Two IPs In A Pod

Send us Fan MailThis episode has been pulled from the archive of the 2025 Pubcast which, thanks to the help of AI, has been salavaged into something listenable!Theme music is a vital part of every podcast you listen to every single week, so it has to do more than fill silence! Lee and Gwilym sit down with Gwilym's son, Billy Roberts - the person behind our intro, and ask him to show us how it’s actually made.We get into the real craft of DIY music production in Logic Pro and GarageBand: layering multiple guitar takes, stacking piano and string parts, using MIDI instruments that sound surprisingly “real,” and shaping harmony. The conversation returns to what we can’t ignore on an intellectual property podcast: copyright and licensing for commissioned music. If someone makes your podcast theme tune, who owns it, what rights are implied, and what happens when a friendly favor turns into something valuable? If you care about podcast branding, original intro music, music production workflow, and the IP basics that protect creators and hosts, you’ll get a lot out of this one.

Send us Fan MailLee Davies and Gwilym Roberts speak to Rob Stumbles and Pete Salder from Reddie & Grose about how Pixar evolved from a struggling computer graphics start-up into the studio behind Toy Story. They explore the patents, licensing deals, Steve Jobs' investment, and ground-breaking technology that kept the company alive long enough to change animation forever.

Send us Fan MailRetirement looks simple on paper until you realize you’re not just leaving a job, you’re leaving an identity. Lee and Gwilym sit down with Rob Williams, a former partner and co-head of IP at Bird and Bird who retired at 56 and retrained as a retirement coach, to talk about what actually makes the transition hard for high-performing professionals in intellectual property, law, and patent work. They discuss the non-financial side of retirement planning: the “role loss” that can hit when status and self-worth have been tied to your work for 30 years, the assumptions people make about the honeymoon phase, and why many smart, capable people still feel unsettled after the celebrations and travel wear off. Rob shares a practical framework for designing a fulfilling retirement built around purpose, achievement, community, and direction, plus why “retirement” doesn’t always mean stopping work.They also talk about the part people avoid: relationships. Partners, adult children, and grandkids may have their own expectations about your time, and mismatched assumptions can create tension unless you communicate early. Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of IP careers and real life, share this with someone who’s starting to think about their next chapter, and please leave a review so more people can find the show.

Send us Fan MailRecorded at INTA, this episode sees Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts sit down with veteran IP journalist James Nurton to explore the evolution of intellectual property reporting over the past three decades. From the transition from print publications to digital-first media, James shares insights into the challenges of breaking news in the IP sector, the growing importance of analysis and context, and the realities of maintaining exclusivity in an age of instant information sharing. The conversation also covers effective interviewing techniques, memorable industry scoops, handling confidential sources, and the enduring value of thoughtful journalism, offering a fascinating perspective on how IP news shapes understanding across the global intellectual property community.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we speak with Ken Seddon, CEO of LOT Network, about the increasing influence of non-practising entities (NPEs) and the growing role they play in patent litigation through the acquisition and assertion of patents. The discussion explores LOT Network’s “herd immunity” model, under which member companies automatically receive a licence if patents are transferred to an NPE, helping to mitigate patent risk across sectors including technology, automotive, banking, and semiconductors. The episode also considers why patents are increasingly viewed as “stronger” assets in today’s litigation environment, alongside wider trends shaping the global patent landscape. 

Send us Fan Mail“Courts competing” might sound odd, but it can lead to what clients actually crave: faster and more predictable decisions. Joining Lee and Gwilym for this episode, recorded at INTA 2026, in London, are Tammy Terry, a Texas-based patent litigator, and Daniel Chew, a UK and European patent attorney and Chair of our International Liaison Committee. They consider how different forums shape strategy, not just outcomes, and how cross-border collaboration is becoming more important for patent litigators.The discussion moves on to the Unified Patent Court and why its pace is drawing attention well beyond Europe. The group also wrestles with forum shopping: when it’s a legitimate search for efficiency and when it starts to feel like gaming the system.The thorny issue of substantive patent law harmonisation (SPLH) and the patent grace period debate comes up - and why trade negotiations keep these topics alive even if global harmonisation still feels out of reach. The episode closes with a focus on the human side of the profession: education, networking, and the messages the group would want policymakers and industry leaders to hear, including the idea that IP is not just a sector, it’s embedded in every sector.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave us a review. 

Send us Fan MailRecorded at INTA, this latest episode explores the challenges businesses face when protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights overseas, and the practical steps organisations can take to strengthen their international IP strategy.Kayleigh Nauman, Adin Samson, and Samuel Stone discuss the risks businesses can encounter when expanding internationally, from trademark disputes and enforcement costs to misconceptions around automatic IP protection across borders. The conversation also covers strategic trademark filing in the US, post-Brexit IP considerations in Europe, the role of the Unitary Patent and UPC, and why China requires a tailored enforcement approach.With practical guidance on building a strong international IP strategy, this episode offers valuable insights for businesses looking to support growth, investment, and global expansion.

Send us Fan MailThis episode features Deborah A. Hampton in conversation with Gwilym Roberts and Lee Davies, exploring the realities of modern trade mark practice, leadership, and career development within intellectual property.Deborah reflects on her journey from working as a receptionist in a paralegal department to becoming a global brand enforcement leader and the President of INTA. She discusses how trade mark administrators and IP paralegals play a far more strategic role than often recognised, contributing to brand protection, business decision-making, and stakeholder management at the highest levels.The conversation also examines practical challenges facing today’s IP professionals, including trade mark infringement, counterfeiting, and managing external counsel effectively. Deborah shares insights into translating complex legal advice into clear business options, building credibility with senior leadership, and why understanding the commercial side of a business is essential for successful trademark practice.Alongside discussions on leadership through INTA and the future impact of AI on the profession, the episode closes with a candid reflection on resilience, mentorship, identity, and navigating workplace challenges while continuing to grow professionally within the IP community.