From Coke Morgan Stewart’s decisive actions at the USPTO, to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s unexpected “patent tax” trial balloon, to the ongoing Federal Circuit drama — it felt impossible to figure out where to start telling the story.
The only way to make sense of it all was to bring in three of our favorite journalists who cover these issues every day:
Eileen McDermott, Editor-in-Chief of IPWatchdog
Dani Kass, Senior Reporter at Law360
Michael Shapiro, Senior Reporter at Bloomberg
Together, we unpacked the biggest developments, why they matter, and how they’re being covered — with behind-the-scenes stories and candid insights about what it’s like to report on patents and IP.
What We Covered
USPTO’s New Direction
Coke Morgan Stewart’s rapid moves as acting director — especially at the PTAB
How she’s balancing speed, decisiveness, and practical limits
Patent Tax Story
The Wall Street Journal report on a possible tax on patent value
Lutnick’s role and Stewart’s public comments walking a fine line
Choosing a USPTO Director & John Squires
Breaking news about John Squires’ nomination and confirmation process
Early signals of what he’ll prioritize as director
Federal Circuit & Judge Newman
How practitioner tips shape coverage of the court
Judge Pauline Newman’s saga — and what it’s like getting to know her personally
On the Hill
Tillis, Coons, and the shifting dynamics in Congress
Prospects for PERA (101), PREVAIL (PTAB), and RESTORE (injunctions)
Copyright & AI
The firing of Shira Perlmutter as head of the Copyright Office
Pushback against the office’s AI guidance
Behind the Notebook
How these reporters choose stories and what they wish got more attention
Why they love covering the IP community, despite all the complexities
Impact of judges, public officials, and Bloomberg terminal users following their coverage
The discussion reveals how much these journalists shape — and are shaped by — the IP world itself. They’re not just reporting on it; they’re in constant dialogue with practitioners, policymakers, and innovators who live with these changes every day. Judges read their work, practitioners feed them stories, and policymakers react to their reporting.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intros
01:23 – What’s your vantage point in the IP world?
17:53 – How do you decide what’s worth covering in IP news?
22:49 – What’s the mood in the patent community right now?
32:33 – The proposed ‘patent tax’: threat or opportunity?
38:02 – The politics behind selecting a USPTO Director
54:21 – Final thoughts and advice for the IP community
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