Two IPs In A Pod (CIPA)

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Two IPs is back! We're kicking off Season 5 with Sean Bicknell and David Gillies from Friend Partnership talking about the Government's Patent Box tax relief scheme. How does the Patent Box work and how can it benefit innovative businesses? Sean and David talk to Lee and Gwilym all about the scheme, how businesses can apply and the benefits they can gain from it.

More information on the Patent Box here.

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CIPA strives to continuously improve diversity and inclusion within the IP professions.  The institute published it's commitment here, however, this is only the beginning and there is always more work to be done. This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by chair of the council D&I committee Greg Iceton and chair of the staff D&I committee Kereiss Isles to talk about the work of their committees, why they were established and their plans for 2022.

For more information on CIPA and D&I please take a look at the CIPA website here, or you can email the staff D&I committee: Diversity@cipa.org.uk

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Who are Patent Seekers? Co-founder Tim Parry joins Two IPs in a Pod to talk about the services the company can provide to IP firms and inventors, the benefits of performing a patent search  and how the business has grown.

You can find more information about Patent Seekers here. 

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The start of the UPC is almost upon us... or is it? CIPA's Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court experts Caelia Bryn-Jacobsen and Leythem Wall join Lee and Gwilym to talk all about the upcoming changes, what it means for UK attorneys and how they can continue to be involved with filing in Europe.

Click here to read CIPA's latest article on UPC representation for UK qualified attorneys. 

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What are the exciting and pressing issues in the world of Life Sciences and IP? Dev Crease and chair of CIPA's Life Sciences Committee Simon Wright  join this weeks episode to talk all about the latest Life Sciences updates including CIPA's lobbying work, the vaccine patent waiver and the Nagoya protocol. 

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The world of interactive entertainment has changed drastically over the years, from table top Pacman and arcade games to online and interactive games with bigger budgets than a Hollywood blockbuster! With these developments and innovations the industry is not immune to Intellectual Property challenges. Dr Gaetano Dimita, senior lecturer in International Intellectual Property Law at Queen Mary University, joins Lee and Gwilym to talk all about IP in the gaming industry, the metaverse and new gaming innovations.   

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How does IP Litigation work? This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by barrister and partner at Gunner Cooke Akash Sachdeva. Akash talks to Lee and Gwilym about the ins and outs of IP Litigation, his early career, diversity in the law profession and the stand out cases he has worked on. 

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The COVID-19 pandemic presented the world with a unique set of challenges. Lee and Gwilym are joined by co-authors of  Unprecedented The Rapid Innovation Response to COVID-19 and the Role of Intellectual Property Jennifer Brant and Mark Schultz to discuss their report. They talk about how the IP sector responded to the pandemic, the proposed patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and the fundamental role IP played in the rapid  development and distribution of vaccines.

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What are the biggest challenges facing British brands? John Noble from the British Brands Group joins Lee and Gwilym to talk all about the work of British Brands Group, how he came to work there (after spending a year riding a Harley Davidson around the USA), the issues of parasitic packaging and why IP is so important to brands.

To find out more about British Brands Group take a look at their website.

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LawCare exists to support and promote mental wellbeing across the legal community in the UK. Chief Executive Elizabeth Rimmer joins Lee and Gwilym to talk all about the support LawCare offers, the mental challenges in the legal profession, why looking after mental health is better for business and plans for their 25th anniversary.

For more information on LawCare and to access their services you can visit their website here.

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Its session one of the Two IPs in a Pod Pubcast! Coming to you from Ye Old Mitre in London, Lee and Gwilym are joined by Queen Mary lecturers, Duncan Matthews and Noam Shemtov. In a jam packed episode, Noam and Duncan talk about AI and IP, how the academic side of IP effects policy, the TRIPPS waiver and more!

For more information on Noam and Duncan, take a look at their QMUL profiles.

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It's session two of the Two IPs in a Pod Pubcast! Coming to you from Ye Old Mitre in London, Lee and Gwilym are joined by patent attorney Iain Russell and music copyright specialist Nick Kounoupias. Together they discuss musical inventions, high-profile music copyright claims and how IP has changed the music industry.

For more information on Iain and Nick, take a look at their websites linked.

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It's the third and final session of the Pubcast! We're chatting to the folks at the top of the patent profession and those just entering it, in the final episode from our epic five-hour recording session in The Old Mitre, Hatton Garden, Holborn. Lee and Gwilym are joined by CIPA President Alasdair Poore, Vice-President Daniel Chew, Immediate Past President Alicia Instone and Lindsay Pike, Elliot Krishek and Ellie Lee Chiarella from the CIPA Informals - our student body.  CIPA members interested in joining a committee should contact Deputy Chief Executive Neil Lampert at neil@cipa.org.uk.

