As a highly influential organization in the international intellectual property (IP) field, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) has always taken promoting the harmonization of global IP laws and facilitating in-depth industry dialogue as its core missions. The 2024-2025 period marks a critical stage in AIPPI's development. Since assuming office as the new President from the position of First Vice President, Lorenza Ferrari Hofer has not only driven the association to address the challenges brought by the growing size of its membership and the expansion of its activities, but also continued to make efforts in building a "more efficient and collaborative global IP network".
On the occasion of the upcoming 2025 AIPPI World Congress, as the official media support of the Congress, we conducted an exclusive interview with President Lorenza Ferrari Hofer, aiming to deeply explore her strategic vision after taking office, the association's structural innovations, and the highlights of the Yokohama Congress agenda. This interview delves into six key topics: from the current opportunities and challenges facing AIPPI, and its strategies for promoting the harmonization of global IP laws, to the legal complexities of AI and copyright highlighted at the Yokohama Congress, as well as the new exploration of IP and data commercialization. It also explores how AIPPI seeks to strengthen its influence on international IP policymaking and outlines the specific initiatives to support the growth of young IP professionals. Together, these topics offer a comprehensive view of AIPPI’s latest developments and future direction in global IP governance—providing professionals in the field with insights of both strategic relevance and practical value.
Intellectual Property Observers: President Ferrari Hofer, a late congratulations on your presidency! As you transition from First Vice President to President, what do you see as the most critical opportunities and challenges for AIPPI in 2024-2025? What are your top strategic priorities for the association?
President Ferrari Hofer: My first presidential year was a year of important reflections and opportunities. We had to address the challenges of a growing number of members and activities and leverage the corresponding opportunities. With our Mid-term Meetings, we now have two established worldwide congresses per year. Webinars have also become an important platform for discussions for most of our committees and National Groups. In that sense, the amendment of the statutes and regulations has given the Bureau more flexibility, allowing us to offer Committees and members tools, such as digital tools, and structures, such as summits, webinars and additional meetings, to work more efficiently and meet more frequently.
Intellectual Property Observers: Building on your vision for a more efficient and collaborative global network stated in Hangzhou, what structural innovations will you drive to achieve these goals?
President Ferrari Hofer: A fundamental target of our association is the harmonization of national laws in relation to intellectual property. I am convinced that this is only possible when we hear and consider the single needs of every country and try to address open questions with an open mind. Dialogue is the most important tool of our association, and this year we have intensified our dialogue with international and regional organisations by actively supporting their harmonization efforts. This is the case for WIPO and its treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge or its Treaty on design law. We have also increased and broadened our collaboration with international NGOs active in the field of intellectual property - we hold a NGO discussion forum twice a year, at INTA and at the AIPPI Congress, and we actively support the events of ASIPI and GRUR (to name a few). I must not forget to also mention our interventions at different congresses and events of the National Groups, where we have representatives of the Bureau or specialized speakers recruited among our members supporting local events and seminars.
Intellectual Property Observers: With the upcoming 2025 AIPPI World Congress, what key sessions or outcomes are you most excited about? Are there specific themes or formats AIPPI aim to introduce to enhance global delegate engagement experience?
President Ferrari Hofer: I am very excited about the legal discussion around AI and Copyright, as this study question is a continuation of the major efforts the association has put forward in this legal topic over the last 15 years. At the start we were pioneers, and most likely the other associations were thinking that we were only doing simple intellectual exercises. However, today this allows us to base the current discussions on pre-existing solid reflections. I am convinced that we need to find a way to embed AI tools in legal frameworks and cannot just forbid or not consider them. I also have a lot of expectations for the new Committee on the commercialization of IP and data, as this addresses an actual need of the tech and life sciences industries. I hope a lot of members will engage in the discussions on this topic.
Intellectual Property Observers: AIPPI is renowned for its study questions. In this evolving environment, how will you strengthen AIPPI's voice in influencing international IP policy? What steps will AIPPI take to ensure that its research leads to tangible impact?
President Ferrari Hofer: The implementation of our resolutions and making our discussions available are the most difficult parts of our work. We all expect the national and international authorities to acknowledge our work and to follow our recommendations. But it does not work like that, and we are all called on to increase our exchange with our own national authorities and stakeholders, to convince them of the importance of our reflections. From the Bureau side, we have actively engaged in the WIPO and WTO discussions on international agreements. We have also taken a narrow look at the development of the jurisprudence by proposing mock trials, for example on the new UPC proceedings, or by allowing members to attend local court hearings, as this was the case last year in Hangzhou.
Intellectual Property Observers: Attracting young IP professionals is vital for AIPPI's future. What concrete initiatives will you launch to empower early-career members?
President Ferrari Hofer: We will continue building on last year’s summit and webinar programme of the Young Members Committee. Representatives of the young generation have done a great job at the Mid-Term Meeting in Zagreb as speakers and panel leaders and will be called to structure the next Mid-Term Meeting in Marrakesh. We are fully happy about their most valued support of our association. Still, we plan for more to attract younger members. We have also put a mentoring programme in place where our senior members help address our younger members’ needs, and this will start at this year’s Congress in Yokohama.
Intellectual Property Observers: Finally, is there a particular message you'd like to share with AIPPI's worldwide membership or the broader IP community?
President Ferrari Hofer: Please join a national AIPPI working group, speak up at the study question discussions during the congress, come to the Mid-Term Meetings and / or help organise a webinar. Any active role will enrich your profession and give you the opportunity to meet new colleagues and make friends. At AIPPI, diversity is part of our DNA, and we do not have any national boundaries. It is only through our dialogue that we will continue to bring AIPPI members together and progress the international IP community further.
