IP protection caught in AI-fuelled geopolitical crossfire

Amid the military posturing, economic sanctions, and political power struggles shaping the US-China rivalry, intellectual property (IP) disputes remain a major battleground.

In January 2025, Chinese company DeepSeek’s latest AI model helped wipe US$1 trillion off the US stock market by demonstrating how open-sourced collaboration—refining publicly available AI technology—can rival proprietary models without massive investment.

Major US AI company OpenAI, however, quickly accused DeepSeek of infringing on its work, joining the chorus of US officials and companies that have long accused China of IP theft across various industries.

Yet OpenAI itself has been accused of using other copyrighted material without permission to build its generative AI model, even though it maintains that it is protected under the fair use doctrine.

The internet and newer technologies like AI and 3D printing allow creators to produce, distribute, and monetize their work without traditional gatekeepers. Yet, these same tools expose these works to rampant infringement and diminished control.

Globalization has further complicated IP protection, with fragmented enforcement and tensions over protecting innovation and public access.