IP Goes Pop
Episodes
College Meets IP: The Intellectual Property of Higher Education
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
College may be one of pop culture's favorite settings, but behind the scenes, universities are serious intellectual property owners. Michael Snyder a...
If You're Not Firsts, You're Lasts: Intellectual Property Lasts
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In pop culture, "last" often just means "for now." In intellectual property law, it means something much more concrete. In this episode of IP Goes Pop...
Intellectual Property Firsts: We're #1
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"If you're not first, you're last!" This week on IP Goes Pop!®, co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue chase down "IP firsts" and explain why thes...
Non-Traditional Trademarks: How Color, Sound, and Scent become Protectable
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What color says luxury before you open the box? What sound makes you grab the popcorn before a movie starts? In this episode of IP Goes Pop!®, hosts ...
Wu-Tang Clan's One-Of-A-Kind Album Could Rewrite Music Law: Shaolin Secrets
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Enter the 36 Chambers of intellectual property as hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue spin the story of Wu-Tang Clan's mysterious, one-of-a-kind al...
A Spider-Man Patent Saga: From Comics to Court
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Swing into the world of intellectual property and untangle the legal threads behind legendary wall-crawling comic book character, Spider-Man. From com...
The (Copy) Right Tool for the Job: The Copyright Tool Kit
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Filing for a copyright application doesn't have to be an overly complex chore. You just need the right tools for the job. Hosts Michael Snyder and Jos...
IP State of the Union Part 2: Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this second installment of "IP State of the Union: Billion-Dollar Character Acquisitions," IP Goes Pop!® co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue...
IP State of the Union: Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions (Part 1)
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How have blockbuster IP deals reshaped modern filmmaking? Dive into Hollywood's most strategic moves—from Disney's Marvel takeover catalyzed by the ...
Recognizing and Avoiding Trademark Scams and Hoaxes with Jason Lott of the USPTO
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Trademark scams are on the rise, threatening businesses with costly setbacks and legal risks. Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined Jason...
Halloween Spooktacular 3: Losing Your Monster
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how your favorite Halloween monsters became pop culture icons? In this Spooktacular episode of IP Goes Pop!®, hosts Michael Sn...
Artificial Intelligence: A Deeper Dive into Pop Culture Part 2
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How are deepfakes—those eerily convincing, digitally altered images and videos—reshaping our world? Intellectual property attorneys Michael Snyder...
Artificial Intelligence: Is Imitation Still Flattery? Part 1
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue kick off a two-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on intellectual property (IP) rights ...
It's Not Bragging If It's True: The IP of TV Series "Suits"
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Put on your best suit and step into the world of TV legal dramas with podcast co-hosts, IP attorneys, and shareholders Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushu...
USPTO - History Matters
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into the rich history of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with this episode of IP Goes Pop!®, guided by USPTO historian Reb...
Technohumanism
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Navigate the interface of IP and transformative technologies that can augment human capabilities, both in science fiction and emerging reality with Co...
Lessons from Movies About Innovators
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready for a cinematic exploration of innovation and intellectual property as depicted in popular movies about inventors and creators. In this epis...
I'm a Barbie Girl in an IP World
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of IP Goes Pop!®, takes you on a journey through the iconic world of the Barbie universe and brand, exploring its deep-rooted connection...
McGruff the Crime Dog® and the USPTO Help IP Goes Pop!® Take a Bite Out of Counterfeits
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined by: Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent a...
You Can Patent That?
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue on a new episode of "IP Goes Pop!" that will leave you wondering "You can patent that?!". This episode ...
Streamlining Copyright Disputes The Copyright Claims Board (CCB)
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined by special guests from the U.S. Copyright Office, Brittany Lamb, Attorney-Advisor in the Office of the Gen...
I, Chatbot: When Artificial Intelligence Talks Back
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue dive into the first part of a series on the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ...
You Can't Do That - What IP Cannot Protect
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who holds the patent on gravity? Who collects the royalties for the speed of light? In this episode of IP Goes Pop!, Volpe Koenig Shareholders and pod...
IP Goes Pop!® Halloween Spooktacular 2: The Return
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
IP Goes Pop! is back with its second annual Spooktacular! In this episode, things get much spookier as we pit the top four Halloween Monsters against ...
Game Changing Inventions, Part 1
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, IP Goes Pop! co-hosts and Volpe Koenig shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue take you through their first round of pop cultu...
Intellectual Property and a "Wacky" Professor - Brands and Inventions in the Simpson's Springfield Universe, Part II
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue are joined by fellow intellectual property attorney and Volpe Koenig Shareholder, Randy Huis, to once again ...
Inventing For Kids Of All Ages With The U.S. Patent Office
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Virtually visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an inside look at the many available resources, World Intellectual Property ...
Character Crossovers - Mixing Up The IP Universe
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode covers the basics of what is involved in licensing intellectual property rights and character rights from one medium, studio, or universe...
The IP of Baseball Cards and NFTS
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
IP Goes POP! takes you out to the ball game (and the blockchain) for this episode of the podcast that looks at the shift from "collectible trading car...
The Spellbinding IP of the Harry Potter Universe
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What can the world of wizards, witches, and magic teach us about real-world intellectual property? The global franchise that is the Harry Potter unive...
The Birth of a Brand: IP Goes Pop Has a Side Order of French Fries
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 impo...