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What happened to the rabbit that ate too many different toasties? What has intellectual property got to do with the protection of our immune systems? These questions and more are answered by Lee, Gwilym, and their guest, Doug Brown, Chief Executive of the British Society of Immunologists. Apologies for the occasional drops outs in sound (caused by a poor internet connection). 

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The Intellectual Property Awareness Network is committed to championing the importance and understanding of intellectual property. Current Chair John Ogier, Director and Convenor of the Education Group, Ruth Soetendorp and former CIPA president Stephen Jones join Lee and Gwilym to talk about the work of IPAN, its 30th anniversary and the importance of businesses and governments being aware of the value of IP. 

For more information on IPAN take a look at their website. 

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Two IPs in Pod is back for Season 6! Joining Lee and Gwilym is our biggest cohort yet, John Coldham, William Burrell, Emily Weal and Matthew Ridley join the podcast to talk all about Designs. On the first Two IPs episode about Designs they talk about what Designs are, how, why and when you should protect your designs, Brexit impacts and... wheelie Gherkin suitcases.

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A new year at CIPA means a new presidential team! In this podcast Lee and Gwilym introduce our Officers for 2023. Vice-President, Matt Dixon, and President, Daniel Chew. Daniel and Matt talk to Lee and Gwilym about Daniel's plans for his term and CIPA's goals for the future. 

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What are Non-Fungible Tokens and what relationship do they have with IP? NFT and copyright specialist Nils Rauer, of Pinsent Masons, tells Lee and Gwilym that they confer authenticity in the digital world. But, much like forgers of fine art, there are those seeking to misrepresent NFT ownership. Dive into the metaverse with the Two IPs...and find out why Lee thinks Lionel Messi smells a bit of vinegar.

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For the profession EDI has been taking centre stage for a while now and we’ve seen some wonderful initiatives both from the Institutes, from IP Inclusive and from our many other friends and allies. Even so, sometimes, it can be difficult to identify what difference you, as an individual can make. Lee and Gwilym are joined by three charities In2Science, The Access Project, Generating Genuis and also Vanessa Stainthorpe from HGF and Laura Ramsay from Dehns who have been working with these charities. Tune in to find out about volunteering and  building opportunities for those in the EDI space and how firms can get involved!

You can access the webinar recording on the CIPA website.

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Pierre Paslier stumbled upon an alternative to single-use plastic while experimenting with seaweed in his kitchen. After raising investment from crowdfunding, his start-up company, Notpla, has grown into a game-changer for sustainable food packaging. Three months ago it won a £1m Earthshot Prize - after being nominated by CIPA. Pierre tells Lee and Gwilym his inspirational story.

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Are jokes and game show formats covered by intellectual property law? Stand-up comedian Ollie Horn joins Lee and Gwilym to talk about the intersection between IP and comedy. Ollie, who studied law at Oxford University before qualifying with a Masters in Intellectual Property Law, explores various areas of comedy...and puts up with our hosts' appalling jokes!

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How can we use innovation to improve women's health, and can these inventions be protected by IP? Lee and Gwilym are joined by Kirsteen Beverloo, Cheif IP council at Elvie and Emily Collins, Partner at Kilburn & Strode to talk all about Femtech, female innovators, the gender gap within inventing and gender diversity in patenting. 

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The Pubcast is back! Coming to you from The Lamb London, on this first installment Lee and Gwilym are joined by Professor of Law at the University of Utah, Jorge Contreras and surprise guest, Duncan Matthews from Queen Mary University London. Over a beer or two, Jorge and Duncan talk about Jorge's new book, The Genome Defense, and discuss the epic court battle on the right to control our genes. Also in the episode they discuss the TRIPs waiver, the power of genes and who would play Jorge in the movie of his book!

The Genome Defense is available now!
You can sign up to attend the book launch here.

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We're back in The Lamb London! Joining Lee and Gwilym in the pub for this episode is Donal O'Connell, Managing Director of Chawton Innovation Services.  Donal talks about his journey into IP and trade secrets, including what they are and why they are an important part of your IP portfolio.

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We're still in The Lamb London! Joining us in the pub this week we have new council members Debbie Slater and Will Burrell, to talk about how they came to join CIPA council and what they love about working with the institute. Also joining in is CIPA Head of Publications Iain Ross and podcast fan (and colleague of Gwilym's) Ollie Lam.

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Wednesday 26th April is World IP Day. This years theme is Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity. To kick start this years celebrations Lee and Gwilym are sitting down with founder and CEO of the The Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network, Dr Bola Olabisi. Bola talks about why she started the network, how she and the network support female innovators, and the importance of championing female inventors.

This year the GlobalWIIN Annual Conference & Awards will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland on the 6th and 7th of September, visit their website for more information.

