I teach my students that IP is one of the most valuable assets a company can have. But for it to be valuable, it needs to be developed strategically and deliberately.

The USPTO Director's decision in Tesla v. Bulletproof clarifies that inter partes review remains accessible when petitioners follow procedural rules, manage litigation sequencing strategically, and demonstrate substantive prior art arguments. This analysis examines what the decision means for patent owners, accused infringers, and the future of IPR practice.

This is a working tool, not an article. Use it when you are building your trade secret program, onboarding a new hire from a competitor, preparing for a key employee’s departure, or reviewing your supplier protocols. Pull the relevant section and act on it

On January 1, 2026. When I first heard about Disney's $1 billion investment in OpenAI, I'll admit I was puzzled. Why would the House of Mouse hand over a billion dollars and license Mickey, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters to an AI company?