellectual property has a huge impact on the way we interface with football.

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February 7, 2022 IP Goes Pop! Season 3, Episode #1: Escape of the Famous Cartoon Characters – IP and the Public Domain

What do Bambi, Mickey Mouse, and Winnie the Pooh all have in common? Besides remaining lovable pop-culture icons, these cartoon characters are all part of copyrighted works entering the public domain. In our first episode of season three, IP Goes Pop! co-hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, are back for a journey into the public domain. With the help of their fellow Shareholder John O’Malley, they walk through the history of copyright term (how long copyrights last), how and when copyrighted works enter the public domain, and the way this area of law continues to evolve as famous and high-value works enter the public domain.

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About This Podcast

Patents, trademarks, and copyrights are often referenced in popular movies, television and songs. IP Goes Pop explores the interface between intellectual property and popular culture. Who owns the rights to creative expression? How long does a patent last? Do the media get it right when reporting on intellectual property issues? What makes a trade secret truly secret? Hosted by Volpe Koenig intellectual property attorneys Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, with guest colleagues, inventors, writers, and creators, this lively podcast discusses intellectual property with a pop culture twist.

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