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Wednesday 26th April is World IP Day. This year's theme is Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity.  To celebrate, we're sitting down with Vandita Chandrani,  Associate General Counsel IP at radiotherapy pioneers Elekta.  Vandita tells us about female-centered innovation, dragon boat racing, what private practice attorneys can learn from in-house counsel (and vice-versa) and how comedy improvisation is the secret to success. 

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

First up is Hyrdohertz, an innovation in advanced thermal management that increases the energy efficiency of electric vehicles.  Founder and Chief Engineer Martyn Talbot, and Cory Stobart and Rachel Biggin from Adamson Jones, join Gwilym and special co-host, CIPA Deputy Chief Executive Neil Lampert. They talk about their hopes of winning the Earthshot Clean Air category and the importance of IP protection in developing the business. 

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

On this episode we're joined by The Janger Director Guy Taylor and patent attorney Chris Aldridge from Mohun Aldridge Sykes. Gwilym and special co-host Lucy Wharton, CIPA's External Affairs Officer, talk to Guy and Chris about how IP has helped protect The Janger, how being green can benefit retailers and their hopes to win the Build a Waste-Free World category.

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It was the United Nations World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development yesterday. To mark this event, Lee and Gwilym spoke with Nina Ferara, Sally Bannan and John Gray from the European Patent Institute's Diversity and Inclusion Committee to discuss the cultural differences within Europe and how they are helping their colleagues to find a common understanding on EDI issues.

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

On this episode we're joined by Aryan Aviraj (CTO and founder), Iain Shepardson (CEO and co-founder) and Prajwal Nirwan (IP & strategy advisor). Lee and Gwilym talk to the team about Sustainable Filtration Innovation and their aims to reduce energy consumption and create circularity of water.

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Alex Reip, co-founder and CTO of Oxford nanoSystems and Imogen Parry from JA Kemp to talk about how the Nano-improved Electrolysers solution will help to make green hydrogen production a viable energy source for the world.

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Lee and Gwilym chat with Chartered Patent Attorney and CIPA Council member Suzanne Oliver about her fascinating career in industry and in private practice. Suzanne is a former President of the IP Federation and she and Lee get stuck into the intellectual property story, involving both CIPA and the Federation, behind the UK's recent accession to the £9trn pan-Pacific trade deal, the CPTPP.  For more on this story, read Lee's thoughts on our website or see the IP Federation's news article.

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Scott Winston, CEO of PULPEX and Rick Gordon-Brown of EIP, to talk about the future of sustainable packaging. 

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Noel McWilliam and Michael O’Brien from Mitravitae to talk about how their Integrated Renewable Energy Systems (IRES) provides an answer to problems of renewable energy storage and intermittent supply.

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The Earthshot Prize is the world's most high-profile environmental awards programme and CIPA has been involved from the very beginning. Every year it awards one million pounds each to 5 nominated winners and CIPA is delighted to be an official nominator.  On this special series of Two IPs in a Pod, we're joined by our amazing nominees and their patent attorneys to talk about how their inventions will transform the world.

On this weeks episode Lee and Gwilym are joined by Jenni Arksey, Mike Arksey and Terry Woods to talk about how waste-free and resource-efficient kitchen construction could be the future of sustainable houses and how their solution hopes to win the Build a Waste-Free World Category.

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Anil Gupta is an Indian scholar who wanted to use intellectual property to create social justice and empower the poor. So in 1988 he created the Honey Bee Network, a knowledge-sharing database, to ensure that grassroots inventors could benefit from the economy. Our hosts Lee Davies and Gwilyn Roberts talk to Prof Gupta about his philosophy of "sharing and caring" and how his model of ethical knowledge extraction and of IP rights being respected but not generally enforced, works in practice.

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Imagine the scene. Your avatar is moving through a virtual world, interacting with other individuals, but as you leave one digital ecosystem and enter another, your avatar is suddenly naked. The moral of the story? Always check whether your avatar's costume is licensed in different metaverses! Our hosts Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts grapple with this and other virtual IP conundrums with help from our guides in the metaverse,  Dr Michaela MacDonald and Dr Gaetano Dimita of Queen Mary University, London.

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Kamal Kalsi is a wizard with waste. He can take mixed unrecyclable waste residues and turn them into a valuable energy source. His company, KEW Technology is using this amazing patented cleantech to reinvent waste to energy and take us to a world beyond Net Zero. Host Gwilym Roberts and Neil Lampert chat with Kamal, KEW's Strategy Lead Amna Bezanty and their patent attorney Stuart Rowlands of Maucher Jenkins, about their hopes for the future of this incredible technology and what it means to be nominated for an Earthshot Prize.

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Sunken shipwrecks, love at sea and a ton of wet kelp - our first podcast to double as a movie synopsis with former trawlerman and Royal Navy Officer, Wave Crookes! Seaweed is among the fastest growing sources of biomass on Earth. It benefits the marine environment by capturing carbon, releasing oxygen, and providing a habitat for marine life. Wave has invented a modular system for growing seaweed which CIPA has nominated for an Earthshot Prize. Wave and his patent attorney Craig Morris, of HGF, talk to Lee and Gwilym about Wave's company, SeaGrown, and why growing seaweed is so good for the planet.

