Answer first: At the inaugural Law Society/IMRO copyright lecture, legal professionals highlighted the critical role of intellectual property law in Ireland’s economy and the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence. The discussion emphasized the 2019 EU copyright directive’s moderniza…
AI & IP context for IP teams
Intellectual property (IP) and copyright law remain pivotal to the Irish economy, offering a compelling specialization for legal practitioners, according to Carol Plunkett of William Fry. Speaking at the first annual Law Society/Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) copyright lecture held at Blackhall Place, Plunkett emphasized the dynamic and fast-evolving nature of copyright law, particularly as it intersects with information technology and data protection law.
Up to 80% of corporate value is now represented by intangible assets, primarily intellectual property rights (IPRs) such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs. This underscores the economic weight of IP in contemporary business environments.
Key takeaways for AI and copyright law in Ireland
- Confirm how the development affects ai & ip 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 significant recent development is the 2019 EU copyright directive, which became law last year and requires transposition into Irish legislation by June 2021. This directive introduces important copyright exceptions, including provisions for text and data mining, digital and cross-border teaching activities, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The directive aims to modernize EU copyright law to keep pace with rapid technological progress, addressing challenges posed by digital innovation and automation.
Law Society Adjunct Professor Mark Hyland, delivering the main lecture, traced the origins of copyright law back to the invention of the printing press. He noted that before Gutenberg’s movable type, books were hand-copied and scarce, making illegal copying rare.
"Movable type enhanced and increased the production and accessibility of the printed word," Dr. Hyland explained, highlighting the printing press as a key disruptor that catalyzed the initial concept of copyright.
The 1710 Statute of Anne was the first legal framework to grant authors the right to copy their own creative works. This statute provided an economic incentive for creativity by protecting works for a limited term of 28 years.
Professor Hyland further elaborated on copyright’s proven flexibility in protecting a broad spectrum of works. These include music, literary works such as novels and screenplays, software and operating systems, paintings, photographs, dramatic works, and the expansive category of 'artistic works.' This diversity contributes to copyright’s significant economic importance.
Moreover, copyright confers both economic and moral rights. Economic rights enable creators to monetize their works, while moral rights protect the reputation and creative integrity of copyright owners.
The lecture underscored the ongoing challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in the realm of intellectual property. As AI systems increasingly generate content and participate in creative processes, questions arise about the legal personality of computers and the applicability of existing copyright frameworks.
While the discussion did not resolve these complex issues, it highlighted the necessity for legal frameworks to evolve alongside technological innovation to safeguard creators’ rights and support economic growth.
The intersection of AI and IP law remains a critical area for legal scholarship and practice, with the 2019 EU directive representing a foundational step toward adapting copyright law for the digital age.
As Ireland prepares to transpose the directive into national law, legal professionals and policymakers will continue to navigate the balance between fostering innovation and protecting intellectual property in an increasingly automated world.
Related IIPLA reading
Legal Personality for AI: Exploring the Future of Intellectual Property in an Automated Era At the inaugural Law Society/IMRO copyright lecture, legal professionals highlighted the critical role of intellectual property law in Ireland’s economy and the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements, incl... Read the full IIPLA blog post: https://iipla.org/blog/legal-personality-for-ai-exploring-the-future-of-intellectual-property-in-an-automated-era