The World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Director General, Daren Tang, has emphasised the importance of keeping human creativity at the forefront of intellectual property (IP) laws amidst the rapid rise of generative AI. Speaking at the “Intellectual Property and Technology in the 21st Century” conference, held on 4 and 5 August 2025 at NUS Law, Tang highlighted the need for IP systems to evolve whilst ensuring that technology serves humanity.
Tang noted that whilst generative AI has advanced swiftly, it remains a “skilful replicator” lacking the originality inherent in human creativity. He stated, “Ingenuity, invention and creativity is a fundamental part of who we are as a human species, and technology, as well as the IP system, must continue to protect, nurture and support this.”
The conference, organised by the Centre for Technology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & the Law and the EW Barker Centre for Law & Business at NUS Law, was co-hosted with law schools from Columbia, Oxford, and Tsinghua. It brought together over 100 participants from academia, government, and industry to discuss the challenges posed by technological advancements.
Adam Williams, CEO of the UK Intellectual Property Office, stressed the importance of IP rights in fostering innovation, whilst Tan Kong Hwee, CEO of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, highlighted the need for a balanced approach to protect IP owners’ rights and facilitate responsible innovation.
The event also featured discussions on the legal implications of AI, including the concept of ‘artificial causation’ and the challenges of attributing responsibility for AI-generated content. As the conference concluded, experts called for ongoing dialogue to ensure that IP frameworks remain relevant and supportive of human creativity in the digital age.
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