International Senior Lawyer Project and Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) hosted discussion of technology and AI licensing and trade secrets. The webinar brought together legal practitioners, tech-transfer experts, startup representatives, and regional innovation leaders to explore key issues shaping technology licensing in the digital age. The panel from Ropes & Gray included Regina Penti, Hannah England, Dan Freshman, Jaclyn Malmed, Parker Elliot, Yam Schaal, and Weilun Qian alongside Kim Lamont-Mbawuli of SARIMA. Panelists engaged participants in practical discussions on negotiating technology licensing agreements, structuring AI-related rights and responsibilities, and implementing effective trade secret protection as part of broader intellectual property strategies. Areas of focus included approaches to deal terms that align commercial interests with evolving regulatory landscapes, best practices for allocating risk in AI licensing arrangements, and strategies for safeguarding proprietary algorithms and data-driven innovations. The dialogue also highlighted regional perspectives on tech-transfer challenges, opportunities for collaboration between research institutions and industry, and key considerations for startups navigating the continuum from invention to market.
