The 2024 AIPPI World Congress opened on October 19, 2024, in Hangzhou with a vibrant display of Chinese cultural heritage, featuring powerful kung fu demonstrations and elegant traditional dances that captivated an international audience. Co-hosted by CCPIT (The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade) and AIPPI, and organized by the Hangzhou Municipal Government and AIPPI China, the event set the stage for key discussions among global intellectual property experts on innovation and legal protection. The congress drew more than 2,300 attendees from 92 countries, including 1,500 international participants.
A day before the congress, on October 18, the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court held a landmark public hearing on a patent infringement case involving artificial intelligence (AI) and digital avatars. The case, centered on a patent for a human-machine interface method, garnered significant attention. Nearly 100 congress attendees observed the proceedings, where the main question was whether the defendant’s “AI digital human” service, using an audio-driven lip-sync model, infringed the plaintiff’s patent rights.
AI remains a key focus of the congress, especially during study sessions. Guoqing Zhang, vice premier of China, addressed the topic directly in his opening remarks, emphasizing China’s growing role in fostering innovation while maintaining balanced IP protection. He highlighted the country’s leadership in AI patents and technology.
“President Xi Jinping has emphasized many times that protecting IP is protecting innovation,” Zhang said.
As AI drives global innovation, China’s legal and judicial systems are increasingly in the spotlight for handling complex IP disputes involving advanced technologies. Running from October 19-22, the 2024 AIPPI World Congress will gather experts to explore heated IP issues, including the challenges posed by AI, and the future of global IP protection.
– Cathy Li, reporting from Hangzhou
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