Advancing Members’ Interests at the WIPO General Assemblies

INTA participated in the 68th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 7 to 10, 2026.

The INTA delegation comprised CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo; 2026 President Deborah A. Hampton; Chief Policy Officer Heather Steinmeyer; Associate Senior Director, Policy Development José Luis Londoño; Senior Director, Internet Policy Lori Schulman; and Chief Representative Officer for Europe and IGOs Tat-Tienne Louembe. INTA Past President Zeeger Vink (2022) and Christoph D. Schober, Chair of the Patent Committee, also joined the delegation for specific meetings.

As an accredited non-governmental organization with observer status at WIPO, INTA actively participates in the WIPO Assemblies each year to represent the interests of our members and the broader intellectual property (IP) community. The Assemblies provide a unique opportunity to engage directly with senior officials from IP offices, government representatives, and international organizations from around the world, strengthening relationships and advancing dialogue on issues that matter to our members.

This year’s Assemblies marked the beginning of a new chapter for WIPO. Following the reappointment of Director General Daren Tang for a second term, the Organization is preparing for a new six-year leadership cycle. On July 2, 2026, Director General Daren Tang announced his proposed appointments for Deputy Directors General and Assistant Directors General, who will serve from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2032.

Throughout the week, the INTA delegation held 28 bilateral meetings with IP offices and government institutions from across the globe, including the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the European Patent Office, as well as numerous informal conversations with stakeholders.

The topics varied depending on the specific jurisdictions, but generally included artificial intelligence (AI), IP and finance, geographical indications, national IP strategies, and combating counterfeiting. These meetings enabled INTA to strengthen relationships, exchange views on key policy developments, and identify opportunities for future collaboration that support the Association’s objectives. Specifically, INTA will provide examiner training sessions, organize workshops for judges, and support the elaboration and operationalization of national IP strategies.

The Association will also initiate Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with selected partners to elevate collaboration and prepare for the future by laying the foundation for the Association’s next iteration of the Intellectual Property Office of the Future project. The project is an ongoing initiative exploring how IP offices can strategically adopt and manage advanced information technologies to enhance service delivery and policy implementation over the next 10 to 20 years.

In addition, the INTA delegation participated in the Francophone Intellectual Property Alliance working meeting and conference, the WIPO non-governmental organization (NGO) Stakeholders Dialogue, and the global launch of the World Intangible Investment Highlights 2026, further expanding engagement with policymakers. INTA also hosted a side event at WIPO, entitled WIPO Catalyst: Digital Modernization Report by the IPO of the Future Think Tank, bringing together representatives of delegations to discuss the evolving role of IP offices.

Running in parallel with the Assemblies, INTA members presented the session From GenAI to Agentic Fraud: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Building Global Digital Trust at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026. Organized by the Technology and Trademark Committee, the session highlighted INTA’s leadership in addressing emerging digital policy challenges and fostering collaboration across sectors.

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.

© 2026 International Trademark Association