Pendleton Hosts Landmark Forum on Patent Law and Innovation Policy

Sacramento, CA — The Pendleton Research Center for Law and Justice successfully hosted its Patent Law and Innovation Policy Forum on May 5, 2025. Held virtually, the event brought together over 100 participants from legal, academic, and technology sectors to examine the evolving landscape of intellectual property in the age of rapid technological advancement.

The forum opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Jonathan Merrick, Director of Pendleton, who emphasized the importance of adaptive legal frameworks in supporting innovation while protecting intellectual property rights. He also reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to rigorous, globally informed legal research.

The first panel, AI-Generated Innovations and the Future of Patentability, featured Dr. Nita Farahany of the Duke University School of Law and Mr. James O'Connor, Legal Counsel at Quantum AI. The discussion, moderated by Prof. Robert Langford, explored whether current patent systems can accommodate inventions created with or by artificial intelligence.

The second panel, Patent Enforcement in a Globalized Innovation Economy, included Mr. Darlan F. Marti, Trade Policy Specialist at World Trade Organization, and Ms. Carmen Lyles-Irving, Intellectual Patent Attorney at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Moderated by Dr. Nolan Fraser, the conversation addressed cross-border enforcement challenges and jurisdictional inconsistencies that affect patent protection and compliance.

The third and final panel, Harmonizing Patent Laws Across Borders, brought together Prof. Marketa Trimble, Professor of Law at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Dr. Myra Tawfik, Senior Fellow on IP Law at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Prof. Eleanor Hayes moderated the session, which examined international efforts to align patent systems and promote more unified global standards.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Merrick reflected on the forum’s key takeaways and highlighted Pendleton’s ongoing work in comparative legal research and policy development. He expressed appreciation for the diverse perspectives shared and underscored the Center’s dedication to fostering informed dialogue across sectors.

The forum attracted over 100 participants from more than 20 countries, further solidifying Pendleton’s reputation as a platform for cutting-edge legal research and international collaboration. A policy brief summarizing the discussions will be released later this month.