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That's a wrap on Season 7! Lee and Gwilym take a look back at the highlights from across the series, including  Dragon Boat racing, incredible Earthshot innovators and explorations into the metaverse. 

A big thank you to all of our guests. We'll be back for Season 8 where Two IPs in a Pod will be celebrating its 100th episode!

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We are an Official Nominator for Prince William's prestigious Earthshot Prize annual environmental awards. Last year three of our nominees were among the 15 finalists - and one of them, Notpla, won a £1M prize. Deputy CEO Neil Lampert went to New York for an Earthshot innovation summit where this year's finalists were announced and heard speeches from Bill Gates and Prince William, amongst others. Once again, we had a nominee on the shortlist. Colorifix is up for the £1M in the Build a Waste-Free World category. CEO Lee and Neil discuss CIPA's growing involvement in this important awards programme and Neil reports from New York.

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Our hosts Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts introduce the ChatGPT Podcast: Where AI Meets Conversation. Join Dr Nils Rauer, MJI, for insightful discussions and deep dives into the world of artificial intelligence. 

This caption was written by Chat GPT  (although a human had to correct the grammar). 

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Knowledge of intellectual property law is central to innovation in science, technology, art, fashion, engineering and the creative industries as well as to business creation and management. IP courses and qualifications now proliferate, but who teaches the teachers? Lee and Gwilym speak with Prof Ruth Soetendorp, Professor Emerita and Associate Director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Policy and Management at Bournemouth University, and Sabine Jacques, Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Liverpool, about their new book Teaching Intellectual Property Law: Strategy and Management.

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A disruptive biofuel... but without the disruption. Today, more than ever before, we need safe, clean, sustainable, and renewable manufacturing for a better, shared, green future. Lee and Gwilym speak with John Archer, Founder and Director at HutanBio, and Kathy Lumsden, Director and European Patent Attorney at Slingsby, about innovative fuel replacements that drive regeneration, work in harmony with the surrounding ecosystems, and understand the socio-economic challenges of the region they are grown in. 

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Intellectual property is central to global trade but IP laws, such as grace periods, are not yet harmonised around the world. So when the Government announced its intention to join a huge Pacific Rim trade bloc in February 2021, there were concerns about a perceived conflict with the UK's membership of the European Patent Office. Fast forward to July this year and the Government was thanking us for helping its negotiators to achieve a derogation of the patent grace period provision in accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Lee is joined by his Deputy, Neil Lampert, and Claudia Mulholland and Dan Lenton, from political consultants H/Advisors Cicero, to discuss the intensive campaign they mounted together in the UK Parliament and in CPTPP countries to help the government protect the UK's EPO membership.

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The rise of patent trolls, or non-practising entities, has undeniably impacted the patent system. Patent trolls use patents as legal weapons, buying up patents cheaply from companies and then threatening legal action against those they argue are infringing their patents. Our hosts, Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts, are joined by Ken Seddon, CEO of the LOT Network, to discuss the rise of patent trolls, how they operate, and what organisations like the LOT Network are doing to protect innovation and the patent system. 

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It is important to speak out and ask for help when you need it. This is especially true when it comes to the stresses of taking exams, starting in a new profession, and feeling totally overwhelmed. Our hosts, Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts, are joined by Penelope Aspinall from Jonathan's Voice and trainee patent attorneys Elisabeth Pauli (Dehns) and Callum Watson (Forresters) to discuss mental health, coping mechanisms and their personal experiences in the profession. 

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The Pubcast is back! Lee and Gwilym are back in The Lamb London for this special Halloween episode. Joining them is Ellie Chiarella from IBM UK answering Lee’s question: is AI the scariest thing imaginable? Ellie is a trainee patent attorney and master inventor specialising in AI interpretability. Over a pint or two, Ellie discusses AI's impact on IP professionals' roles and responsibilities, how to protect intellectual property when using AI and how we can embrace AI whilst acknowledging its limitations. 

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Where would the intellectual property system be without research and development? A strong R&D sector is a critical component of a successful innovation economy and public support for R&D is essential to ensure that politicians continue to fund it. Lee and his deputy, Neil, are joined by Dr Ben Bleasdale, of the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) to discuss his work with the public and politicians to promote the importance of R&D and future collaboration between CIPA and CaSE.

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The Pubcast is back! Lee and Gwilym are in The Lamb London with guest Sarah Rodriguez, who is a qualified patent attorney in the US, the UK, and Europe. Over some drinks, Sarah discusses case law, the inventive step and the differences between the jurisdictions. 

