Artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline processes, improve efficiency, and provide valuable insights. Zooming in on its impact on the legal industry, AI has already proven to excel at tasks such as legal research, document analysis, and contract review. This is enabling lawyers to handle large volumes of data more quickly and accurately than ever before. However, some of the legal profession fear how AI will impact their jobs. And that fear isn’t unfounded. Goldman Sachs estimated in a 2023 report that 44 percent of current work tasks in the legal field could be automated. What does AI hold for the legal practice? Is it the threat that we most commonly hear about—Are we all going to be replaced by machines? Or is it an opportunity to evolve? Or maybe both? In short, is AI the revolution that many talk about for the legal world, and how can we prepare for it?

Our guest today is no less than Richard Susskind. Mr. Susskind is a renowned expert and visionary in the field of law and technology. With a career spanning several decades, he has made significant contributions to our understanding of how AI is transforming the legal profession. Mr. Susskind is not only a prolific author but also a sought-after speaker and consultant, advising governments, law firms, and legal organizations on how to adapt in the Digital Age.

His work has been translated into 18 languages, and he has been invited to speak in over 60 countries. He has written 10 books including The Future of Law, Tomorrow’s Lawyers, and, with three editions, The Future of the Professions with Daniel Susskind, with the last edition was published in 2022. He has also published two editions of an online course titled, “The Future of Justice.” He has also contributed more than 150 columns to The Times. In 2000, he was appointed an office of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty, the Queen. In 2022, it was announced that His Majesty the King, had approved Mr. Susskind appointment as an Honorary King’s counsel. 

Brand & New is a production of the International Trademark Association
Hosted by Audrey Dauvet - Contribution of M. Halle & S. Lagedamond - Music by JD Beats

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT INTA.ORG

To go further:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardsusskind/?originalSubdomain=uk

Also of interest:

Richard Susskind’s official website
Beware of "Technological Myopia," Richard Susskind Says About GPT-3.5 (law.com, February 2023)
How will leveraging AI change the future of legal services? (Reuters, August 2023)
India: The Artificial Intelligence Revolution and Its Intellectual Property Implications (Brand & New, June 2022)
Artificial Intelligence Threatens Trademark’s Gatekeeper Role (INTA Bulletin, February 2022)
Artificial Intelligence and Legal Research in the 21st Century (INTA Bulletin, December 2020)
The IPO of the Future—Think Tank Report & Checklist (INTA, November 2022)

We're wrapping up the year with a special episode of Brand & New.  Throughout the year, we concluded each episode by posing the same three thought-provoking questions to our distinguished guests, generating fascinating and sometimes surprising responses that reveal their diverse perspectives of the world today. 

Today, you'll hear rapid-fire insights from our incredible lineup of guests that represent the brightest minds in IP, business, and beyond. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to Brand & New, this episode—featuring our hosts Ayala Deutsch, Willard Knox, and Heather Steinmeyer—offers a perfect snapshot of the critical conversations driving brands and intellectual property forward. 

Resources: The International Trademark Association (INTA)

In this fourth and final episode in the “Women Leaders Series,” Ayala Deutsch, host of Brand & New and Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at NBA Properties, speaks with Daniela Pierre-Bravo. 

Ms. Pierre-Bravo is a force to be reckoned with in the media world and beyond. As a journalist, bestselling author, and fierce advocate for young professionals and women of color, she brings a fresh perspective that's both inspiring and actionable. From her journey as a former DACA recipient to becoming a prominent voice in career development, her story is one of resilience, determination, and breaking barriers. Ms. Pierre-Bravo shares how she's redefining success on her own terms. 

The Women Leaders Series is a collaboration between Brand & New and The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative. The series brings together women leaders in diverse roles, not just in the IP space, but within brands, small businesses, and beyond.  

