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We celebrate five years of IP conversations with a festive look back at the moments that shaped the show. From lockdown origins to Earthshot wins and live sessions at INTA, we share what we learned from judges, founders, and the quirks that make IP human.

• Launch during lockdown and early interviews with sole practitioners and Tim Moss - link to episode here.
• Judges’ perspectives with Sir Colin Birss (link here) and Sir Robin Jacob (link here)
• Seaweed innovation, Notpla’s Earthshot win (link here), and Seagrown’s journey (link here)
• Trade secrets, pub recordings, and Donald O’Connell’s insights (link here)
• Live podcasting at INTA from Atlanta to San Diego 
• Playful bants, jargon gripes, and crafting better closing questions 
• Plans for future guests, UPC debates, and interviewing AI 
• Personal holiday plans and a warm seasonal sign-off

Merry Christmas and amazing 2026!

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Ever wondered who actually turns evolving case law and global agreements into the rules you use every day? We sit down with Heli Pihlajamaa, Principal Director of Patent Law and Procedures at the EPO, for a candid tour of how European patent law is shaped, tested, and delivered at scale. From examiner guidance to implementing regulations and user consultation, Heli opens the black box of decision‑making and shows how the system stays predictable while technology races ahead.

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This episode captures a fascinating conversation between UK and Canadian intellectual property experts exploring the unique challenges and innovations in their respective IP systems.

The discussion dives deep into Canada's uncertain landscape for patentable subject matter, where inconsistent case law and examiner interpretations create significant headaches for businesses seeking protection. Unlike Europe's relatively settled approach, Canadian companies often face unpredictability that hampers strategic planning, as one guest puts it, sometimes patent outcomes depend on "the particular examiner's mood that day." 

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Step into the fascinating world of global intellectual property protection with Charles Randolph and Brian Beckham from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). What begins as an annual update on WIPO's activities quickly transforms into a revealing conversation about the organization's far-reaching influence on the intellectual property landscape.

Charles, who heads WIPO's industry and NGO relations, shares how the organization manages relationships with over 300 accredited associations worldwide, coordinating specialists, organizing events, and facilitating crucial connections across the entire IP spectrum. Meanwhile, Brian offers captivating insights into the evolution of domain name disputes since the internet's early days. As head of WIPO's Internet Dispute Resolution team, he explains how their work has shifted from handling simple domain squatters to combating sophisticated phishing campaigns and fraud, especially as AI tools advance.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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Alex Gray and Asa Le Fustec from RightHub join us to reveal how they're disrupting the IP management industry with their fresh approach. After spending decades navigating the limitations of legacy systems at companies like CPA Global, they decided to build something entirely new – a comprehensive platform that leverages modern technology to eliminate the inefficiencies that have plagued IP professionals for years.

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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 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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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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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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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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It's our 50th episode and to mark this milestone Lee and Gwilym speak with Rachel Moriarty, Head of Prize Design at the Earthshot Prize. Run by Prince William's Royal Foundation, this new global initiative awards £1million to five winners each year for their contributions to environmentalism. Joining them is patent attorney Jerry Bridge-Butler who organised a team from CIPA to provide the finalists with intellectual property advice.

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The Mercer Review has been published! The Mercer Review is a report on a consultation undertaken by the CIPA on the education, training and assessment arrangements for entry into the UK patent profession. This week Lee and Gwilym sit down with key contributors to the review, Chris Mercer, Vicki Salmon and Lindsay Pike to discuss why the review was launched, the main findings and recommendations and the impact the review will have for all stakeholders involved in patent attorney education, training and assessment. 

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Its the 85th anniversary of The Benevolent Association! To celebrate current secretary Samantha Funnell and Dr Duncan Needham the director of the Centre for Financial History at the University of Cambridge sit down with Lee and Gwilym to talk about the history of the benevolent fund, why it was created and the work it has done over the decades. 

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How can IP help encourage and incentivise sustainable innovation? Elisabeth Eppinger from HTW Berlin and Frank Tietze from University of Cambridge join Lee and Gwilym to talk about their project IPACST (part of Programme Transformation to Stability) which examines the role of IP in sustainable innovations. They explain why IP is important in bringing climate change solutions to market and how different IP models can accelerate sustainable transitions. 


 

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Covid-19 has had a huge impact on mental health. June Dent from mental health charity Jonathan's Voice tells Lee and Gwilym how co-workers and leaders alike can help those who may be struggling.

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The upcoming INTA 2026 in London has us dreaming of pub quizzes, battle of the bands, and podcasting from double-decker buses, but before that excitement, we're diving into the world of intellectual property services with Andre Andrade and Emma Browning from RWS.

These fascinating guests share remarkably similar stories of finding their way into IP through language skills, Andre as a Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French speaker who began as a trademark watcher, and Emma with her French and Italian background starting as a project manager. What's striking is how both have fallen in love with the IP industry, unable now to imagine working in any other field.

