Submitted by Keith Robinson
The IP and Web3 panel took place on Sunday at 1 PM in Juniper 4. This well-attended program brought together intellectual property scholars to discuss the emerging technologies of Web3 and how the current intellectual property landscape will impact Web3’s development. Web3 is a phrase used to describe a collection of technologies and applications that promise to decentralize the Internet. The panelists discussed issues surrounding technologies such as blockchain, non-fungible tokens, and quantum computing.
The panel was moderated by W. Keith Robinson and featured four expert panelists. Raina Haque discussed blockchain and property durability. Josh Fairfield discussed ideas surrounding the making of virtual things. Nikola Datzov talked about issues surrounding enforcement of IP rights in the Web3 environment. Finally, Tabrez Ebrahim explored the patent policies of quantum standards development organizations.
Intellectual property will serve a critical role in protecting the applications and technologies produced as Web3 develops. Professor Haque’s talked explained how distributed-ledger based assets may bridge between tangible and intangible properties. Using NFTs as an example, Professor Fairfield explored the tendency to look to the technological essence of a virtual thing and the social narratives of value created by communities. Professor Datzov’s talk addressed the problem of how to effectively serve a complaint to a defendant that can only be contacted the decentralized world of Web3. Finally, Professor Ebrahim discussed the possible approaches to standardized patents in the area of quantum computing, an emerging area that relies on properties of quantum mechanics.
Participants: W. Keith Robinson, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University School of Law; Raina Haque, Professor of Practice, Wake Forest University School of Law; Josh Fairfield, William Donald Bain Family Professor of Law, Washington & Lee University School of Law; Nikola Datzov, Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota School of Law; Tabrez Ebrahim, Associate Professor, Lewis & Clark University Law School