AI dominates global IP debate at INTA conference in London
AI dominates global IP debate at INTA conference in London
Publish Date: 2026-05-18 16:46:00
Source Domain: www.dailyjournal.com
Erica J. Van Loon and Michelle E. Armond
Artificial intelligence dominated this year’s International Trademark Association annual meeting in London, where roughly 10,000 intellectual property attorneys gathered to discuss cross-border disputes, the European Unified Patent Court and the widening divide among countries over AI-generated works.
For copyright and trademark litigator Erica J. Van Loon and patent litigator Michelle E. Armond of Armond Wilson LLP, the conference underscored how quickly the global IP landscape is changing.
“In a word: AI,” Van Loon said. “It eclipsed all other IP trends and discussions. What’s fascinating is how different jurisdictions are handling it. The U.S. requires human authorship for copyright protection, but that’s not the case everywhere.”
Van Loon said attorneys from other countries described more flexible approaches to AI-generated content, highlighting the growing challenges companies face in protecting intellectual property across multiple jurisdictions.
The Unified Patent Court also remained a major focus. Two years after launching, the court is reshaping patent litigation in Europe and influencing disputes worldwide.
“Two years in, the UPC has dramatically changed patent litigation in Europe and beyond,” Armond said. “Simultaneously, China is making a play to become a dominant venue for resolving worldwide IP disputes.”
Armond said recent clashes between Chinese and U.K. courts over standard-essential patents reflect China’s broader shift from a manufacturing economy toward an innovation-driven one.
Privacy law concerns also surfaced repeatedly at the conference, particularly stricter European Union and U.K. rules governing data privacy and discovery.
“Comparing notes with foreign litigators on how they conduct discovery under those restrictions is illuminating,” Van Loon said. “It’s nothing like U.S. practice.”
INTA rotates internationally every few years, with this year’s London conference…
