SyCipLaw Presents Intellectual Property and AI Panel at The Legal 500 GC Summit 2026

April, 2026 - Manila, Philippines

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.

The Legal 500 is a leading legal directory that evaluates the capabilities of law firms worldwide. It produces a wide range of resources for in-house lawyers including client insight reports, research-based law firm rankings, and editorial features.

Senior Partner and Head of IP Department Anthony W. Dee engages with a fellow attendee before the opening of The Legal 500 GC Summit 2026.
Senior legal professionals, chief legal officers, and general counsel attend the SyCipLaw-sponsored panel discussion on the evolving intellectual property issues concerning artificial intelligence.
Anthony W. Dee opens the discussion on AI adoption and its impact on intellectual property, highlighting implications for the current legal framework and considerations for in-house counsel.
Partner Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba shares insights on aligning AI technologies with foundational IP frameworks.
Senior Associate Leo Francis F. Abot steers the conversation on protection, ownership, and enforcement of IP rights in the context of AI.   

Hon. Christine V. Pangilinan-Canlapan, Director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs at IPOPHL, highlights IPOPHL’s efforts to develop guidelines and regulatory frameworks for integrating AI into IP assets for registration.
Kristian Nico Calugay Acosta, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at CTI Group, shares an in-house counsel perspective on emerging risks in the integration of AI in business and how these can be mitigated through internal policies.
William Chino T. Adasa, Enterprise Account Director at Amazon Web Services, advises businesses to carefully vet AI solutions before implementation, highlighting potential legal risks and the need for in-house counsel to play an early and active role in AI adoption.
SyCipLaw lawyers with the panelists. (Seated from L) Rose Marie M. King-Dominguez, Senior Partner and Head of Special Projects Department, William Chino T. Adasa, Hon. Christine V. Pangilinan-Canlapan, and Maria Teresa M. Ferrer, Senior Partner. (Standing from L) Patricia R. Raz and Ricardo Anton C. Sobreviñas, Associates, Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba, Kristian Nico Calugay Acosta, Anthony W. Dee, and Leo Francis F. Abot.
Ma. Patricia B. Paz-Jacoba (R) engages with (from L) Allan Cohen, Senior Research Editor at The Legal 500, and Millicent Joie Desiderio-Dime, Managing Director for Global Counsel Ethics and Compliance at Accenture, over drinks and canapés.

With photos care of The Legal 500 GC Summit 2026 event page.

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