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We made it to a century...not out! Join hosts Lee and Gwilym as they celebrate their 100th episode in the pub with special guest, CIPA Vice-President Matt Dixon. Tune in for an insightful conversation as Matt shares his priorities for his year as President, including his determination to put a UK stamp on the Unified Patent Court and to challenge any attempts to erect barriers to qualification as a European Patent Attorney.

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The next episode from the Pubcast sees Lee and Gwilym joined by Annemarie Parsons in The Lamb London. Annemarie is the Director of Paralegals at Murgitroyd and Chair of the CIPA IP Paralegal Committee. Annemarie chats with Lee and Gwilym about her personal career progression, the evolution of paralegals from an administrative role to a recognised legal profession and the qualifications and exams offered by CIPA. 

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In this episode of Two IP's in a Pod, Lee and Gwilym engage in a captivating conversation with Otto English, the pseudonymous persona of the talented writer and journalist Andrew Scott. The focus of their discussion revolves around Otto's insightful book, 'Fake Heroes,' delving into the intricate fabric of origin stories and the veneer of heroism in today's society.

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How can we turn the political rhetoric about Britain becoming a science superpower into reality? Hosts Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts speak with Sharon Todd, Chief Executive of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) and Charlotte Crowhurst, Chartered Patent Attorney and Member of the SCI’s Board of Trustees, about accelerating science out of the lab. Unlike tech companies, which can often turn profits quickly, science businesses take a long time to develop and scale - and often need an extensive patent portfolio. The SCI has launched a manifesto calling for a more comprehensive, long-term commitment to support science start-ups and attract investment. If the Government grasps this, the SCI says there is an opportunity to generate an additional £230Bn GVA for the UK economy and 240,00 new jobs in the life science and cleantech sectors.

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Join Lee and Gwilym and their guest Head of Volunteer Recruitment for the Access Project, Jessica James. The Access Project sees access to Higher Education as one of the best levellers in our society. Their mission outlines that it is one of the best ways to enable talented young people to overcome the barriers and special inequalities they face, and reach their potential. 

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What's at the top of of the news agenda for one of the top IP journalists in the UK? Gwilym and stand-in host Neil Lampert chat with Max Walters, of Managing IP, about patent quality at the EPO, standard essential patents, Natwest using IP as collateral for loans and the impact of AI on patent firms. 

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Join Lee and Gwilym as they welcome Immediate Past President of CIPA, Daniel Chew, back to the podcast. Hear about his globe-trotting year as President, from  traveling to the USA and Asia to promote the UK profession, to rubbing shoulders with celebrities at the esteemed Earthshot Prize Awards in Singapore, where CIPA nominees were among the finalists. 

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This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Kevin Mooney, ‘architect’ of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Kevin, a solicitor and partner at Simmons and Simmons, shared his extensive involvement in the UPC project. Hear about the challenges faced, the potential impact of the UPC on local German divisions, and the UK's position in relation to the UPC agreement. 

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This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by the UK's best-known double act in IP, Adam Williams and Andy Bartlett from the UK Intellectual Property Office. Join them as they discuss the IPO's digital transformation programme, the challenges around the international harmonisation of intellectual property law and the IPO's plans to further support innovative SMEs. 

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This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Entrepreneur, inventor and mum-of-three Lisa Hicks invented an eco-friendly solid soap dispenser after realising how many liquid soap and shampoo bottles her family were using and throwing away during COVID lockdown. Nature lover Lisa, of Monmouth, spent two-and-a-half years developing her idea and has now patented and commercialised her SNOAP dispenser – a manual soap bar grinder that dispenses the soap as a snow-like powder ready to mix with water.

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This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Dr Nike Folayan MBE, a Chartered Engineer in electronics and Co-Founder of Association For BME Engineers, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes higher achievements in education and engineering, particularly among people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds. Nike chats with Lee and Gwilym about diversity and inclusion within the worlds of engineering and IP,  engaging young people in the STEM sector and the issues of retaining diverse talent in the workplace.

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This episode is perhaps a little change of pace, with Gwilym a lone host hunkering down in his local, the reigns of the podcast are taken up by two members of the upcoming Informals podcast team, Joel David Briscoe and Sophie Knott. Turning the tables on the sole pea they discuss their plans to launch a new podcast called "The IP Survival Guide" and dig into Gwilym's own career journeys, their collective experience with training and the evolution of the profession. 

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We nominated sustainable dye pioneers Colorifix for a £1m Earthshot Prize. They were selected from more than 1,000 amazing environmental solutions as a finalist but narrowly missed out on the big prize. The company's founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Jim Ajioka, sat down with CEO Lee and his deputy, Neil, to discuss the history of textile and colour, Colorifix's IP journey and why Lee can't dye white leather winkle-picker shoes yellow.

