In the 11th installment in a series of episodes of the State Bar of Texas Podcast recorded from the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting 2024, the topic focuses on IP law. What can we learn about law from a sci-fi TV show? State Bar of Texas Podcast host Rocky Dhir welcomes Leela Madan, Hope Shimabuku, and Catherine Rifai to talk about Netflix’s Black Mirror and the potential ethical implications of AI-fueled technology in the real world. Many now question how the rapid developments of AI tech should be regulated and held accountable. The group explores ethical rules and existing laws that could apply to different scenarios—both real and imagined.
Leela Madan is a licensed patent attorney and owner of Madan Law PLLC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and mathematics and has extensive experience in patent prosecution, specifically in chemistry, as well as various other types of engineering and technologies. Madan also has extensive experience with U.S. trademark practices, including obtaining trademark registrations, as well as defending opposition and cancelation proceedings, conducting regular policing to identify infringers, as well as prosecuting matters before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Hope Shimabuku is the Regional Director of the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO and is responsible for leading the Texas regional office. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Ms. Shimabuku ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the region’s unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders. Ms. Shimabuku brings to the USPTO nearly two decades of experience as an engineer and intellectual property attorney.
Catherine “Cat” Rifai is a senior associate in Munck Wilson Mandala’s robust group of trademark, copyright, and patent attorneys, serving clients globally in transactional and dispute matters. Her practice ranges from negotiating and drafting business and IP agreements to analyzing and managing IP portfolios. Rifai handles domestic and international prosecution of trademarks and patents, represents clients in trademark trial and appeal board and uniform domain-name dispute-resolution policy litigation proceedings, and negotiates and drafts intellectual property agreements and contracts.
Listen to the episode here:
The State Bar of Texas Podcast is produced in association with the Legal Talk Network.