Answer first: Elizabeth Alquist, a partner at Day Pitney LLP and recent Intellectual Property Practitioner of the Year awardee, shares insights on the growing complexity of IP litigation in Connecticut. She emphasizes the importance of strategic IP protection, common pitfalls businesses face, and how artificial intelligence is resh…
Litigation context for IP teams
Elizabeth Alquist, a seasoned intellectual property litigation attorney and partner at Day Pitney LLP, recently spoke about the significance of intellectual property litigation in Connecticut and beyond. With over 30 years of experience and a leadership role on Day Pitney’s executive committee, Alquist brings a wealth of knowledge on the evolving challenges and opportunities in IP law.
In 2025, Alquist was honored as Intellectual Property Practitioner of the Year at the Second Annual Connecticut Distinguished IP Practitioners’ Dinner. She described the award as a meaningful recognition of a year marked by complex, high-stakes cases and the trust placed in her and her teams. Among her recent work, she served as lead trial counsel in a multi-week software licensing trial that ended in victory, and she is currently defending that outcome on appeal.
Key takeaways for intellectual property litigation in Connecticut
- Confirm how the development affects litigation ownership, enforcement, licensing, or portfolio records.
- Separate confirmed facts from legal interpretation before advising business teams.
- Map deadlines, affected assets, contracts, and evidence files to the responsible internal owner.
- Use the issue as a prompt for monitoring, filing strategy, dispute preparation, or member education.
Practical analysis
Shortly after, Alquist led the resolution of a billion-dollar copyright dispute through intensive mediation on the eve of trial. She also manages defenses for a manufacturer of sophisticated scientific instruments facing multiple customer lawsuits, including recent trials and ongoing preparations. Additionally, she oversees efforts to protect the trademarks, copyrights, and trade dress of a globally recognized toy brand.
Reflecting on changes in IP litigation over her career, Alquist noted the field has become more global and immediate. "A product launch, a social media post, or a new technology can trigger cross-border disputes in real time," she explained, requiring lawyers to respond swiftly with broad strategic insight. Despite these shifts, the core principles remain: protecting innovation, resolving business-critical disputes, and navigating competitive landscapes.
Alquist emphasized that businesses must start with robust protection strategies tailored to their industry, whether through trademarks, copyrights, patents, or trade secrets. She stressed the importance of policing these rights actively, including monitoring for patent infringements at trade shows and vigilantly searching for trademark violations, especially given the rapid spread of information online.
She cautioned against common mistakes that lead to costly IP litigation. "Don’t infringe on patents, trademarks, or copyrights," she advised, highlighting the risks of protracted litigation, damages, and injunctions. Alquist also urged companies to conduct trademark clearances before adopting new names and to avoid assuming that images or music found online are free to use without proper rights or fair use justification.
On the impact of artificial intelligence, Alquist pointed to a recent high-profile settlement where a generative AI company agreed to pay $1.5 billion to resolve a class action copyright lawsuit by authors. The case clarified that training AI on lawfully purchased and scanned books is permissible, while the use of pirated materials remains legally unsettled.
She noted that AI is transforming how companies innovate and compete, which will affect every aspect of the IP ecosystem—from securing rights to assessing risks. New categories of inventions and creative works will emerge, raising questions about ownership and challenging existing legal frameworks.
For legal practitioners, AI offers tools for more efficient analysis and deeper technical insights but also demands careful judgment about when and how to rely on these technologies. Clients increasingly seek advisors who can bridge the gap between advancing technology and established legal principles.
Alquist’s insights underscore the dynamic nature of intellectual property litigation in Connecticut and the critical role it plays in protecting innovation and business interests in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Related IIPLA reading
Elizabeth Alquist Highlights Critical Role of Intellectual Property Litigation in Connecticut’s Legal Landscape Elizabeth Alquist, a partner at Day Pitney LLP and recent Intellectual Property Practitioner of the Year awardee, shares insights on the growing complexity of IP litigation in Connecticut. She emphasizes the importance... Read the full IIPLA blog post: https://iipla.org/blog/elizabeth-alquist-highlights-critical-role-of-intellectual-property-litigation-in-connecticut-s-legal-landscape