INTA Board of Directors Adopts Foundational Principles on AI and IP Rights

San Diego, California—May 18, 2025—Addressing the growing intersection of artificial intelligence and brand protection, the International Trademark Association (INTA) announced the adoption of an initial set of foundational principles to help guide policy development on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and intellectual property rights (IPRs).

The Resolution was adopted during the May 2025 Board of Directors Meeting held today in San Diego, California, during the Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting.

As a result of recent technological developments that have increased the availability of AI tools and generative AI applications and reduced financial and technological barriers to adopting such tools, INTA recognizes the importance of developing regulatory framework around AI that takes into consideration the protection of user and third-party IPRs.

The newly adopted principles emphasize the importance of balancing innovation with the protection of IPRs. Key resolutions include:

• Recognition of Human Contributions: Applicable legislation and regulation should acknowledge the source of inputs and outputs, distinguishing between human and machine contributions. This ensures fair reward for human creativity while avoiding unnecessary disclosure requirements.
• Human Oversight in IP Decisions: Final decisions regarding the registrability, protectability, validity, or revocation of IPRs should involve human oversight. AI can be used to reduce errors in judicial or administrative systems, but final determinations must be made by humans.
• Transparency and Consumer Trust: Transparency in the use of AI in creating goods, services, and content is crucial. Consumers should have access to information about the use of AI and the identity of the responsible party, especially when there is a significant legal impact or potential harm.
• Protection of Proprietary Information: While transparency is important, it must be balanced with the need to protect trade secrets and proprietary information.

The INTA AI Advisory Group developed these principles through extensive research and collaboration. This initiative reflects the Association’s commitment to providing thoughtful and timely input into the developing regulatory framework around AI.

“By adopting these foundational principles, INTA is positioned to lead discussions on AI regulation and help ensure intellectual property rights are protected in this new technological era,” said INTA Chief Policy Officer Heather Steinmeyer. “We expect to continuously develop our policy positions so we can contribute to the global dialogue on how best to help AI safely flourish.”

Read the Board Resolution here.

About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands. Members include more than 6,700 organizations, representing more than 37,000 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 181 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and representatives in Amman, Nairobi, and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

Reporting on intellectual property? See INTA’s Media Toolkit for guidance and resources.

Media Contact:
Tracey Eyers
International Trademark Association
Senior Strategist, Communications
[email protected]