The Shortest Yard - IP in the End Zone
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Explore football movies, toys, patents, and trademarks that have shaped the sport in modern times. From the technology built into the players' helmets...
Escape of the Famous Cartoon Characters: IP and the Public Domain
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Co-hosts and Volpe Koenig Shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue, are back for a journey into the public domain. What do Bambi, Mickey Mouse, ...
Holiday Snow-Tacular™: IP of the Season
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you have to ask the critical questions, like: Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? How can you turn your holiday invention into a patent-protected...
If the Shoe Fits: IP and the World of Sneakers
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From the iconic Air Jordans to the Reebok Pumps to the undeniable influence of the Chuck Taylor All-Stars, sneakers have become pop-culture currency. ...
Unfriending Your Brand
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why would a company, from the largest to the smallest, spend years building a reputation using its trademarked name and logo, and then suddenly decide...
Halloween Spooktacular: A Nightmare On Independence Ave.
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this spooktacular episode of IP Goes Pop! treat yourself to the intellectual property (IP) of Halloween. From the disputes surrounding the iconic H...
Come Fly with Us! IP Takes to the Skies
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week IP Goes Pop! takes to the skies to explore intellectual property in the world of aviation. From the first flight in Kitty Hawk, NC, to the a...
Who's Laughing Now?
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do comedians protect their jokes or their delivery style? This week IP Goes Pop! goes to the comedy club to find the line between creative freedom...
Lights, Camera, Action Figures!
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When popular television, movie, or comic book characters are recast into three-dimensional, bendable, transformable toys, what intellectual property c...
Carrying a Torch for IP at the Olympics
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week IP Goes Pop! carries a torch for IP at the Olympics. Join co-hosts and Volpe Koenig shareholders, Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue for a rel...
Down in the (Silicon) Valley
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on IP Goes Pop! fellow Volpe Koenig Shareholder Ryan O'Donnell joins co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue to explore the technical worl...
Jurassic Patents
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on IP Goes Pop! Volpe Koenig attorney and Ph.D. Douglas Bucklin joins co-hosts and shareholders Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue to travel b...
The ABCs of NFTs
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is an NFT (Non-Fungible Token)? How are they created? Why would you collect digital files that anyone can obtain or view for free? This week on I...
Edison v. Tesla - A Shocking History
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fellow Volpe Koenig Shareholder Wesley McMichael joins Michael Snyder to talk about inventors Thomas Edison's and Nikola Tesla's "battle of currents"....
Taking Back The Music
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fellow Volpe Koenig Shareholder Robert Leonard joins host Michael Snyder to talk about artist's rights, and attempts by musicians to regain rights t...
Whose Movie is it Anyway?
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when someone believes a movie is based on their original idea? What sets one Zombie film apart from another? In this episode of IP Goes P...
When Video Games Get Real - From Tanks to Tattoos
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Volpe Koenig Shareholder Michael Snyder explores what happens when real-world intellectual property makes its way into the virtual (v...
It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets a Patent
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week IP Goes Pop!® makes patents fun (or at least tries)! Volpe Koenig Shareholder and IP Goes Pop!® guest Randy Huis is back to explore the wo...
Patent Stars - Celebrities Get Patents Too!
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week IP Goes Pop! goes on a star-studded journey of celebrity inventors and patent holders. This episode is dedicated to the music and memory o...
Hollywood and Whine - IP and the Right of Publicity
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on IP Goes Pop!, Founding Shareholder of Volpe Koenig and intellectual property attorney Tony Volpe joins Michael Snyder to talk about the R...
Proximity Wars - Character Battles in the World of Comic Books
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
BAM! POW! This week on IP Goes Pop! Volpe Koenig intellectual property attorney Joseph Gushue joins fellow intellectual property attorney and host Mic...
A (Ph)anatical Guide to Characters and Costumes
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week IP Goes Pop! goes to the ballgame, as Host and Volpe Koenig Shareholder Michael Snyder and breaks down a pending lawsuit, THE PHILLIES v. ...
The Trademark "Gold Rush" to Capitalize on Trending Words or Phrases - Trademarks and Catchphrases in Popular Culture
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on IP Goes Pop! Fellow Volpe Koenig Shareholder, Michael Berkowitz, joins Michael Snyder to talk about how people try to trademark phrases f...
Brands and Inventions in the Springfield Universe - Intellectual Property in the Cartoon World of "The Simpsons"
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on IP Goes Pop! Volpe Koenig Shareholder, Randy Huis, joins Michael Snyder to talk about inventions and technology in the cartoon world of "...
Open the Pod Bay Doors Hal - Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of IP Goes Pop!, Jay Halt, Shareholder at Volpe Koenig, and Ankit Aggarwal, Associate at Volpe Koenig, join Shareholder Michael Snyder...
Intellectual Property Urban Legends - Taking on Myths About IP in Popular Culture
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on IP Goes Pop!, Joseph Gushue, Shareholder with Volpe Koenig, joins fellow Shareholder Michael Snyder to talk about IP "urban legends." Wha...
It's an IP Jungle Out There - How Trademarks Brought Down the Self-Proclaimed King of Tigers
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week IP Goes Pop! watches Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, the extremely popular Netflix documentary series about self-titled Joe Exotic...
Trailer
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do movies, television and music really know what a patent, trademark or copyright is? Coming soon, from Volpe & Koenig Intellectual Property Law in Ph...