Answer first: The 'Regulating AI' podcast hosted by Sanjay Puri convened intellectual property experts, government leaders, and industry figures to explore AI’s broad organizational effects, evolving copyright issues, and the importance of sustainable, equitable AI governance. Key insights include the rise of Chief AI Officers, cop…
Patents context for IP teams
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant or abstract concept; it is actively reshaping industries, governments, and legal frameworks worldwide. On the “Regulating AI” podcast, host Sanjay Puri brought together a panel of experts to discuss the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by AI governance, intellectual property, leadership, and international cooperation.
The panel included intellectual property lawyer Pravin Anand, Suriname government leader Andrew Baasaron, Rakesh Kaul Punjabi, Partner Head of Function at EY, Professor Vishal Misra, Vice Dean of the School of Engineering at Columbia University, and Shweta Khurana, Senior Director for APJ Government Partnerships & Initiatives at Intel’s Global Government Affairs Group.
Key takeaways for AI governance and copyright challenges
- Confirm how the development affects patents 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
A central theme emphasized was that AI should not be treated merely as another technological tool. Instead, it represents a fundamental transformation across organizational structures. Unlike prior technologies typically overseen by CIOs or CTOs, AI influences nearly every corporate function—from operations and compliance to human resources and strategic planning.
Reflecting this shift, many organizations are establishing the role of Chief AI Officer, a position responsible for overseeing AI technology, governance, policy, and change management across departments. Panelists predicted this role will soon become standard in major global corporations.
On the topic of intellectual property, Pravin Anand highlighted the unique nature of copyright protection in the AI era. “The best thing about copyright is that it does not require a registration system for its protection. So the moment I draw something in a notebook sitting in this hall, immediately it receives copyright protection,” Anand explained. This contrasts with patents, which require registration, and trademarks, which must be registered or actively used to gain protection.
Copyright protection extends automatically to over 150 countries through international agreements such as the Berne Convention. In an AI-driven world where creative outputs, datasets, and digital content are continuously generated, copyright remains vital for safeguarding innovation and creativity.
Data governance was another key topic. The panel distinguished between raw data, which may not be copyrightable, and structured databases or collections of information that can qualify as intellectual property. Additionally, personal data is protected under privacy regulations and modern data protection laws, which are increasingly important as AI systems depend heavily on large training datasets.
Government roles and global partnerships were underscored as essential for responsible AI adoption. Andrew Baasaron stressed the importance of collaboration among governments, businesses, and educational institutions to ensure long-term technological progress. He stated, “What I’m looking at is really making sure that our people benefit in the long term… It’s not a popularity game, but with the private sector, really, that word already fell, making sure that we have a change of mind, attitude in how we go about a sustainable implementation of artificial intelligence, digital technology, and making people part of the process. It’s not an Andrew thing. It’s not a political thing, but it’s making sure that all of society, the whole nation gets on board with one vision.”
Rather than focusing on short-term initiatives, policymakers should prioritize sustainable AI strategies that create lasting value for citizens and businesses.
Shweta Khurana raised concerns about the emerging “AI divide,” cautioning against a scenario where access to AI technologies is concentrated among a few. “I think what is more important is what really concerns us at this point in time. I’m assuming everybody here has… kind of figured out how to manage a digital divide. Today, what concerns us is the AI divide, which is something which we need to be very careful on. We don’t want AI to be in a situation where access to the right technologies (is) available only in the hands of few, that’s for sure,” she said.
Khurana advocated for investments in AI education, skill development, and international cooperation to ensure broader and more equitable access to AI tools.
Ultimately, the discussion on “Regulating AI” underscored that the future of AI will be shaped not only by technological advances but also by governance frameworks, legal systems, global cooperation, and strong leadership.
The American Bazaar is a publication of American Bazaar, Inc., based in Germantown, Maryland.
Related IIPLA reading
Experts Highlight AI Governance, Copyright Challenges, and Global Cooperation on ‘Regulating AI’ Podcast The 'Regulating AI' podcast hosted by Sanjay Puri convened intellectual property experts, government leaders, and industry figures to explore AI’s broad organizational effects, evolving copyright issues, and the importa... Read the full IIPLA blog post: https://iipla.org/blog/experts-highlight-ai-governance-copyright-challenges-and-global-cooperation-on-regulating-ai-podcast