This episode is sponsored by Sideman & Bancroft LLP and includes an interview with partner Kelly P. McCarthy. Based in San Francisco, California, Sideman & Bancroft LLP is proud to be a women-owned business and leader within the IP community in terms of its commitment to diversity and how it promotes equal opportunity. It is also the sponsor of INTA’s recently published gender indicator study, Shattering Systemic Barriers: How to Advance Gender Diversity in the Intellectual Property Profession.

Thank you to Sideman & Bancroft LLP for sponsoring this episode of Brand & New.

RESOURCES: 

• About Daniela Pierre-Bravo 
• About Sideman & Bancroft LLP 
• About Kelly P. McCarthy 
• Shattering Systemic Barriers: How to Advance Gender Diversity in the Intellectual Property Profession (INTA, 2024)
• Shattering Systemic Barriers Press Release 

We're diving into a challenge that's been brewing in the world of intellectual property (IP) for quite some time: The public's misunderstanding of IP, particularly trademarks. 

Earlier this year, an INTA Presidential Task Force published a report titled Unlocking IP. The report shed light on a critical issue: the consequences of inaccurate or incomplete IP reporting in mainstream media. The message was clear—the media bears a responsibility to educate the public accurately on IP matters.

In this episode of Brand and New, we're turning the tables.  

We're exploring the perspective of a visionary media CEO and a seasoned IP journalist, both experts at navigating and communicating intricate subjects in our rapidly evolving media landscape. Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic and Trevor Little is Managing Editor of IAM and World Trademark Review. Mr. Little is also a long-time INTA member and one of two INTA members who led the Unlocking IP Presidential Task Force.

Related Resources 

• About Nicholas Thompson 
• About Trevor Little 
• Unlocking IP Presidential Task Force Report  
• Unlocking IP Press Release 
• Unlocking IP: INTA’s Media Mission (INTA Bulletin, July 2024)

Whether they discover new brands on social media or loyally purchase the same brands as their grandparents, consumers today encounter a variety of products and services designed to satisfy their diverse needs and preferences. The sum of these purchases is a core driver of economic growth. 

 In today’s economy, intangible assets play a large role in shaping customer behavior and purchasing habits. Consumers are anticipating a logo, recalling a jingle, or associating a product with an influencer. How does a company determine which of these marketing assets to invest in? How do investors assess the company’s intellectual property (IP) to calculate future returns? And how can governments understand whether the businesses in their jurisdiction are creating IP that is likely to fuel economic growth? 

Brand valuation provides a way to standardize questions such as these. Instead of having to subjectively describe why a brand is valuable, an organization can now quantify, assess, and benchmark intangible assets, and strategize accordingly, through brand valuation exercises.

INTA is approaching the valuation and commercialization of brands as a strategic priority within in 2022–2025 Strategic Plan. The Association is committed to provide brand professionals with a solid understanding of brand valuation and evaluation, to help them become key partners to their finance teams and effectively communicate the value of trademarks to both members of the C-suite and externally. Earlier this year, INTA recently published the Presidential Task Force Report on IP Reporting for Brands. Valuation methodologies are also covered in its Finance for Non-Finance Legal Professionals Certificate Program.

Today’s guest is David Haigh, the founder and CEO of Brand Finance Plc. He is a pioneer and foremost expert in brand valuation. He has worked in the field of branded business, and brand and intangible asset valuation since 1991 and, since 1995, has specialized entirely in this area.

Mr. Haigh has represented the British Standards Institution in the working parties responsible for crafting international industry standards and has authored many articles on brand valuation, having been published in numerous marketing and finance newspapers and magazines, including Accountancy Age, the Financial Times, and Marketing Week. He has also lectured on the topic of brand valuation at business schools around the world.

