IIPLA 2026 USA

Earl Nied is the founder of Veracity IP Consulting LLC, which was established in 2023 to provide strategic guidance on intellectual property and standards development. Veracity IP assists clients in navigating and participating in standards development organizations (SDOs), forming new consortia, and addressing the business and legal implications of intellectual property rights policies in collaborative technology environments. Before founding Veracity IP, Earl held senior leadership roles at Intel Corporation over a career spanning more than 40 years. He served as U.S. Director of IP Policy and Global Director for Standards-Related Intellectual Property Rights, where he led engineering and legal teams and contributed to Intel’s global policy and regulatory strategies. Earl is a respected leader in the standards and intellectual property (IP) community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). From 2012 to 2015, he chaired ANSI’sIntellectual Property Rights Policy Committee (IPRPC). His influence extends across numerous global and regional SDOs and industry consortia, where he played a pivotal role in shaping intellectual property policies. His contributions include working with ANSI, AVS (China), CESI (China), DVB, ECMA International, ETSI, JEDEC, IEEE, InfiniBand Trade Association, ITU/ISO/IEC, PCI-SIG, USB Implementers Forum, and others.

With over 15 years of experience in the field of intellectual property (IP), Azam Ghani is a seasoned professional associated with the International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA). Based in San Jose, California, Azam has contributed to the global IP community through leadership, speaking engagements, and thought leadership.

Payton Brianne is a former professional dancer turned talent agent. She is the founder of Briizy Talent Agency, where she represents dancers, choreographers, and specialty performers navigating today's rapidly evolving entertainment industry. She earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law and completed the Entertainment Law and Industry Certificate at the University of Southern California. Since launching Briizy Talent Agency in 2024, her clients have worked on campaigns and productions including T-Mobile, Starbucks, Uber, Kroger, Michael biopic, and the 2025 and 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Shows. Drawing from both her legal background and day to day work representing performers, Payton focuses on the intersection of entertainment law, intellectual property, and emerging technology. She has advocated for stronger copyright protections for choreographers and now works directly with artists navigating AI-related contract provisions, digital replicas, and the growing legal and ethical challenges surrounding generative AI in the entertainment industry.