Event Details
On 28 August 2025, Alibaba Group, The McCarthy Institute at ASU Law, and the SMU Centre for Digital Law convened an international seminar on “Intellectual Property in Trade and Digital Commerce” at SMU. The event took place in conjunction with IP Week @ SG 2025, whose theme “Ideas to Assets: Innovating in Times of Change” could not have been more timely. The seminar brought together thought leaders from academia, industry, and government worldwide to examine the future of IP in an era of rapid technological shifts.
The day opened with remarks from Prof Lee Pey Woan (Dean, SMU Yong Pung How School of Law) and Prof Andrea Cayley (Executive Director, Center for Law and Global Affairs, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University), followed by a keynote address from Mr Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Key reflections from the sessions included:
• Panel 1: Towards a Shared AI Future: East Meets West
With insights from Prof Tyson Winarski (ASU Law), Ms Cheryl Seah (Drew & Napier LLC), Mr Josh Lee (Future of Privacy Forum), and Ms Angela Dunning (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP), moderated by Prof David Franklyn (McCarthy Institute), this discussion examined how litigation in the U.S., emerging cases in Asia, and governance frameworks in Europe and Singapore will shape the future of AI.
• Panel 2: IPR Dispute Resolution in the Digital Era
Featuring Director General Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz (IPOPHL), Mr Caleb Goh (WIPO), Mr Gordon Humphreys (EUIPO), and Ms Sarah Grimmer (ADNDRC), moderated by Ms Mizi Park (Alibaba), the conversation highlighted the growing importance of arbitration, mediation, and cross-border cooperation in resolving disputes in a digital-first economy.
• Panel 3: Navigating the Digital Trade Economy: Empowering MSMEs through IPR and Innovation
With Ms Heng Li (IACC), Ms Joyce Ang (Alibaba), Mr Porsche Jarumon (Thailand DIP), and Mr Tan Wei Hao (IPOS), moderated by Assoc Prof Jason Allen (SMU CDL), the panel underscored the vital role of IP in enabling micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive in the global digital trade economy.
• Fireside Chat with IP Attachés
Mr Fabrice Perrono (INPI), Mr Desmond Tan (UKIPO), and Mr Matthew Kohner (USPTO), moderated by Mr Daniel Dougherty (Alibaba), provided first-hand perspectives on how attachés strengthen international cooperation, promote interoperability of frameworks, and support rights holders in protecting their assets abroad.
As IP Week 2025 reminds us, turning ideas into assets requires not only innovation but also governance and collaboration that can keep pace with change. This seminar showcased the urgent need to align policy, practice, and enforcement so that IP continues to empower innovation and economic growth in the digital age. We extend our gratitude to our partners, speakers, and participants for shaping such a rich exchange of ideas, collaborations, and fresh perspectives.
