[Translated]Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: An Ally of Innovation or a Source of Uncertainty? - French-Korean IP Day
2026-02-12
On February 5, the conference “Navigating Innovation & AI: New Frontiers and New Challenges for Intellectual Property” was held at the Embassy of France in Korea.
The event took place in the presence of distinguished guests such as Philippe Bertoux, Ambassador of France to Korea, Kim Yong-sun, Minister of Intellectual Property, and Pascal Faure, Director General of the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).
During the day, French and Korean professionals in intellectual property and artificial intelligence (AI) addressed a central question: while AI is accelerating innovation at an unprecedented pace, can it truly be considered an ally?
This acceleration also brings new challenges, notably the risk of weakening the foundations of intellectual property law.
Kim Yong-sun mentioned that given the rapid development of AI, international collaboration is more essential than ever to harmonize rules. According to him, France remains a key partner for Korea on these topics, a cooperation that is all the more symbolic as the two countries celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations this year.
For Pascal Faure, AI has undeniably transformed the innovation landscape. Accessible to all, it represents an unprecedented opportunity but it also raises new challenges. Its development is so rapid that legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace.
This observation shaped the first discussion on “Innovating in the Age of AI: Opportunity vs. Legal Gap.” Both INPI and the Korean Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP) are now integrating AI into their processes, particularly in the examination of applications. However, speakers mentioned the importance of maintaining a key principle: the “human in the loop.” Human oversight remains essential to verify tasks carried out through AI. Han Gyo-don, Director at MOIP, reminded participants that the examiner is the one who makes the final decision and assumes responsibility for it.
Jean-Marc Deltorn, Professor at the Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI), highlighted that uncertainty has become part of the technological landscape and that “we cannot survive in a constantly evolving environment if we do not take risks.” International collaboration therefore appears crucial to allow AI to reach its full potential while protecting fundamental rights.
The second round table, “Managing and Protecting IP: Is AI an Ally or an Enemy?” focused on concrete corporate practices. Louis Vuitton and Amorepacific explained how they use AI to manage their trademark portfolios and monitor the scope of their rights.
According to a survey conducted by Questel, a French software publisher and IP services provider, 76% of respondents believe that adopting AI has strengthened their competitiveness.
The downside remains data security. How is sensitive data entered into AI tools handled? To address this issue, some companies are developing their own internal solutions. LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, has for example designed its own tool called MaIA.
AI appears to be an indispensable ally for companies, both to defend their rights and to avoid infringing on those of others.
However, AI-related legislation remains recent and constantly evolving. As highlighted by the panel of speakers, the law often lags behind technological advances. Differences between legal systems illustrate this difficulty. For instance, while European legislation allows for the global removal of infringing content, Korean legislation often requires declarations on a publication-by-publication basis, complicating the fight against online counterfeiting.
Artificial intelligence is already transforming numerous scientific and legal fields. In this context, human oversight will remain essential to ensure proper legal supervision of its use. As Philippe Bertoux reminded participants, international cooperation will be key to providing this framework and enabling AI to continue paving the way for future generations.
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