AI and Intellectual Property Law in the Digital Age

Creating a Cohesive Global System for Ethical Innovation and Societal Benefit

Edward Koellner

Zitiervorschlag: Edward Koellner, AI and Intellectual Property Law in the Digital Age, in: Jusletter IT 30. April 2025

This article examines the imperative to reassess and align international intellectual property (IP) systems due to the disruptive influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on innovation. AI-generated products are progressively contesting conventional concepts of authorship and inventorship, which have been solely human-centric. The existing discord across national and regional intellectual property rules is insufficient for tackling the intricate realities of AI-driven innovation, resulting in regulatory voids that compromise legal clarity and security for inventors and investors. The disparities in intellectual property protection laws among nations impede international collaboration and equal access to technology, eliciting ethical and social concerns over ownership, accountability, and the economic concentration of AI-generated intellectual property. This article proposes the creation of a worldwide standardized intellectual property system that acknowledges AI-generated ideas while protecting human innovation. The concept entails delineating new classifications for AI-assisted inventions, establishing defined inventorship criteria, and ensuring an equitable distribution of economic and creative rewards. The article underscores ethical aspects that encompass justice, transparency, and extensive societal advantages derived from AIdriven advancements. A unified and inclusive intellectual property governance framework is essential for promoting fair global growth in the AI-driven economy, safeguarding the rights of current holders while facilitating technological advancement and social responsibility.