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On this week's epsiode, Lee and Neil are joined by Matilda Memaripour and Ashley Tambe from the Informals Committee. They emphasise the importance of self-care sessions for trainees and announce plans for a summer fundraiser, showcasing their commitment to mental health advocacy within the organisation. Ashley also talks about his dad filing a patent...for a flying car!

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Vaccines are highly sensitive to temperature and need to be refrigerated within a very specific temperature range to be effective. Imagine how vaccine deployment could be transformed and more lives saved if the need for cold chain storage and transport could be eliminated. This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Dr. Asel Sartbaeva, co-founder and CEO of EnsiliTech Ltd and her patent attorney Isobel Finnie, of Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP, to discuss the innovative work EnsiliTech is doing to thermally stabilise vaccines. They discuss Asel's journey in developing a silica-based solution for storing vaccines, the company's mission to eliminate vaccine spoilage and the importance of territorial coverage in patenting. 

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In this episode, Lee and Gwilym chat with Martin Brassell and Neil Bellamy about NatWest's innovative lending strategy for IP-rich businesses. They dive into how the bank utilizes IP assets as collateral, supported by Inngot's valuations. The conversation extends to the significance of IP valuation, how the Pandemic changed the way that IP is viewed as an asset, growing government interest with the initiative and the broader impact of scale-up businesses. Also good news, Albert is awake! 

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Two IPs in a Pod turns 4! For this anniversary episode, Lee and Gwilym are joined by the EPO’s Steve Rowan at the SCI building in Belgravia.

Join them as they talk unitary patents, SMEs, description amendments and much more. 

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Join Lee as he interviews guests at the after party of the successful CIPA event, UK patent drafting and litigation – myth, legend & reality. This episode features feedback from members after attending an hour session with an expert panel of Judges to look at patent litigation from the perspective of the judiciary.

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Will the the Two IPs break America? Lee, Gwilym and producer Emily are in Atlanta to speak to delegates of the world's biggest intellectual property conference, the annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA). A special series of INTA episodes, featuring stellar guests from the world of IP, will be arriving in your feed over the coming days and weeks...

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It's Lee and Gwilym's first full episode broadcasting from the world's biggest intellectual property event, the annual meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) in Atlanta, Georgia. What better guest to kick off this INTA series of episodes than David Muls, the Senior Director of the Madrid Registry - the primary international registry for trade marks - at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The discussion takes in the effectiveness of Madrid, how it differs from the Hague and Lisbon Systems...and which BBC act our co-hosts mostly resemble: Monty Python or Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men. You decide!

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In this episode from the INTA 2024 conference, Lee and Gwilym chat with Vaibhav and Bharath about the evolving intellectual property landscape in India, recent developments, challenges, and opportunities in the Indian IP sector. There's also the smallest disagreement about cricket. 

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Next up on this special INTA series is Andy Bartlett and Oliver Morris from the UKIPO. Join them as they chat to Lee and Gwilym about digital transformation, policy and attaches around the globe. 

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In this episode Lee and Gwilym sit down with President Paula Clancy and Catherine Lovrics of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. The conversation covers the regulation of the Canadian intellectual property profession, the limitations of privilege protection, how IPIC are providing a proactive approach to career development, and the future of AI and its impact on the profession. There is also a small debate on what may have fallen out of a tree during Lee's visit to Canada...

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In this episode, recorded from the INTA conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Lee and Gwilym sit down with Executive Director Vincent Garlock and President Ann Mueting from the American Intellectual Patent Law Association (AIPLA).   Learn more about this great American institution,  which represents a wide and diverse spectrum of individuals, law firms and companies involved with intellectual property.  If Lee and Gwilym went to INTA to break America, this was their equivalent of the Beatles at Shea Stadium...

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Lee and Gwilym are still at INTA and this time speaking with Nicole Morris, professor of practice at Emory University; learning about her career, representation in the IP Profession and a deep dive into Entrepreneurship. We also discover the Peas’ inner spirit animals.

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Join Lee and Gwilym on their last podcats in Atlanta with Krish Gupta, Senior Vice President - Litigation and Intellectual Property at Dell Technologies. Krish has extensive experience in overseeing intellectual property and litigation matters for various tech companies. 

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Still in Atlanta, Lee is riding solo this week without Gwilym, but is joined by Scott Frank, President & CEO  AT&T Intellectual Property LLC.  However, we get to learn more about what Scott does in his spare time... Scott would like to introduce you to the Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA) a non-profit formed on October, 2022, based on the effectiveness of the alliance model of the USIPA (United States Intellectual Property Alliance), GIPA (Georgia State Intellectual Property Alliance) and other state level IPA models. 

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Join Lee and Gwilym this week as they chat to Chris Parsonson, the founder and CEO of Solve Intelligence, in another INTA special on this years hot topic - artificial intelligence. Chris explains his work on the integration of artificial intelligence in patent drafting and analysis, and reassures listeners that AI is not coming for all patent attorneys job. Lee also takes his roving mic on a journey through the INTA exhibition hall to chat with Shannon Fitzpatrick from Questel and Debbie Welch of Sun IP, to find out more ways AI can help the work of patent attorneys everywhere. 

