It’s nice being again after a summer time hiatus for this column. I hope everybody on this readership had a pleasing summer time and is as invigorated as I’m to finish this day off on a optimistic word — each personally and professionally. To get us began, I’m more than happy to deliver to this viewers a follow-on viewers with famous IP character — and one among my favourite individuals on this trade — Eli Mazour. Lengthy-time readers might recall my 2018 interview with Eli, the place we mentioned the beginning of his Clause 8 podcast collection, which he launched alongside his patent prosecution and counseling apply at a boutique IP agency. Let’s get reintroduced to Eli and go to with him in regards to the evolution of each his apply and the Clause 8 podcast collection.
As you may suspect from his podcasting exploits, Eli loves speaking to individuals about patents. That love of speaking about patents — alongside along with his perception within the significance of America’s patent system — led him to begin the Clause 8 podcast. The Clause 8 podcast options interviews with probably the most attention-grabbing members of the IP group, together with former judges, teachers, and practitioners. As you will note beneath, Clause 8 has expanded into Eli’s new providing, the Voice of IP e-newsletter and podcast collection.
In his apply, Eli depends on his intricate information of how the patent system operates to assist purchasers construct worthwhile patent portfolios that advance their enterprise objectives as a patent legal professional and of counsel at Foley & Lardner. Purchasers search Eli out significantly for his expertise in acquiring license-ready, litigation-grade customary important patents (SEPs), making ready corresponding declare charts, and avoiding and overcoming patent eligibility points for software program and fintech-related innovations. He’s additionally skilled in devising and implementing greatest practices for rising world patent portfolios, and growing company insurance policies and positions associated to IP. His aim is to be the primary name for purchasers going through new patent-related points. Eli additionally helps purchasers consider current patent portfolios and has expertise with licensing negotiations, clearances, opinions, and enforcement. Lastly, Eli is regularly sought out for his insights on easy methods to navigate and affect patent coverage, together with legislative developments and modifications on the USPTO.
I very a lot welcome the chance to share Eli’s insights as soon as once more with this viewers. As typical, I’ve added some transient commentary to Eli’s reply to my first query beneath, however have in any other case offered his reply as he supplied it.
Gaston Kroub: How has the Clause 8 interview collection advanced into your new effort Voice of IP?
Eli Mazour: I began Clause 8 primarily to share entertaining conversations with probably the most attention-grabbing individuals within the IP subject (such as you!). Additionally, I felt that an excessive amount of of the general public dialog about patents was pushed by the “patent troll” narrative. I hoped to play a small half in counteracting that. I picked the title Clause 8 particularly as a reminder that IP rights had been rooted within the Structure as a result of the founders appreciated their significance.
Due to the podcast, I obtained to know individuals from throughout the patent spectrum. This led me, considerably to my shock, to develop into far more empathetic to all their views, together with these of inventors who assume the patent system is totally damaged, company IP leaders apprehensive about disincentivizing innovation in America, massive tech lobbyists dismayed by ever-evolving patent monetization methods, and coverage makers influenced very otherwise by these divergent views.
So, my focus shifted to utilizing Clause 8 to supply a platform for all these voices so that everybody within the IP subject might acquire religion appreciation of these completely different viewpoints. I additionally love telling tales of resilience and innovation associated to the sector.
Over time, I used to be heartened to be taught what number of listeners — particularly in-house counsel centered on devising long-term patent methods and impacting IP coverage — depend on Clause 8 for sensible recommendation and insights in regards to the forces shaping patent coverage developments.
These visitors and listeners typically shared information, views, and questions with me that I didn’t see lined elsewhere. Often, that might spur me to do a podcast episode primarily based on a associated subject. Extra typically, these matters didn’t actually match into, warrant, or had been too fleeting for a podcast episode. Personally, I used to be additionally bored by IP information protection that consisted of each day updates about lateral strikes and painfully incremental developments in ongoing litigation issues. I heard related complaints from others within the subject in regards to the barrage of irrelevant information.
That led me to the thought of beginning the Voice of IP e-newsletter to share the attention-grabbing IP-related data I got here throughout and keep in contact with listeners between seasons of Clause 8. My aim is to attempt to zoom out and concentrate on IP information that issues, that gives sensible insights in regards to the present and future state of IP for patent practitioners, innovators, and coverage makers.
GK: Anybody who has practiced IP regulation is aware of that it’s a subject that’s continually progressing. To some extent, the standard authorized information media and IP-specific efforts attempt their greatest to supply complete views into necessary developments. On the similar time, there may be all the time room for clever protection of the house, making Eli’s growth of the Clause 8 podcast expertise into the Voice of IP e-newsletter a welcome one. We are able to count on that Eli’s realized perspective, coupled along with his deft determinations of what’s attention-grabbing or warrants additional dialogue within the IP house, will make Voice of IP a must-read for practitioners throughout the complete spectrum of patent apply.
We are going to proceed with Eli’s solutions to questions 2 and three subsequent week. Within the meantime, please take the chance to enroll in Eli’s Voice of IP e-newsletter and podcasts.
Please be at liberty to ship feedback or inquiries to me at [email protected] or through Twitter: @gkroub. Any subject solutions or ideas are most welcome.
Gaston Kroub lives in Brooklyn and is a founding associate of Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC, an mental property litigation boutique, and Markman Advisors LLC, a number one consultancy on patent points for the funding group. Gaston’s apply focuses on mental property litigation and associated counseling, with a powerful concentrate on patent issues. You’ll be able to attain him at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter: @gkroub.