Mr. Haigh graduated from Bristol University with an English degree, qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London, and obtained a postgraduate diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). He is a Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has a practicing certificate with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Related Resources

• About David Haigh
• About the Brand Finance Institute
• Brands: Past, Present, and Future (Brand & New, July 2024)
• IP Reporting for Brands Presidential Taskforce Report (INTA, 2024)
• Finance for Non-Finance Legal Professionals Certificate Program (INTA)

This is the third episode in the “Women Leaders Series,” a collaboration between Brand & New and The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative. It brings together women leaders in diverse roles and representing various organization types in the brands and IP ecosystem. These women are at the forefront of industry trends and the conversation around how the landscape for women leaders is being shaped today.

Our guest today is Dr. Joanna Seddon, Founder and Managing Partner at brand consultancy Presciant, where she specializes in helping clients maximize the financial potential of their brand and marketing strategies. 

Before founding Presciant, Dr. Seddon was Principal and Global Managing Partner, Brand Consulting, at Ogilvy for 10 years. At Ogilvy, she developed a new focus on branding in M&A and brand architecture and portfolio strategy. 

Dr. Seddon was previously the founder and CEO of Millward Brown/Kantar’s global brand consulting practice. In this role, she was responsible for the development of fresh approaches to brand and marketing strategy. This included the creation and implementation of the BrandZ Top 100 ranking of the world’s most valuable brands, published annually in the Financial Times.

Prior to joining Kantar, Dr. Seddon was a founding partner and Executive Vice President for Worldwide Strategy at FutureBrand, pioneering the integration of brand strategy and brand identity. 

Notably, Dr. Seddon is also CEO of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) since 2022, leading the trustees of the Marketing Accountability Foundation and MASB staff.

Dr. Seddon has more than 20 years of experience in providing strategic recommendations with measurable financial impact to leading clients worldwide and is recognized as a global expert on brand positioning, brand architecture, brand valuation, branding in M&A, brand and marketing investment, brand measurement and ROI and growth strategies. 

Dr. Seddon holds a Doctorate from Oxford University and is well known as a speaker and writer on brand strategy, brand valuation, and marketing ROI issues. She is the author of The Brand in the Boardroom, which won the WPP top Atticus prize, and has also collaborated with Jim Stengel, former CMO of P&G on several books, including Grow and Unleashing the Innovators, an analysis of how to infuse innovation and modernity into established brands by taking them into new areas and partnerships. 

 Resources:

•  About Joanna Seddon
• The Marketing Accountability Standards Board
• The Brand in the Boardroom (Ogilvy, 2014)
• Intellectual Property Reporting for Brands Presidential Taskforce Report (INTA, 2024)
• International IP Accounting Standards Board Resolution (INTA, 2022)

The European Union formed in 1992 with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in the city located at southern tip of the Netherlands. 12 counties initially joined the EU, and this has since grown to 27 member states. The European Union was once described as the “grand experiment.” Experiments are not without challenges… and setbacks. The exit of the United Kingdom—or Brexit—in 2020 was a major disappointment for the EU, but it has otherwise proven successful, albeit fragile and, in many respects, continues to strengthen as a unified citizen-led democracy.

 The last few years have been tough on the EU. Economic uncertainty, rising inflation, and high energy prices, largely linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have left Europeans with a deepening sense of pessimism. In a survey of Europeans in the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, only 20 percent agreed that they or their family will be better off in next five years. Trust in government is low and there is a deepening divide on critical issues. 

 At the same time, the EU is the largest single market globally today. With a population approaching 450 million people and a GDP of €16 trillion, if it was a country, it would be the world’s third largest (by both these metrics). The EU is ultimately a political and economic partnership, but it faces similar challenges to other economies. And these challenges are frequently compounded by the need to find consensus—and often compromise—among the 27 member states on very complex issues. No doubt, that is essentially how democracy works—it’s difficult by design—but the EU government and member states do just that: They find consensus and compromises, and they legislate. A recent example is the Artificial Intelligence Act, the first-ever legal framework on AI, which was unanimously endorsed by all 27 member states.

