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AI can give you a hundred invention ideas. Which one solves a problem somebody actually cares about—and what would you build to find out? Seth Cronin looks at where AI belongs in invention: new Atlassian research on brainstorming, a Procore patent for smart safety glasses, and a simple travel-mug problem that turns a list of features into something you can test. Also: MIT’s dissolving batteries, Microchip’s completed Hailo acquisition, a robotic wine server, eleven Purdue patents, and Subaru’s exterior-airbag design for protecting people outside the vehicle. Where has AI helped you get from a plausible idea to a useful test? Share the specific example. This Week in IP, from Invent Anything. Hosted by Seth Cronin | ipCapital Group. Recorded September 23, 2026; sources dated September 21–22. CHAPTERS0:00 100 ideas. Now what?0:36 MIT’s dissolving batteries1:19 Microchip buys Hailo2:04 A robotic wine server2:54 Purdue’s eleven patents3:42 AI and the first spark of invention5:42 Procore’s smart safety glasses patent6:24 A better travel mug: problem, constraints, test8:22 What is different? The prior-art question9:37 Subaru’s exterior-airbag patent Sources, links and the full video: https://youtu.be/vw_ruDzFTD0 The Atlassian result concerns brainstorming tasks, not patentability. The MIT work includes animal testing. Patent disclosures do not establish a product launch, performance or safety. Generated illustrative scenes are not footage of the companies’ products. MUSIC: “The Crate Desk” — original composition for Invent Anything. Piano recordings by Versilian Studios, packaged by Nicholaus P. Brosowsky (tonejs-instruments), CC BY 3.0; pitch-shifted, arranged and processed. No endorsement implied. Additional sounds: Karoryfer Black and Blue Basses and VCSL (CC0); GeneralUser GS by S. Christian Collins. Jev LevelDrive saturation used under its MIT license.

BoomCloud 360 is asking to block imports of certain Apple, Samsung and Google devices. What happens when a patent dispute becomes a product-launch problem? In the first Unofficial Patent Gazette from Invent Anything, Seth Cronin looks at three audio patents, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and what the requested import restrictions could mean for product teams. At the time covered by this episode, the ITC had opened an investigation, with no infringement finding or import ban in this case. Also this week: the reported $27.6 million Stratasys/Bambu Lab jury verdict, Oxford Nanopore's announcement of a preliminary injunction against MGI Tech, a focused spatial-audio patent search, and a published swimming-pool rescue application that raises a net from the pool floor. If infringement is proven, should one patented feature be enough to keep an entire product out of the country? Or should compensation be enough? Let me know in the comments. Subscribe to Invent Anything for more on patents, inventions, and the business of innovation. CHAPTERS 0:00 Three patents and the U.S. border 0:47 Stratasys vs. Bambu Lab: the jury verdict 1:34 Oxford Nanopore and MGI Tech 2:16 BoomCloud vs. Apple, Samsung and Google 2:50 Why an ITC case becomes a product problem 3:37 The domestic-industry requirement 4:01 Apple's separate Supreme Court petition 5:02 What the spatial-audio patent data tells us 6:20 Beyond counting patents 6:51 Patent of the Week: a pool-rescue system 7:57 What changes for the product? EPISODE The Unofficial Patent Gazette, Episode 001: Patents at the Border Host: Seth Cronin Recorded September 21, 2026. News window: September 14-18, 2026. Apple's September 3 petition is included as background. SOURCES BoomCloud investigation, USITC 337-TA-1521: https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0916_69235.htm Official notice identifying the three asserted patents, US 10,524,078; US 11,533,560; US 11,051,121: https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/337/337_1521_notice09162026sgl.pdf Stratasys/Bambu Lab verdict reporting, Bloomberg Law: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/stratasys-wins-27-million-from-bambu-in-3d-printing-patent-suit Oxford Nanopore company announcement, RNS 9084U: https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2026-09-16:newsml_RSP9084Ua:0-reg-oxford-nanopore-tech-preliminary-injunction-against-mgi-tech-gmbh/ Apple v. ITC, Supreme Court docket 26-316: https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26-316.html Patent of the Week: Automatic Rescue System for Swimming Pools, US 2026/0274385 A1, Amir Rahimpour: https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/20260274385 PATENT DATA Minesoft Origin searches, September 18, 2026. BoomCloud: 45 U.S. applications, grouped by application; continuations remain separate. Spatial audio: 642 results in the defined U.S. keyword search, published since 2016. These searches have different scopes. Counts are not separate inventions, market shares, or predictions of the case's outcome. The pool-rescue document is a published application, not evidence of a validated commercial product.

