What if the future of science and biotech was built on legal frameworks that empower communities, not corporations?

In Episode 44 of the Molecule Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Hudson — lawyer, anthropologist, and Chief Legal Architect at Molecule. Jesse is a pioneer in building legal infrastructure for decentralized science (DeSci), DAOs, and intellectual property (IP) tokenization.

This episode dives deep into:

- The failure of the current global IP system

- IP as cultural infrastructure

- IP tokenization and why it matters for DAOs

- Licensing, enforcement, and the problem of patent trolls

- How indigenous IP and cultural property are being reclaimed through blockchain

- New models for governance, dispute resolution, and community-owned IP

Jesse’s unique experience working with Amazonian tribes, biotech DAOs, and legal DAOs brings one of the most profound and ethical perspectives to the DeSci conversation.

Timestamps:0:00 – Intro: Why IP matters2:13 – Meet Jesse Hudson: Legal architect & anthropologist5:05 – From anthropology to biotech DAOs7:44 – IP in the digital age: Why it’s grown 70x11:02 – How IP impacts individuals: NIL rights & personal brands15:10 – IP basics: Trademark, copyright, patents20:05 – Patent trolls & the licensing problem27:01 – Is the IP system serving the public?30:10 – Tesla & IP strategy: When to share vs protect33:42 – DAOs as IP holders: SideDAO & decentralized licensing36:10 – IP tokens & collective governance38:18 – Indigenous cultural IP: Working with the Shipibo tribe44:20 – NFT royalties & licensing for indigenous art48:52 – IP ethics: Alternative models beyond Western frameworks53:22 – DAO-based dispute resolution & legal evolution59:50 – Closing thoughts: Cultural values driving IP systems🔗 Learn more at https://molecule.xyz