Getting Down to ‘The Business of IP’ at the 2025 Annual Meeting

The 2025 INTA Annual Meeting is the global intellectual property (IP) community’s premier gathering and the largest and most widely attended IP event of the year. Taking place in San Diego, California, USA, May 17-21, this year’s Meeting will bring together more than 10,000 IP professionals, business leaders, government officials, judges, and non-government organization (NGO) representatives to connect in person for invigorating discussions, business development opportunities, and a robust program of more than 50 educational sessions centered around the theme of “The Business of IP.” This theme highlights the pivotal role that IP plays in driving innovation and business success.

The program at this year’s Meeting is organized into three dynamic tracks: Law and Policy; Business of Technology; and Professional Development and Career Advancement—each introducing cutting edge technology and innovation designed to arm registrants with knowledge that will deepen their understanding of the global IP ecosystem and help build on their personal success within their careers.

This year’s Annual Meeting will also introduce two new programming series: (1) an In-House Practitioners Series with seven dedicated educational sessions specifically designed for brand legal professionals navigating the complexities of in-house trademark practice; and (2) a Patent Series curated for IP professionals who are ready to dive into the world of patent practice.

“Our educational programming this year is not only timely, but it’s meticulously planned to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the IP landscape,” said 2025 Annual Meeting Co-Chair Okan Can (Deris, Türkiye). “Registrants can expect cutting-edge insights from 160+ speakers from 38 jurisdictions, and those who represent major global brands.”

With such a wealth of knowledge available, registrants are encouraged to take a close look at the 2025 Annual Meeting Program before planning other meetings and activities to ensure they’re able to attend the sessions they’re most interested in. Here is a helpful breakdown of each programming track and Series.

Law and Policy Track

Boasting the largest number of sessions in the program, the Law and Policy track explores the latest IP law and policy developments from across the globe, including regulatory changes and compliance strategies that impact the work of IP professionals. Sessions delving into key topics include the following: Navigating the Right of Publicity in the Age of AI: Challenges and Opportunities; ADR: Preparing to Successfully Mediate an IP Dispute (and Avoiding the Pitfalls!); Rules of the Road in Engaging with Celebrities, Influencers, and Fans; and AI-Driven Advertising: Copyright Issues in the New Frontier.

Paula Passarelli (Palomo Abogados, Guatemala), 2025 Annual Meeting Project Team member, will moderate a session titled Innovative Strategies in Trademark Enforcement: Dynamic Blocking Injunctions—A Global Perspective, exploring how courts are using dynamic blocking injunctions (DBIs) to combat online IP infringements—including legal frameworks and case studies—to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current global DBI landscape and the possible implications for the future of trademark law. “Registrants will gain valuable insights into how DBIs are shaping the future of online trademark enforcement. While DBIs have been commonly used in copyright cases, their application in trademark matters is a growing trend—particularly in India, where courts are increasingly adopting this tool to combat infringement,” says Ms. Passarelli.

The Law and Policy track will also include updates on case law, current trends, and other developments from China, Europe, India, the Middle East, and the United States. The latest in academia will be represented in the annual Trademark Scholarship Symposium, a Professor’s Panel, and a Professor vs. Practitioner Debate.

Business and Technology Track—Including the Patent Series

This Business and Technology track delves into the intersection of IP, business strategies, and emerging technologies. Registrants will discover how to leverage IP to drive innovation and competitive advantage. The sessions in this programming track include these hot-button issues: Future of IP: Use of AI by IP Offices; Enhancing Data Analytics Through AI: Challenges and Opportunities for IP Professionals; and Stronger Together—How to Maximize Anticounterfeiting Impact Among Brands and Platforms. There will be close to ten sessions between all three tracks exploring the complexities of AI through different lenses.

