Podcast

From Spark to Impact, the Conscious Path of an Idea

Case Study: Lego’s Playbook For Intellectual Property – Intangiblia™

Think a lost patent ends the story? We unpack how Lego turned a single technical invention into a platform for decades of innovation, brand power, and adult creativity. Starting with the 1958 stud-and-tube coupling, we explain what the original brick patent really covered, why its expiry didn’t sink the company, and how modern patents protect motion, mechanisms, and programmable systems rather than basic interlocking. From there, we map the rest of the toolkit: trademarks for source identity, design rights for appearance, and copyrights for expressive elements.We also dive into the courtroom rulers that drew bright lines on functionality. Attempts to trademark the brick shape faltered in Canada and the EU because function can’t double as a brand signifier, while the minifigure shape prevailed as a 3D trademark. A later EU design-rights win showed that even bricks have protectable visual features when not purely functional. Enforcement cases against Best-Lock and Lepin underline how copyrights and trade dress defend minifigures, packaging, and character designs across markets.Then we switch from courts to culture. Lego’s adult strategy blends nostalgia with display-worthy design: Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series, sleek Architecture skylines, and the Botanical collection that doubles as decor. Black-box, 18+ packaging telegraphs “made for you,” and the brand leans into mindful building as a calming, creative ritual. Finally, we explore Lego Serious Play, an open-source methodology that spreads fast through facilitators while the company retains the brand and sells specialized kits. It’s a masterclass in sharing the method but owning the name.If you enjoy smart takes on how IP, marketing, and design shape the products you love, hit follow, share this with a friend who builds, and leave a review to tell us which Lego insight surprised you most.Send us a textCheck out "Protection for the Inventive Mind" – available now on Amazon in print and Kindle formats. The views and opinions expressed (by the host and guest(s)) in this podcast are strictly their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the entities with which they may be affiliated. This podcast should in no way be construed as promoting or criticizing any particular government policy, institutional position, private interest or commercial entity. Any content provided is for informational and educational purposes only.
  1. Case Study: Lego’s Playbook For Intellectual Property
  2. Zodiac Season, Litigation Rising
  3. From Spark to Impact, the Conscious Path of an Idea
  4. Mireille Gomes – Can Algorithms Heal? Reimagining Health Equity with AI and Data Justice
  5. Jean Marc Seigneur – In Trust We Build: Designing the Future of Digital Reputation

In this special episode, Leticia Caminero steps into the guest’s seat to explore the ideas behind her book Protection for the Inventive Mind. Through an honest and reflective conversation, she shares how creativity, human-centered design, and intellectual property come together to turn fragile ideas into real, sustainable value. This episode is an invitation to think differently about innovation, protection, and the courage to build with intention.

Ever had an idea feel bright in the shower and dim by lunchtime? We open the door to a different path: a living, pencil-in-hand guide for taking an idea from spark to market with intellectual property as structure, not handcuffs. Leticia moves from host to guest to share why she wrote Protection for the Inventive Mind and how it helps creators make small daily moves that reduce anxiety, protect originality, and build sustainable income.

We walk through the mindset shift that turns books into workspaces and readers into builders. Instead of chasing a finish line like “file the patent,” we reframe protection as a bridge to value—licensing, partnerships, investment, and fair deals. You will hear how to sequence complexity, choose what to cut without losing the soul of the idea, and align patents, utility models, or industrial designs with a clear strategy. The String of Thought method takes center stage: an honest chain that captures fear, sparks, contradictions, and breakthroughs without polishing too soon. That chain becomes both creative x-ray and strategic map, revealing what deserves protection and where the market fit can take root.

From user-first thinking to documentation practices that stand up in conflict, we stitch together design thinking, practical IP, and monetization in a humane way. This is about creative justice: giving your idea the structure it needs to breathe, be recognized, and be paid. If you are tired of vague advice and hungry for a process that respects both magic and rigor, this conversation will meet you where you are and move you one concrete step forward today.

If this episode helps you see your idea more clearly, share it with a friend who needs a nudge. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the next small step you will take.

Comment | Comentario

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.