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Podcast · Episode 8 of 25

Winning the Game of IP Protection with USAOPOLY's Paul May

Paul May, VP of Creative & Production at USAOPOLY, discusses safeguarding their board games via trademarks and logos, and the role of software, customers, and factory tours in exposing counterfeits.

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Episode 8 Future of IP Protection

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In this episode, Branddy speaks to Paul May, Vice President, Creative & Production at USAOPOLY. During the episode, they talk about how "The Op" goes about protecting their popular board games through registered trademarks and logos and the ways in which software, customers, and factory tours have surfaced counterfeits. They also discuss what makes a successful IP protection strategy, the evolving role technology will play in IP protection over the next five years, how organizations like the IACC and getting to know your customs officers can help you, and why it's key to get everyone involved in protecting the brand.

Topics discussed

  • How Paul finds counterfeits of USAOPOLY games, from customers raising concerns over poorly made pieces, to touring factories and finding them producing unauthorized pieces.
  • The strategies USAOPOLY uses to protect their IP, especially when a game itself can't necessarily be patented.
  • How emerging tech like 3D printing will only make it easier for bad actors to produce counterfeit products.
  • The collaborative nature of IP protection, from getting people in your organization involved to networking with vendors and competitors to uncover counterfeits.
  • Lessons learned in protecting IP and finding counterfeits, and why often it starts with realizing you have a counterfeit problem in the first place.
  • How evolving technology will continue to make scouring the internet and finding counterfeits much easier for brands.
  • Three pieces of advice for brands around better IP protection including registering trademarks, investing in people, and joining organizations.

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy

Resources mentioned

For the latest episodes, search for “Future of IP Protection” on Spotify, Apple, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

More episodes

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All 25 episodes
  1. 25Vivek Jayaram on Educating the Next Generation of IP Lawyers
  2. 24Maura Regan of Licensing International on New Approaches to IP Management
  3. 23Eproint’s Gabriela Bodden Explores IP Challenges in the Caribbean and Latin America
  4. 22WIPO’s Todd Reves on the Latest Developments at the World Intellectual Property Office
  5. 21Maral Behnam-Garcia on the Three Pillars for Brand Success
  6. 20INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo on Transforming IP into a Revenue Center
  7. 19AAFA’s Steve Lamar on Protecting Fashion IP in an Evolving Digital World
  8. 18NRF's Stephanie Martz’s Expert Advice on Harnessing Innovation in Retail
  9. 17Purple’s James Larson on Brand Protection in the Age of AI
  10. 16Nestlé's Myrtha Hurtado Rivas on How IP Protection Strategies Should Respond to Evolving Technology
  11. 15StockX's Paul Foley on How to Build a Brand Protection Authentication Strategy
  12. 14ZipString's Austin Hillam on How to Protect Your Inventions and Keep Innovation Going
  13. 13Kawaii Lighting's Lan Bui on Why Counterfeits Will Never Stand Up Against High-Quality Products
  14. 12Taking Swift Action to Protect Your IP with SwiftPaws' Meghan Wolfgram
  15. 11Warner Music Group's Matthew Walters-Bowens on How Musicians Can Keep Their Creative Work Protected
  16. 10Tapping into IP Protection Resources with Draft Top's Armand Ferranti
  17. 09Navigating the Processes of Knockoff Takedowns with NightCap's Michael Benarde
  18. 08Winning the Game of IP Protection with USAOPOLY's Paul May
  19. 07The Role of IP Professionals in Business Strategy with BEDGEAR's Joseph Codispoti
  20. 06Buzzfeed's Assistant GC on the Growing Landscape of IP Protection and Online Content Creation
  21. 05Keeping Your Brand Protected by Keeping Ahead of Technology
  22. 04Protecting IP - and People's Dreams - Through Collaboration and Anti-Counterfeiting
  23. 03An In-House Counsel's Guide to IP Protection and Licensing at a Large Media Company
  24. 02How Brands Can Achieve Consistent and Scalable Success in Protecting Their IP
  25. 01Beyond IP Enforcement: Protecting Your Brand's Reputation with Data, AI, and Stakeholder Communication

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