Artificial intelligence is creating new questions for companies about patent eligibility, copyright protection and control of digital intellectual property. Those issues will form a substantial part of IIPLA USA 2026, the 30th edition of the International Intellectual Property Law Association’s USA conference, scheduled for September 21 and 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Palo Alto, California.
The two-day conference is expected to draw more than 300 delegates from regions including North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Its audience spans IP lawyers and corporate counsel alongside innovators, law firms and business leaders. The Palo Alto setting also places the discussions close to companies dealing directly with the commercial and legal consequences of emerging technology.
Artificial intelligence occupies a prominent place in the program. An opening plenary will examine the future of intellectual property in the AI economy, while individual sessions are set to address AI-generated inventions and patent eligibility. Copyright protection for AI-generated content is also on the agenda. Other sessions examine generative AI and deepfakes in relation to brand protection, alongside the management of digital IP risks involving open-source technology and AI models.
Patent strategy forms another substantial track across the conference. Planned discussions cover litigation in US federal courts, post-grant proceedings and cross-border enforcement. The second day turns to patent monetization and licensing before examining portfolio strategy for software and AI technologies. Trademark discussions will consider digital commerce, counterfeiting and international enforcement, reflecting the legal questions that accompany the movement of brands across digital markets and national jurisdictions.
CIO Applications is serving as a media partner because the conference intersects directly with its coverage of enterprise technology and the management implications of AI. Intellectual property decisions increasingly accompany technology investment, particularly where AI-generated inventions or software portfolios raise questions about ownership and protection. Reporting on the conference can carry those discussions beyond Palo Alto by examining the technology developments and business implications relevant to CIOs and other enterprise decision-makers.
The 30th edition arrives at a point when emerging technology is testing established approaches to intellectual property while companies continue to manage rights across jurisdictions. IIPLA USA 2026 provides a forum for examining those pressures through patent and trademark practice, licensing and AI-related IP questions. The discussions in Palo Alto should offer a useful indication of how legal and technology leaders are approaching intellectual assets as AI becomes embedded in more areas of business.