You filed a provisional patent application. The clock is ticking on your year of protection. So what should you actually do with it? In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin, who has spent three decades in intellectual property at IP Capital Group, walks through a practical, six-topic game plan for getting the most out of your provisional: - Taking stock: what kind of provisional did you really file? - Immediate actions to take in the first weeks - What to do at the three-month and six-month marks - How different players (inventors, CEOs, investors, CTOs) view your provisional - Closing it out: abandon, or convert to a full patent? - The future of intellectual asset management, and how agentic AI may soon handle much of this for you Whether you're a first-time inventor, a startup, or part of a larger organization, this is a clear, business-minded plan for turning a provisional into real value.

What comes after you start building value from your first patent? In Part 2 of this series, John Cronin dives into advanced strategies for leveraging your IP in real-world business scenarios. Learn how to use patents to close deals with customers and vendors, raise investment, and combine multiple strategies to maximize value. This episode also explores the future of patents in an AI-driven world and how your patent could evolve into a powerful, self-driving asset.

What do you do after your first patent is granted? In Part 1 of this two-part series, John Cronin breaks down how to turn your patent into real business value. From licensing and litigation to M&A strategy and defending against copycats, this episode delivers a practical roadmap for inventors, founders, and executives looking to monetize and scale their IP. Learn the key decisions, trade-offs, and strategies that move a patent off the wall and into the market.

Turn your invention disclosures into powerhouse assets. 💡🚀 In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down why the traditional invention disclosure process often falls short and how to transform it into an inventor-led, business-grade strategy that drives real ROI. From understanding claims, enablement, and prior art to expanding ideas through inventive thinking tools and business strategy alignment, this episode connects the dots between a simple disclosure and a high-value patent portfolio You’ll learn: Why most invention disclosures are too weak, too vague, or too disconnected from final patent claims The true role of patent counsel and where inventors can add more value Inventor-led thinking tools like inventing around, species/genus expansion, and master disclosure strategy How business-grade thinking boosts licensing value, platform growth, and competitive advantage How combining inventor-led and business-grade approaches can multiply patent strength and company valuation If you’re an inventor, CEO, engineer, or anyone navigating the patent process, this episode offers a 360° view of how to build stronger patents, smarter portfolios, and more valuable intellectual property. Subscribe for more insights on turning innovation into real-world impact.

Build the Inventive Muscle Before AI Does 🚀 Is invention rare genius… or a skill you can train? In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin shares how creative thinking is a learnable process that drives 10X–100X results From his journey as IBM’s top inventor to building the IBM Patent Factory, he explains why invention is a muscle and how to strengthen it. You’ll learn: • Practical creativity tools like noun/verb thinking • Why most organizations struggle to innovate • How AI and AGI are creating a “digital inventive muscle” The future of innovation is here. The only question is whether you’ll train for it. Subscribe for more from Invent Anything.

The value of patents is rising again, fast. In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down why the IP value pendulum has swung back toward stronger patents, and what this dramatic shift means for CEOs, inventors, investors, product leaders, marketers, and legal teams. Over the past decade, Inter Partes Review (IPR) weakened patents and made litigation unpredictable. But recent policy changes at the U.S. Patent Office have reversed course, restoring patent strength, enhancing enforceability, and shaking up IP strategy across industries. Whether you're building an IP portfolio, navigating product roadmaps, defending against copycats, or trying to understand how AI will transform litigation, this episode gives you the full landscape.