 Our guest today is Karen Melchior. In 2019, Ms. Melchior became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Frustrated with the state of politics in both Denmark and the EU, she first ran for office in 2014 and was elected the following year to the Copenhagen City Council, where she served on the Social Committee and the Health and Care Committee. 

 Ms. Melchior has worked as a diplomat for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in data protection law and IT security at the Danish Agency for Labor Market and Recruitment. She holds an MA in Law and a Masters of Public Administration.

 As a MEP, Ms. Melchior serves on three committees: Legal Affairs, Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, and Internal Market and Consumer Protection. She is also a member of Renew Europe, the third-largest political group in the European Parliament.

 In an online biography, Ms. Melchior said the following: “Political systems are created by people. They can also be changed by people. We cannot afford to let our frustrations grow to the point where they overshadow our capacity for action. Hate can be triggered as easily as hope. The society we have built, based on cooperation and freedom, is fragile. We need to fight every day to sustain it. We can achieve a lot if we dare to try! Let’s roll up our sleeves, lift our gaze, and work together to create the kind of world we want.”

 Resources:

•  About MEP Karen Melchior (European Commission)
•  About MEP Karen Melchior
• The EU Artificial Intelligence Act
• Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (European Commission) 

Today is World Intellectual Property (IP) Day. Established by the World Intellectual Property Organization— or WIPO—in 2000, World IP Day serves to raise awareness of the positive role of IP—including copyright, designs, patents, and trademarks—in society and in the daily lives of consumers, and to celebrate IP as a driver of innovation, creativity, and economic development. WIPO selected April 26 for World IP Day as it was on this day in 1970 that the Convention Establishing WIPO entered into force.

Each year, World IP Day focuses on a specific theme. This year, it looks at the ways in which IP is advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals—or SDGs. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 SDGs, which are an urgent call for action by all countries—developed and developing—in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Titled, “IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity,” World IP Day 2024 looks at how we need to re-think how we live, work, and play, if we are to build a common future and achieve the SDGs. It is an opportunity to explore how IP encourages and amplifies the innovative and creative solutions that are so crucial to building our common future, and how inventors, creators, and entrepreneurs can benefit from IP to achieve their own goals while also heling improve people’s lives and safeguard our planet in line with the SDGs.

Our guest today is Edward Kwakwa, Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, at WIPO. The Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector covers issues relating to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and genetic resources. It also leads WIPO’s efforts to work with other UN agencies and international organizations on cross-cutting global issues; builds on and expands partnerships with stakeholders, including those from international, business, and civil society sectors; and builds bridges with new stakeholders.

ADG Kwakwa served as General Counsel at WIPO from 2004 until September 2016. He holds an LL.B. degree from the University of Ghana, an LL.M. from Queen’s University in Canada, and an LL.M. and a J.S.D. from Yale Law School in the United States. Before joining WIPO, he practiced with the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers in Washington, D.C., worked as International Legal Adviser at the Commission on Global Governance in Geneva, Switzerland, as Senior Legal Adviser at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and as Legal Affairs Officer at the World Trade Organization. 

 Resources:

•  About Edward Kwakwa
•  About World IP Day
•  WIPO’s Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector
•  The United Nation’s SDGs

This is the second episode of the “Women Leaders Series,” a collaboration between Brand & New and The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative. The series celebrates the unique leadership qualities of women, including their collaborative and empathetic approach to success. It brings together women leaders in diverse roles and represents various organization types in the brands and IP ecosystem. These women are at the forefront of industry trends and the conversation around how the landscape for women leaders is being shaped today.

Today is International Women’s Day. Held annually on March 8, International Women's Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In recognition of this, today’s episode of Brand & New previews INTA’s soon-to-be-published “gender indicator study.” 

Last year, a diverse project team of INTA members developed a survey investigating how gender affects the experience of trademark practitioners in the workplace, with a focus on representation, career progression, and work-life integration. The survey was sent out to INTA members late last year and respondents, including both men and women, from more than 90 jurisdictions participated and shared their views. 

