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You can throw shade, but can you own the idea of shade? Shibumi's sunshade has become an essential part of the coastal landscape, but that has sparked some fierce legal battles. We'll talk patents, beginning with the evolution of shade solutions from caveman ingenuity to Shibumi's wind-powered marvel. Plus, you'll get the inside scoop on the recent lawsuit where Shibumi defended its designs against Beach Shade LLC, demonstrating the high stakes of protecting intellectual property in today's competitive markets.

But the beach isn't the only place optimization matters. Ever wondered the optimal way to board a plane or fund your education? We dive into the secrets behind efficient airline boarding procedures and the real-world challenges that complicate them. Then, we shift to a heated debate on Income Share Agreements (ISAs) versus traditional student loans, exploring their unique benefits and drawbacks. Get ready to question everything you thought you knew about intellectual property as we discuss Boldrin and Levine's controversial views on innovation and competition. 

Links and Resources:

Shibumi:

• Description of Shibumi v. Beach Shade:  https://www.finnegan.com/en/insights/articles/southeast-litigation-update-december-2023.html
• Primary Shibumi Patent, Granted January 2019:  https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/patents/patent/US-10190330-B2
• List of Patents, From Shibumi Web Site:  https://shibumishade.com/pages/patents
• The Assembly--"Shibumi Has Taken Over NC Beaches" https://www.theassemblync.com/business/shibumi-shade-takes-over-north-carolina-beaches/

• ISA's:  https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2022-03-02/income-share-agreements-and-private-education-loan-requirements

• Michele Boldrin on IP, on Econtalk: https://www.econtalk.org/boldrin-on-intellectual-property/ 

If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at [email protected] !

You can follow Mike Munger on Twitter at @mungowitz