SEOUL, KOREA – 24th October 2024 – Ahmed Hussain Thajudeen, CEO of the Malaysia Reprographic Rights Centre (MARC), delivered a compelling keynote at the 2024 ASEAN-Korea Intellectual Property Cooperation Conference. Addressing an audience of industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, Ahmed discussed the critical balance between intellectual property (IP) rights protection and technological innovation in the AX era, a period marked by advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and extended reality technologies.
In his address, titled “Harmony of Intellectual Property Rights Protection and Technological Innovation in the AX Era,” Ahmed emphasized the essential role of IP rights in fostering innovation and sustaining competitive economies. He outlined how the right IP frameworks can stimulate technological advancements without compromising security or ethical considerations.
“With the rapid development of AI and other transformative technologies, we face both tremendous opportunities and serious challenges in protecting IP while ensuring technological progress benefits society as a whole,” said Ahmed. “A balanced approach is key, where creators are protected, yet knowledge flows freely to spur growth and societal improvement.”
Additionally, Ahmed delved into the pressing need to address potential harms posed by technological innovations, focusing on strategies to prevent new technologies from threatening human safety and well-being. He highlighted several principles for responsible innovation, including the importance of ethical frameworks, regulatory oversight, and safety-by-design, to guide the development of technologies in ways that are both safe and beneficial to society.
During his presentation, Ahmed also examined the advantages and disadvantages of enacting different IP rights protection laws across countries. He pointed out that while tailored national IP laws can address local economic and cultural needs, the lack of harmonization creates complexities and challenges for businesses operating internationally. This dynamic can lead to barriers in global trade, challenges in IP enforcement, and inconsistencies in protecting intellectual property.
“As countries aim to support their local industries and economic development, differing IP laws can create competitive advantages but also fragmentation in the global market,” Ahmed noted. “To foster a truly collaborative global innovation ecosystem, it’s crucial to seek a balance between national sovereignty in IP regulation and international alignment.”
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