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During a recent pubcast recording the Peas sat down with Dr Liz Zijing Li, COO, inventor and Co-founder of Mimicrete. They discussed the possibilities of self-healing concrete, Liz's journey to the foundation of the company and the future aspirations of Mimicrete. You can also find out more about Liz's story and experience with Intellectual Property on the CIPA YouTube Channel.

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Lord Justice Colin Birss returns for this special Pubcast episode. Join him, Lee and Gwilym in the Lamb Pub as they explore the transformative potential of AI in the legal profession, the benefits of expanding diversity in judiciary recruitment and recent developments in the Unified Patent Court and the UK's Civil Procedure Rules. There is also an interesting discussion about Cheese...

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What if your favorite hobby could transform into a career that connects you with thousands of like-minded enthusiasts? In this episode, we explore the fascinating journey of Kyle Ashman, a dedicated football shirt collector whose daily posts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have turned him into a social media influencer. Alongside returning guest Rebecca O'Kelly-Gillard, Kyle shares the story of his evolution from a modest collector to a sought-after content creator, attracting brand collaborations and building a vibrant community. 

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Join Lee and Gwilym in the last of the Pubcast special episodes as they chat with Ed Bray from DeepRender about how AI is reshaping the patent world. Ed explains his professional journey from solicitor to inhouse patent attorney at a tech startup and how his experiences helped shape his current role. There is also a discussion on the current limitations of AI and and the broader challenges within the patent system.

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Get ready to explore groundbreaking legal insights with Dr Tim Sampson, a seasoned barrister specialising in intellectual property and construction law. 

In this episode, Tim joins Lee and Gwilym to discuss a landmark Supreme Court case involving trade mark infringement. Tune in to hear about the complexities of defending his clients and gain an understanding of how the court's fresh perspective on director liability in IP law offers a fairer playing field for honest directors. 

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Ever wondered how a casual chat about football and shirts can effortlessly lead to a deep dive into equity, diversity, and inclusion within the intellectual property profession? That's exactly what happens in this episode as Lee reminisces about his unexpected participation in a football tournament, setting a relaxed and humorous tone before we dive into the serious topic at hand. We then introduce our brilliant guests— Beatrice Malacart, Lianne Da-Cunha, and Riddhi Patel, trainee patent attorneys at Forrester's—who share their unique journeys and emphasize the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in the IP field. 

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This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by another amazing IP Inclusive Community - IP Ability.

Guests Marianne Privett (AA Thornton), Chris Clark (Vectura) and George Lucas (eip) bring both a personal and professional perspective on disability inclusion and emphasize the crucial need for a more open and accessible environment within the IP profession. 

From examination accommodations for neurodivergent individuals to the legislative milestones like the UK's Equality Act, the progress made is commendable, yet there is still a long way to go. 

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This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Lisa Jorgenson of WIPO as she shares her incredible career journey from sales, to IP litigation, to her current role at WIPO. Join the Peas as they chat with Lisa about WIPO's collaborative efforts to advance intellectual property on a global scale, the structure and functions of WIPO, and the role of the PCT in shaping patent strategies. Lisa also describes the the global initiatives led by WIPO, especially those aimed at supporting developing countries and empowering women and minorities in the IP field.

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Join Lee and Gwilym as they sit down with Jane Wainwright from IPause, the latest initiative by IP Inclusive. This episode dives into the critical topic of menopause, focusing on how it impacts professionals in the intellectual property field. Jane shares invaluable insights on the support and community IP Pause offers, emphasising the importance of awareness and understanding in the workplace. Whether you're experiencing menopause or supporting someone who is.

You can find out more about IP Pause at: https://ipinclusive.org.uk/community/ipause/

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In this episode of Two IPs in a Pod, hosts Lee and Gwilym sit down with David Kappos, former Director of the USPTO and a key figure in IP law. They dive into his fascinating career, from his work at IBM to his time in the Obama administration, exploring pivotal moments and key insights. The conversation also touches on the future of IP law in the US, the challenges ahead, and some stories about the most famous people they’ve all met along the way.

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We’re back! Kicking off season 12, Lee and Gwilym are joined by Rachel Fetches, IP/Patent Litigation Partner at HGF. 

Discover how the Unified Patent Court is set to transform patent litigation across Europe. This episode sheds light on the shift from a fragmented to a more centralized system, offering patentees the promise of pan-European injunctions and a streamlined process. 

Join them as they discuss the potential of the UPC for SMEs, international businesses, and the opportunities and hurdles presented.