This track also includes the Patent Series, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20. Registrants will learn about the latest patent developments, strategies, and case studies to enhance their understanding and application of patent law. Topics include the following: Choosing Your Armor: Patents vs. Trade Secrets in IP Strategy; Navigating Global Patent Disputes: What Brand Legal Practitioners Need to Know; “Patent Power Play: Essential Insights for IP Professionals; and Unlock Your Leadership Potential: Transforming Trademark or Patent Professionals into Dynamic IP Professionals. The session entitled Advancing IP in Latin America & the Caribbean: PCT, PPH, and Local Inventor Challenges will focus on recent developments in patent law and practice throughout Latin America.

Professional Development and Career Advancement Track

The Professional Development and Career Advancement track provides registrants with an opportunity to invest in their careers with sessions focused on enhancing their skills and advancing their professional journeys in the IP field.

A session entitled What’s Your Leadership Style? will explore six leadership styles—affiliative, authoritative, coaching, delegative, democratic, and pacesetting. Moderating this session is 2025 Annual Meeting Project Team member Alex Garcia (Holland & Hart, USA): “In this session, you will learn about different leadership approaches and how to strategically apply them across various situations and team dynamics. You will discover how effective leaders adapt their management style based on circumstances, developing the emotional intelligence and practical skills needed to effectively guide teams, drive performance, and create positive outcomes.”

Other topics are explored in these aptly named sessions: Harnessing AI: Innovative Strategies and Practical Applications for Trademark Practitioners; Delivering Exceptional Client Experience and Service: Being Attuned to Client Needs and Expectations; Building Your Path: Business Development and Networking for Mid-Level IP Lawyers, and more.

The Professional Development and Career Advancement track will also offer registrants opportunities to connect with specific groups at events such as the Annual Meeting First-Time Registrant Orientation and Reception, the Law Firm Idea Exchange, and the Trademark Administrators Brunch. Pre-registration is required for select events.

In-House Practitioners Series

New this year, the In-House Practitioners Series features an engaging workshop, reception, and seven focused sessions tackling key challenges and opportunities that in-house teams face as their roles continue to evolve. “In-house practitioners are being asked to wear more hats than ever. It’s very rare that I come across an in-house colleague who only handles their company’s trademark portfolio. It’s always “trademarks and marketing” or “trademarks and domain names” or “trademarks and copyright,” said In-House Practitioners Committee member and leader of the development of this Series, Kevin Blum (NBCUniversal, USA), in a recent interview with the INTA Bulletin.

The sessions in this Series will cover topics such as the effective communication of IP value (Communicating the Strategic Importance of IP: Guidance for In-House Practitioners); ethical considerations (Navigating Ethical Challenges for In-House Trademark Practitioners: Privileges, Duties, and Best Practices); cybersecurity collaboration (Digital Guardians: Partnering with Your Cybersecurity Team for Enhanced Legal Protection); team management (Building a Winning Trademark Team: Strategies for Recruitment, Development, and Retention); brand expansion and management in China (Expanding and Managing Your Brand in China: Strategies for Success); brand portal development and management (Building Bridges: Setting Up and Maintaining an Effective Brand Portal), and more. These sessions are exclusive to in-house practitioners.

The 2025 Annual Meeting Project Team has curated an educational program that seeks to address the most pressing challenges facing IP and brand professionals today, looking at law and policy, emerging technologies, and the need for continual growth in a dynamic and ever-changing environment. It features something for everyone. Registrants who take advantage of the robust offering of educational opportunities will leave the Meeting equipped with the latest knowledge and enhanced skills to better serve their brands and clients’ brands, and advance in their careers.

With so much to take advantage of, what is the best way to go about planning your Annual Meeting? Annual Meeting Co-Chair Jill Abasto (Qualcomm Incorporated, USA) offers some advice: “First, add the educational sessions you want to attend to your schedule, and then book all your meetings around the education. Otherwise, you may not have time to attend sessions, and you’re losing out on this huge opportunity to learn, skill up, and participate in world-class educational programming.”

Learn more and register for the 2025 Annual Meeting. Early-bird registration closes March 14.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

Topics Annual Meeting Government