Intellectual property might not sound like the stuff of cinematic thrills, but Hollywood has quietly built an impressive filmography around patents, trade marks, trade secrets and licensing deals.

Published: 2 February 2026
Author: Andrew Brennan

Intellectual property might not sound like the stuff of cinematic thrills, but Hollywood has quietly built an impressive filmography around patents, trade marks, trade secrets and licensing deals. From dinosaurs running amok to mop‑based entrepreneurship, IP disputes have shaped some of cinema’s most memorable storylines. Here are Shoosmiths’ intellectual property team’s top ten films where the plot hinges on intellectual property (sometimes explicitly, sometimes lurking behind the chaos) plus one honourable mention that practically defines the dangers of copyright infringement.

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

IP issue: Misuse of trade secrets

The rampaging T. Rex and terrified visitors tend to overshadow the fact that the entire plot of Jurassic Park is set in motion by an attempt to misappropriate trade secrets. Dennis Nedry, disgruntled system architect, attempts to steal InGen’s closely guarded trade secrets (including the embryo storage system and genetic engineering know‑how). His industrial espionage triggers a catastrophic systems failure, freeing the dinosaurs and reminding employers everywhere that cybersecurity matters almost as much as fencing.

2. Tetris (2023)

IP issue: Copyright licensing

You wouldn’t expect a film about a falling‑blocks puzzle game to be a corporate thriller, yet Tetris turns the battle for video game licensing rights into a Cold War‑era caper. The film follows Henk Rogers as he navigates Soviet bureaucracy, corporate rivals, and fragile geopolitical tensions to secure handheld rights for Nintendo’s Game Boy. It’s a sharp, fascinating demonstration that IP negotiations can be every bit as gripping as a spy movie.

3. Zootropolis 2 (2025)

IP issue: Patent entitlement

While animated blockbusters rarely dabble in patent law, Zootropolis 2 stands out as the first (and possibly last) children’s film ever to feature a dispute over patent entitlement as a central plot device. Agnes the pit viper is revealed to be the true inventor of the weather walls, with business-lynx, Ebenezer Lynxley, falsely claiming he was the inventor and seeking the patent for it. Murder, the framing of the true inventor and the creation of a multi-generational business empire ensue. It’s IP law with fur. Zootropolis 2 receives bonus points because (it is alleged) Disney could not use Zootopia (the name in its home market) in the United Kingdom and some other markets because of trade mark issues.

4. The Founder (2016)

IP issue: Trade marks and brand control

Part rise‑and‑rise tale, part cautionary story, The Founder follows Ray Kroc’s transformation of McDonald’s from a local diner into a global empire. The real IP twist? Kroc recognises that the true value of the business isn’t in its burgers but in its brand (the McDonald’s name and the Golden Arches). By securing control of the branding, he effectively sidelines the original founders from their own creation, illustrating the formidable power (and peril) of having control over one’s trade marks.

5. The Social Network (2010)

IP issue: Copyright infringement and misuse of confidential information

David Fincher’s taut drama about the birth of Facebook is fuelled by allegations from the Winklevoss twins that Mark Zuckerberg took their idea (and elements of their original code) for a Harvard social network. The legal battle highlights the blurred lines between inspiration, collaboration, and misappropriation in the tech world.

6. Duplicity (2009)

IP issue: Misuse of trade secrets

Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as former spies entangled in a high‑gloss battle between two rival corporations. Their mission? Steal a secret formula for a revolutionary new product. Duplicity is a witty, twist‑filled example of trade secret theft at its most glamorous: secure labs, corporate paranoia and double‑crosses served with champagne all culminating in an epic gun fight at the Gugenheim (an average Tuesday afternoon for an IP lawyer).

7. Flash of Genius (2008)

IP issue: Patent infringement

This biographical drama tells the story of Robert Kearns, a college professor who invented the intermittent windshield wiper and then spent decades fighting major automakers who are alleged to have used his invention without permission. The resulting legal battle, grounded in patent law, is a David v Goliath story.

8. Joy (2015)

IP issue: Invention and product protection

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Joy Mangano, the inventor of the Miracle Mop. The film follows her struggle to turn her patented innovation into a commercial success while facing copycats, manufacturing challenges and contract disputes. For any budding entrepreneur, Joy is a reminder that protecting and commercialising IP requires not only creativity, but resilience.

9. The Prestige (2006)

IP issue: Trade Secrets

An often overlooked Christopher Nolan film, few movies capture the power and peril of trade secrets as vividly as The Prestige. The rivalry between magicians Robert Angier and Alfred Borden escalates into obsession when Angier becomes consumed with uncovering the secret behind Borden’s show‑stopping illusion, The Transported Man. In a profession where a trick’s mechanics are its most valuable assets, this clandestine knowledge becomes the ultimate prize.

10. Air (2023)

IP issue: Licensing negotiations

Air centres on a high‑stakes licensing deal for Michael Jordan’s name, with Michael Jordan’s mother ultimately negotiating a royalty of sales. The film shows Nike’s efforts to secure the rights that would eventually underpin the Air Jordan empire.

Honourable Mention: Nosferatu (1922)

IP issue: Copyright infringement

Not a film about IP, but itself a major IP landmark. Nosferatu was an unauthorised adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Bram Stoker’s estate promptly sued for copyright infringement, being awarded an injunction and destruction of all copies of the film. Thankfully for horror fans, some survived. It remains a testament to the enduring risks of disregarding copyright.