AI is triggering a new IP gold rush, and the entire landscape is shifting. In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down how AI is transforming IP landscapes: from mapping unseen patent white spaces and decoding competitor strategies, to spotting where the next big inventions will emerge. You’ll learn how AI tools can supercharge your IP strategy, the risks of AI-generated patents, and what CEOs, inventors, and IP leaders must do now to stay ahead instead of getting blindsided. If you’re building or protecting innovation in the age of AI, this episode is your new playbook. 💡📈

In this episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of intellectual property. He outlines six key topics from current business adoption of AI, to the evolution of patent strategies, to the future of AI-powered innovation. John Cronin explains how AI is accelerating invention across industries, enabling “in-time” patent creation, and turning patents into living, revenue-generating assets. He highlights the new types of inventions possible in AI-assisted businesses spanning business models, functional inventions, novel compositions, multi-sensory interfaces, and advanced manufacturing processes. Looking ahead, John predicts an unprecedented surge in invention velocity, reduced R&D costs, and new domains for patent protection. For startups, corporate innovators, investors, attorneys, and policymakers, the message is clear: leveraging AI and IP together will be a competitive baseline for business success in the years to come.

Agentic AI is transforming the business world—fast. In this compelling episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin breaks down how intelligent software agents are not just supporting work but replacing it. From automating entire workflows to building custom systems in minutes, companies are slashing overhead, ditching bloated SaaS tools, and discovering they can run leaner, faster, and more efficiently than ever before. One person can now do the work of what used to be an entire department—sometimes even create a billion-dollar company—by harnessing 50+ AI agents. But with great power comes the need for protection. As Cronin emphasizes, if AI can clone your workflow in hours, intellectual property (IP) becomes more than just useful—it’s essential. Companies that understand this are racing to patent not just their products, but the workflows and agents behind them. Whether it’s automating compliance, onboarding, or creating self-improving systems through reflective AI, the opportunity to generate patentable innovations is exploding. Cronin outlines six core topics: the shift from manual to machine; reinventing IP strategy in the AI era; redesigning lean, scalable businesses; building enterprise stacks of agents; the rise of reflective AI that evolves without retraining; and using IP as a strategic advantage in this new landscape. This episode isn’t just for CEOs—it’s for anyone navigating the future of work, from solopreneurs to enterprise teams. With Agentic AI on the rise, understanding how to deploy it—and defend it—is now a competitive necessity. Watch to learn how to future-proof your organization while riding the wave of the most disruptive tech shift in decades. #AgenticAI #FutureOfWork #AIandIP #InventAnything #Automation #ReflectiveAI #BusinessStrategy #Patents #IntellectualProperty #Innovation #ipcg.com

In this must-listen episode of Invent Anything, John Cronin dives deep into how artificial intelligence—and specifically AI agents—are revolutionizing the way businesses innovate. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, inventor, or just curious about the future of product development, this episode delivers a strategic roadmap for integrating AI into your innovation workflows. Cronin breaks down six powerful ways AI and AI agents are reshaping everything from invention processes to IP creation. You’ll learn how these tools are not just speeding things up—they’re uncovering hidden value, streamlining supply chains, enhancing prototyping, and even generating patentable ideas that businesses would otherwise miss. He explores how AI is evolving beyond just large language models into goal-oriented agents and ultimately, toward superintelligent systems that might soon outperform traditional R&D teams. From real-world use cases like AI-powered prototyping and automated patent writing, to surprising insights such as how AI can spot unseen user needs or recommend cost-saving materials, Cronin shares dozens of practical applications and eye-opening stories from his own consulting experience. He also warns that sitting on the sidelines isn’t an option—businesses that delay adopting AI risk being left behind. This episode is ideal for: Founders and CTOs looking for quick wins with AI Innovation leaders and product teams aiming to streamline development IP professionals exploring new frontiers in AI-driven protection Business strategists ready to future-proof operations As AI accelerates at lightning speed, Cronin urges listeners to act now—and not just to keep up, but to lead. From laying the foundation to embracing advanced AI ecosystems, he shows how you can gain a competitive edge, reduce costs, and unlock entirely new opportunities. Tune in to discover how to transform your ideas into market-ready innovations—faster, smarter, and more strategically than ever before.