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You don't need to like cats for this blog, but it does help. This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by guests über-blog IPKat! Annsley Ward and Rose Hughes talk about how to write engaging content, why its important to keep up to date with the biggest stories in IP and future plans for the blog.

If you haven't read the blog yet you can take a look here: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/

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It's Associations Week! Lee and Gwilym sit down with CIPA staff members Frances Bleach, Dwaine Hamilton, Amy Williams and Iain Ross to talk about how CIPA has grown as a Membership Association, the changes they've seen throughout their time here and what drew them to work within a membership organisation.

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Two IPs in a Pod brings you it's first ever Pubcast! It's a long awaited reunion for Lee and Gwilym as they record their first ever in-person episode alongside CIPA President Alicia Instone, former President and Chair of Congress Committee Julia Florence and Head of Membership Dwaine Hamilton. Over a beer or two they give a roundup of CIPA Congress, hopes for IP in future UK innovation strategy and why now is the best time to volunteer for CIPA. 

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Gwilym's gone AWOL. So Producer Fran joins Lee in conversation with institute staff to discuss how CIPA has emerged from lockdown stronger than ever. Hear how staff met the challenge posed by COVID and innovated during the pandemic, bringing new events, and services to members and rebranding the institute.

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What are the do's and don'ts of business development and marketing for IP firms? Bernard Savage from business development agency Size 10 1/2 Boots talks to Lee and Gwilym about how to spot business development opportunities, creating engaging content that reaches a wider audience and taking a different approach to promoting IP to businesses. 

For more information take a look at the Size 10 1/2 Boots website: https://tenandahalf.co.uk/

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83% of food that is thrown away in Europe is still edible, Solveiga Pakštaitė and Mimica are helping to tackle this problem. Solveiga and her patent attorney Barbara Cookson talk to Lee and Gwilym about the evolution of the Mimica Gel from its inclusive roots, through to the early patenting journey - including trying to write her own patent application - and how the invention is preventing food waste and encouraging sustainability.

For more information on Mimica, check out their website: https://www.mimicalab.com/

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Steve Rowan spent 28 years at the UK Intellectual Property Office before becoming a Vice-President of the European Patent Office, based at The Hague. Lee and Gwilym chat with Steve about the new virtual world, including the big switch to video conferencing and what the future might hold.

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Two peas or not Two peas, that is the question... Or is it? Luke McDonagh, scholar of Intellectual Property Law at the London School of Economics, joins Lee and Gwilym to talk about his new book on theatre and copyright, beginning in Elizabethan London and taking us through to present day litigation. Luke talks about how copyright of theatrical work emerged, the intersection of law and theatre and how theatre changed it's response to copyright law over the centuries.

Luke's book, Performing Copyright; Law, Theatre and Authorship is available now: https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/performing-copyright-9781509927043/

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How do you stay up to date with all the latest news from the world of IP? By reading the blog IP Draughts of course! This week Lee and Gwilym are joined by Mark Anderson and AnnMarie Humphries to talk about why they started IP draughts, the work of Anderson Law LLP and all the latest IP news. 

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Robots are sexy... and reasonable! Ryan Abbott, author of "The Reasonable Robot", professor of Law at the University of Surrey, physician scientist and acupuncturist, joins Lee and Gwilym for our second installment of our Artificial Intelligence series. Ryan talks about the debates surrounding AI being listed as the inventor on patent applications (DABUS), the future of AI in IP and the wider legal system.

You can find the link to Ryan's book "The Reasonable Robot" here: https://ryanabbott.com/publications/

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What happens when podcast hosts become the guests? This delightful crossover episode brings together the worlds of "Two IPs in a Pod" and INTA's "Brand & New" as we welcome host Willard Knox for a behind-the-microphone conversation about the art and craft of intellectual property podcasting.

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There's a rogue pea in the pod! Past CIPA President and head of IP Inclusive Andrea Brewster is our guest host for Mental Health Awareness Week. Lee and Andrea are joined by Mental Health consultant to Jonathan's Voice, June Dent and Tim Fray from Loven Patents and Trademarks to talk about mental health in  IP. They talk about the work of Jonathan's Voice in helping leaders look after their team's mental health, what we get right or wrong when addressing wellbeing in the workplace, and the importance of feeling valued and listened to.

If you are struggling with your mental health here are some useful contacts:
informalswelfare@gmail.com
Jonathan's Voice (jonathansvoice.org.uk)
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Legal… | LawCare, 0800 279 6888
Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen 116 123

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What is the relationship between rights and recipes? Laura Clews from Mathys and Squire takes Lee and Gwilym through the world of food and IP, from warring caterpillar cakes through to protecting trade secrets, recipe hacking and patenting innovation within the food industry.

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Tim Moss is back! This time he tells Lee and Gwilym about the Intellectual Property Office's new Digital Strategy and how the IPO has been managing throughout the pandemic.