By: Josh Sloat

Web 3.0, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and NFTs
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“Metaverse”. It is the buzziest of the buzzwords in tech today and will soon be joining the ranks of “AI” and “ML” as requisite keywords in the next generation of pitch decks and patent applications. But what are the core components of the Metaverse? And what are their implications in the world of intellectual property? The Patently Strategic Podcast will be exploring this topic over the course of several upcoming episodes. 

We begin our exploration today with Web 3.0 – the third major iteration of the Internet. While it may prove to be the next great tech revolution, the broad shape and definition of the Metaverse itself is still more firmly baked in science fiction than in commercial tech reality. Many of its core building blocks, however, are likely right in front of our eyes (or headsets, perhaps). History shows that most major technology revolutions are rarely leaps, but instead evolutionary products of incremental steps, composed of many existing building blocks, met with market readiness. The Web 3.0 innovations of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and NFTs that are taking shape in front of us will no doubt be among these essential building blocks. With an ability to touch both our physical and virtual worlds, cryptocurrencies could form the monetary basis for all economic activity in the Metaverse. NFTs make it possible for unique items to exist and assets to be exclusively owned in the digital realm. The very foundations and infrastructure for the Metaverse and its virtual worlds could be built on blockchain technology. 

Perhaps the Metaverse is simply how we experience the third major phase of the web – or maybe in its purest, most decentralized form, the Metaverse is built entirely on top of it. In any case, it's hard to imagine a future where the two are not inextricably linked.  

This third phase of the internet also poses some of the most interesting questions for the world of IP. What will the impact be on digital property rights in a secure marketplace, governed by smart contracts? How will copyrights play in digital worlds with their own art and governance? Is there merit in considering a new type of protection category outside of patents and copyrights?  

In our very first IPWatchdog episode, Kristen Hansen, Patent Strategist and software patent guru here at Aurora, leads a discussion along with our all star patent panel, digging into:

• The fundamentals of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs – and why the hype
• The state of the technology
• Questions around what web evolution, blockchain, and NFT technology means for IP ownership
• And strategies for protecting blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations

Kristen is also joined today by our always exceptional group of IP experts including:

• Dr. Ashley Sloat, President and Director of Patent Strategy at Aurora
• David Jackrel, President of Jackrel Consulting 
• Shelley Couturier, Patent Strategist and Search Specialist
• Daniel Wright, Patent Strategist

​Patently Strategic is available on all major podcasting directories, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. We're also available on 12 other directories including Stitcher, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn, so you should be able to find us wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you’re an agent or attorney and would like to be part of the discussion or an inventor with a topic you’d like to hear discussed, please reach out.​

• Related episodes. If you're new to patenting and unfamiliar with terms like "Claims" and "Specification", check out Patent Anatomy: What's in a patent?​ And if you'd like a deeper dive on software patents, give Software Patents: Protecting your digital innovations a listen.
• ​Transcripts. We're also providing computer-generated transcripts for improved accessibility and additional reference opportunities. 
• Slides. For the visual learners out there, we also like to make our presenter slides available for your reference. 

By: Josh Sloat

Whose prior art is it anyway?
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In this month's episode, our experts help to demystify the concept of Common Ownership and how it can be leveraged to disqualify prior art that might otherwise cause a rejection during prosecution.  

Dr. Ashley Sloat, President and Director of Patent Strategy here at Aurora leads this discussion along with our all star patent panel, digging into Common Ownership exceptions, joint research exceptions, and terminal disclaimer practice. And if this all sounds like a foreign language or if you’re wondering why you might care, we include a primer that will help you quickly get up-to-speed on key concepts like inventorship, ownership, assignments, prior art, and terminal disclaimers. 

​One of the recurring themes of this podcast is helping inventors avoid sharp corners and we’ve found that these concepts in particular trip up a lot of newer inventors and the resulting problems that come from misunderstandings around these core concepts can be difficult to untangle.

Ashley is joined today by our always exceptional group of IP experts including:

• David Cohen, Principal at Cohen Sciences
• Shelley Couturier, Patent Strategist and Search Specialist at Aurora
• Amy Fiene, Patent attorney at Vancott and adjunct professor at BYU
• David Jackrel, President of Jackrel Consulting 

Patently Strategic is available on all major podcasting directories, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. We're also available on 12 other directories including Stitcher, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn, so you should be able to find us wherever you listen to podcasts.

​If you’re an agent or attorney and would like to be part of the discussion or an inventor with a topic you’d like to hear discussed, please reach out.​

• Related episodes. If you'd like to learn more about inventorship, check out: Inventorship: Who should be listed as an inventor for a patent? The AIA (America Invents Act) is also referenced several times – to learn more about how this law changed the patent landscape, give American Inventor Horror Story: 10 Years of AIA and the PTAB a listen. 
• ​Transcripts. We're also providing computer-generated transcripts for improved accessibility and additional reference opportunities. 
• Slides. For the visual learners out there, we also like to make our presenter slides available for your reference.