In this powerful episode of Invent Anything, host John Cronin pulls back the curtain on the transformation happening at the intersection of AI and Intellectual Asset Management (IAM). If you’re a CEO or CTO navigating IP strategy, innovation pipelines, or competitive growth, this is your roadmap to what’s next. AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s quietly revolutionizing how companies identify, protect, value, and monetize their IP. From automating prior art searches to predicting portfolio value and spotting infringement in real time, AI-enhanced IAM is enabling smarter, faster, and more strategic innovation management. But it’s not just about automation. Cronin dives deep into: How AI is enhancing core IAM workflows like patent drafting, valuation, and portfolio management Where AI is being resisted—and why legal risk, job insecurity, and lack of transparency are holding back adoption Real-world use cases across small startups and Fortune 500s alike Integration opportunities with R&D, marketing, legal, and M&A through intelligent IP data sharing and risk detection This episode also looks ahead, forecasting how **emerging AI technologies—like quantum machine learning, symbolic reasoning, and emotion-aware agents—**may further disrupt how companies protect and grow innovation assets. You’ll get insight into: AI-powered licensing and NDA negotiation tools Detection of trade secret leaks and rogue inventors Custom IAM agents tailored to your specific tech vertical or business model Whether you’re scaling a new product line or future-proofing your IP position in the age of AI, this session helps you rethink your entire approach to innovation management. Key takeaway: AI in IAM isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming a necessity. And the companies that adopt it early will lead tomorrow’s innovation economy.

What happens when Jack Dorsey tweets “Delete all IP law” — and Elon Musk replies “Agree”? In this thought-provoking panel episode of Invent Anything, IP Capital Group dives deep into one of the most controversial innovation debates of our time. Hosted by CTO Seth Cronin and joined by IP veterans Nancy Cronin, Mike DeAndrea, and Nathan D., this roundtable explores the role of intellectual property in a fast-moving, AI-driven world—and whether the current system is helping or hurting progress. From broken patent systems and litigation nightmares to monopolies, trolls, and multi-billion-dollar corporations gaming the rules, this episode doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable questions: Should patents still exist in the digital age? Is the 20-year patent model obsolete for fast-paced tech? Can small inventors survive in a world without IP protection? Do big players really benefit more from having no IP laws at all? You’ll also hear the panelists unpack Dorsey’s and Musk’s likely motivations—from their roles in AI development to concerns about creativity, open innovation, and fair compensation for creators. Real-world stories—like the inventor of a speed jump rope whose patent was crushed by big money legal tactics—highlight the very human cost of an outdated system. But instead of just criticizing, the panel offers thoughtful reform ideas: shorter patent terms for tech, lower filing costs, faster examination timelines, and AI-assisted IP management. This is a must-watch for CEOs, CTOs, inventors, and policymakers who want to understand the real dynamics shaping the future of innovation, investment, and competition. Whether you believe the system needs an overhaul or total demolition, this episode will make you think. Watch now and tell us: Is it time to fix IP—or delete it? #Innovation #IPLaw #Patents #TechDebate #InventAnything

Greetings and welcome back to Invent Anything. Coming out, you'll start to learn why AI is both a lifeline and a landmine for IP directors, especially when the big players move slow and the startups build fast. We'll explore why rolling your own AI strategy as an IP director is smart, and it might be the only way to stay relevant, and it might be the only way to control your IP in the future.