LONDON — The 148th Annual Meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA), the world's premier intellectual property (IP) event, officially closed on May 6th at the ExCeL London after a successful five-day run.

This year’s meeting marked a historic milestone, drawing a record-breaking 9,660 participants from 145 countries. High-profile speakers included Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Kanisha Narayan, the UK’s Intellectual Property Minister, and senior executives from global giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Chanel, and FIFA.

A Strategic Shift: From Trademarks to a Comprehensive IP Organization

The most significant takeaway from this year’s assembly was INTA’s official identity transition. For the first time in its 148-year history, the association introduced a dedicated "Patent Series," signaling its expansion into a comprehensive IP organization that encompasses patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Co-chair Lara Kayode emphasized, "INTA is no longer just a trademark association; it is a holistic IP organization," reflecting the industry's need for an integrated approach to IP management.

AI: The Core Crisis and Opportunity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerged as the dominant theme throughout the event. Discussions focused heavily on protecting authenticated identities against AI-generated deepfakes—a trend highlighted by celebrities like Taylor Swift who are increasingly seeking trademark protection for their personas.

The assembly also addressed the rise of automated counterfeit infringements on social media and e-commerce platforms. Experts warned of a widening "AI divide," where the gap between those who effectively leverage AI and those who do not is accelerating rapidly.

Korean Delegation Pushes for 'AX-IP' Transformation

The Korea Intellectual Property Service Association (KAIPS) International Cooperation Committee—comprising experts from Jungjin IP Law Firm, Kiyul IP Law Firm, and Jese (an IP translation specialist)—actively engaged in global networking. The delegation conducted business consultations with over 60 international law firms and AI-IP service providers.

"At this meeting, we witnessed how AI is rapidly restructuring the global IP landscape," said Kim Soon-woong, Chairman of the KAIPS International Cooperation Committee. He stressed that the Korean IP industry must establish immediate momentum for 'AX-IP' (AI-based IP service transformation) to remain competitive on the global stage.