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Trade marking isn't just a legal formality; it's a strategic move that can help make or break a band's artistic journey. Joining Lee Davies and Gwilym's stand-in, Neil Lampert, this week are trade mark attorneys Chris McLeod and Jerry Bridge-Butler, of CITMA, who bring a blend of legal expertise and rock 'n roll enthusiasm to our discussion. From Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention to the oft-debated legacy of The Smiths, our guests provide insight into the historical missteps and modern approaches to band names and trade marks.

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Join us as we explore the intersection of professional achievements and cultural heritage with our special guests, Josh McLennan, a European patent attorney, and Nikkei, a technical director and diversity advocate. Discover how the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys is embracing democracy with an upcoming presidential election, a decade since the last contested race. Our guests share their unique journeys in the fields of patent law and engineering, offering insights into the importance of diversity and inclusion within these industries.

The episode takes an introspective turn as we examine Britain's complex race relations history, from past economic motivations behind policy decisions to the resurfacing of racial tensions today. We tackle the critical need for open conversations around systemic inequality and the role of allyship in creating lasting change. Through a mixture of personal anecdotes and historical reflections, we invite listeners to engage with the past and its influence on our present and future, underscoring the importance of continuous learning and connection.

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In this episode of Two IPs in a Pod, Lee and Gwilym chat with Annemarie Parsons and Vicky Maynard about CIPA’s Introductory and Advanced Paralegals training courses. 

After discussing how the IP Paralegal profession has developed over the years they dive into the structure, benefits, and objectives of each course, explaining how they help paralegals develop key skills and deepen their understanding of the IP profession.

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CIPA members have played a key role in the success of Prince William's increasingly influential Earthshot Prize, the multi-million pound annual environmental awards.
This year the awards were held in Cape Town and Deputy Chief Executive Neil Lampert was among the invited VIPs. Neil talks to Lee about his chats with past CIPA-nominated winners and finalists - and hopes that CIPA members can play an even more important role in supporting Earthshot finalists.
Read more about the 2024 winners and the awards ceremony on the Earthshot website.

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How do the pressures of the IP industry intersect with men's mental health, and what strides are being made to address them? Joining Lee and Gwilym this week are Graham Mccartney and Richard Wells, who shed light on Jonathan's Voice, a charity dedicated to supporting mental health in the IP sector. They also give insight to the amazing work of IP Inclusive, who promote and improve EDI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP professions.

Looking back over the past decade, significant progress in mental health support within the IP community is evident. But there is always more to be done.

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Ever found yourself chasing a toddler through bustling streets in Vietnam or battling childhood shingles during a family getaway? We share these personal adventures that serve as a lively backdrop to our enlightening conversation on the intricate world of intellectual property. Lee and Gwilym are joined by the insightful Rachel Jones and Jet Doran from Snapdragon IP, who reveal their journey from personal invention to establishing a key player in the fight against online counterfeits. With tales of unexpected innovations and the harsh realities of counterfeiting, this episode promises a unique blend of engaging narratives and critical insights.

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Join Lee and Gwilym as they navigate the complex role of AI in intellectual property with Ryan Abbott, Professor of Law and Health Sciences at University of Surrey. Ryan discusses how jurisdictions worldwide are grappling with AI's potential role as an inventor, highlights the lack of international consensus, and the ongoing debates that define this area of law. Get ready to uncover the intriguing journey of AI-generated inventions, the implications of AI's prowess in fields like drug discovery, and the pressing need for evolving patent law to keep pace. 

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Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dana Brown Northcott from Amazon and Etienne Sanz de Acedo from INTA as we explore leadership transitions in the world of intellectual property. Discover how fresh leadership at organizations like the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and INTA, with the likes of Bobby Mukherjee and Elizabeth Stewart Bradley stepping into Presidential roles, is shaping the future of the IP landscape. Our discussion uncovers the challenges and exciting opportunities that arise when new perspectives and agendas come to the forefront, and how these shifts impact member-driven associations.

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How are the UK's sole traders and small firms coping with life on lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic? Lee Davies, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, chats with Bev Ouzman, of Ouzman IP, and Keith Loven, of Loven Patents and Trade Marks, about the challenges of running a small business in the current climate. They discuss everything from furloughing staff and adapting to the virtual working world to dealing with isolation, illness contingency plans and how to avoid giving out personal mobile numbers!

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How is the UK's Intellectual Property Office, responsible for IP rights such as patents, trade marks and designs across the UK, ensuring the majority of its services remain unaffected by lockdown and the coronavirus crisis? Our co-hosts Lee Davies and Gwilym Roberts ask Tim Moss, CEO of the IPO, how his staff have responded to the pandemic and adapted to the "new normal". They chat about the challenges of managing a workforce of 1,250 remotely, the importance of effective communications and the acceleration of digital service transformation. Oh, and tortoises and lamb chops. Read the IPO's latest update about the impact of the pandemic on its services: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-important-update-on-ipo-services