What if the biggest risk to your startup isn’t competition—but saying too much, too early?
In a world where founders race to ship, pitch, and publish, Dina Blikshteyn sits on the other side of the chessboard—watching brilliant ideas quietly slip into the public domain before they’re ever protected. It’s not that founders don’t value IP. It’s that they realize its importance… about six months too late.
Dina Blikshteyn is a Partner at Haynes Boone, co-chair of its AI practice, and a rare hybrid: former engineer turned IP strategist. She began her career building high-frequency trading systems on Wall Street before pivoting into law—now advising companies at the bleeding edge of AI, patents, and tech regulation. At Haynes Boone, she works with startups and enterprises alike to navigate one of the most misunderstood battlegrounds in tech today: how to actually own innovation in the age of AI.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss
- 00:01Introduction to Dina Blikshteyn and AI + IP background
- 00:42Dina’s origin story: engineering, Wall Street, and law
- 01:47How technical background shapes IP and AI legal work
- 02:23Key challenges in patenting AI and emerging tech
- 03:03Why startups delay IP—and the consequences
- 03:59Patent basics: filing vs protection timeline
- 05:04International patent strategy for startups
- 06:26Common founder misconceptions about patentability
- 07:41Patent vs trade secrets vs trademarks vs copyright
- 08:19Risks of NDAs and IP leakage in startups
- 09:35Publishing vs protecting IP in AI research
- 10:53Patent surprises and broad claims in emerging tech
- 12:05OpenAI, patents, and shifting strategies in AI
- 14:21Comparing AI to past platform shifts
- 15:07Patent enforcement and proving infringement
- 17:39Litigation, settlements, and patent dispute dynamics
- 19:18Famous patent cases and startup vs big tech battles
- 21:41Lessons for startups from major IP cases
- 22:45How AI tools are changing patent workflows
- 24:24Are moats dead? Rethinking defensibility in AI
- 25:19What AI startups should actually patent
- 26:25Patent lifespan vs fast-moving tech cycles
- 27:54Open source vs proprietary IP strategies
- 29:24Evolution of AI regulation (US vs states vs EU)
- 31:23How regulation impacts innovation and startups
- 34:04AI governance frameworks (NIST, ISO)
- 35:04Future of AI regulation and legal landscape
- 36:01AI copyright lawsuits and fair use debate
- 38:01Derivative works, copyright, and AI-generated content
- 40:22Implications for creators and content economics
- 41:03Rapid fire: AI and IP misconceptions
- 45:14Closing thoughts and future of AI + law
Sharp takeaways you won’t forget:
“By the time startups realize they need a patent… it’s already too late.”
“You don’t need to patent everything—but you better protect your crown jewels.”
Follow Dina Blikshteyn on LinkedIn: LinkedIn