SyCipLaw, through its Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) practice groups, presented a panel discussion titled “You Prompt It, You Own It? Intellectual Property in the AI Era” at The Legal 500 GC Summit 2026, held on March 26, 2026, at the New World Makati Hotel. The session marked the first time that IP was featured as a dedicated topic at the Summit, underscoring the growing importance of AI‑related IP issues for in‑house counsel and business leaders.
The discussion was framed as a candid and responsive exchange, drawing on a mix of regulatory, in‑house, technical, and external perspectives to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are already reshaping business practices and challenging established IP frameworks.
The panel opened with remarks from SyCipLaw Senior Partner and Head of the Intellectual Property Department Anthony W. Dee, who examined the rapid adoption of AI across business operations and its implications for existing IP laws and regulatory frameworks.
The panel featured SyCipLaw Partner Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba alongside Hon. Christine V. Pangilinan-Canlapan, Director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines; Kristian Nico Calugay Acosta, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the CTI Group; and William Chino T. Adasa, Enterprise Account Director of Amazon Web Services. The discussion was moderated by Senior Associate Leo Francis F. Abot.
Across the discussion, panelists emphasized that what companies often believe they “control” in AI systems may be significantly narrower than assumed, and that many of the most material risks are already arising from day‑to‑day use, internal protocols, and contractual arrangements, rather than from future or hypothetical scenarios.
The discussion highlighted the need to align AI deployment and governance with core IP principles, addressing issues like ownership, protection of AI-generated works and assets, and enforcement challenges related to AI infringement and content replication.
SyCipLaw’s IP and TMT practices are among the most established in the Philippines, advising multinational and domestic clients on complex and evolving legal issues at the intersection of intellectual property, technology, and innovation. The Firm regularly counsels clients on emerging AI‑related risks, including governance, compliance, and regulatory considerations associated with the development and deployment of AI tools in the Philippines.
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