Given the global and diverse nature of our community, the research aims to uncover deep insight into the gender-based experiences of trademark practitioners around the world today, reveal the key indicators shaping those experiences and defining our workplace, and capture how IP professionals feel about their own experiences. While the survey suggests that progress is being made, there is still much to be done to truly improve the experiences of women in the trademark field.

Our guests are Rachel Armstrong, Shwetasree Majumder, and Muireann Bolger. Ms. Armstrong is a Partner at Gowling WLG and based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Rachel serves on the Women’s LeadershIP Initiative Project Team and on INTA’s Brands and Innovation Committee. Ms. Majumder is a Managing Partner of Fidus Law Chambers, based in Nodia, India. She serves on the INTA’s DEI Council and the Enforcement Committee. She is also a past board member. And, Ms. Bolger is Deputy Group Editor at World IP Review, based in London, England. She takes the lead on all DEI-related coverage for World IP Review and is a co-author of INTA’s gender indictor story.

 
Resources:

•  About Rachel Armstrong
•  About Shwetasree Majumder
•  About Muireann Bolger
•  International Women’s Day 2024 (internationalwomensday.com)
•  The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative (inta.org)
•  World IP Review’s Diversity Channel (worldipreview.com)
•  Women Leaders Series: Advancing Athlete Rights (Brand & New, February 2024)
•  Striving for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as an Outside IP Counsel (Brand & New, April 2022)
•  Women’s Empowerment in Intellectual Property (Brand & New, March 2022)

The World Wide Web launched in the public domain on April 30, 1993, a little over 30 years ago. It was a major technological leap forward for humanity. It was a game changer, full of possibility… and uncertainty. 

 Experts are reminding us a lot lately that artificial intelligence (AI) has also been around for many decades. Nevertheless, much like the Internet in the 1990s, ChatGPT becoming publicly available in November 2022 represents another paradigm shift for humanity and its relationship with technology. One billion ChatGPT web visits took place following its launch. According to PwC, AI is predicted to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Yes, the stakes are high. Yes, it’s a game changer. Yes, it’s full of possibility… and uncertainty.

 Last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a study predicting that AI will affect close to 40 percent of all jobs. For some, it will be beneficial, boosting their productivity. For almost everyone else, their jobs are at risk. This report was published as business and political leaders from around the world prepared to gather in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, where AI took center stage. Highlighting the apprehension around this “disruptive” technology, the response from governments has been surprisingly swift. A number of countries signed a declaration on the safe development of the technology at an AI Safety Summit hosted by the UK late last year. And we’re seeing increased regulation around the world, including in the European Union, China, and the U.S., meaning in the world’s largest economies. 

 As businesses across all sectors explore AI’s potential, they must also wade through its unknowns and navigate evolving regulation. In other words, they must innovate and use AI responsibly. 

Our guest today is Jon Iwata. He is an Executive Fellow at the Yale School of Management where he co-leads a program studying the leadership implications of stakeholder capitalism. He also directs the Data & Trust Alliance, a not-for-profit organization established in 2020 by CEOs of major companies including American Express, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Pfizer, Starbucks, and Walmart. The Alliance develops and promotes the adoption of responsible data and AI practices. Among his various accolades and accomplishments, Mr. Iwata is also the co-inventor of a U.S. patent for a nanotechnology and process for atomic-scale semiconductors.

 Resources:

•  About Jon Iwata
•  The Data & Trust Alliance
•  AI Will Transform the Global Economy. Let’s Make Sure It Benefits Humanity. (IMF, January 2024)
•  AI - artificial intelligence - at Davos 2024: What to know (WEF, January 2024)
•  AI and the Legal World: A Revolution Happening in Real Time (Brand & New, November 2023)
•  Will AI Take Your Job? (INTA Daily News, May 2023)
•  How AI Will Impact Trademarks (INTA Daily News, May 2023)