[The IPKat] Fordham 33 (Report 1): Government Leader's Perspective on IP

[Annsley Merelle Ward]

Kick off at Fordham 2026The IPKat is back at Fordham, with the Spring skies and the chirping birds gracing the streets of the Upper West Side. As a proud and long-standing partner with the Fordham IP Conference, now in its 33rd year, the IPKat is thrilled to partner with the students of Fordham for reports from this years’ conference for those unable to attend. The first report comes from Sarah Bui (Research Legal Assistant at the IP Institute and LL.M. in Fashion Law at Fordham University School of Law). 

Over to Sarah:  

"The conference opened with a session entitled “Government Leaders’ Perspective on Intellectual Property” which focused on global intellectual property protection in the era of artificial intelligence.

Daryl Lim of Penn State Dickinson Law and Associate Director of the IP Institute introduced the panel, which included David Kappos of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Trina Ha of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, Lisa Jorgenson of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Shira Perlmutter of the U.S. Copyright Office, and Kamil Kiljanski of the European Commission in Brussels.  All views expressed on the panel were their personal views.  

Lisa Jorgensen opened by emphasizing WIPO’s role as a central coordinator for international cooperation, designed to modernize IP systems worldwide. WIPO has a set of programs developed and improved year by year. These programs include legislative assistance and dispute resolution mechanisms. Such initiatives are particularly significant for developing countries, as they help build national intellectual property systems. At the same time, developed countries benefit from these developments, as they can now enter manufacturing and sell in those countries.

Kamil Kiljanski highlighted that global initiatives have a significant local impact, and it is therefore important to find a balance between these developments and traditional local knowledge and expressions - “I think it is very important that those two need to intersect".

Other panelists praised WIPO's work. Shira Perlmutter noted that WIPO is "the only place for countries to share their ideas, experiences and data, and learn from each other."

Trina Ha added that helping businesses use their IP effectively requires building international networks and sharing solutions across countries. She highlighted the Asian Centre in Singapore, which works with experts and consultants to help businesses learn to use their IP strategically.

The discussion then shifted to the use of AI in modernizing IP institutions. Lisa Jorgenson explained that AI can serve as a tool to improve WIPO services, particularly in areas such as PCT operations and translation services. Kamil Kiljanski noted that AI could reduce registration and maintenance costs.

Next, Shira Perlmutter discussed the Copyright Act, noting that while the statute continues to provide a strong framework for defining works of authorship, originality, creativity, and exclusive rights, it may need to be adapted to address the challenges posed by AI. "It is impossible not to say that AI is the biggest issue facing us today."

Finally, David Kappos emphasized that stability and predictability in IP regimes are vital. He pointed to recent U.S. decisions, including the Cox Communications Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment case, which he described as destabilizing and creating uncertainty for innovators and implementers. By contrast, judges and administrators in Europe and Asia were praised for "fostering more reliable and consistent IP systems."

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