Legal protections for intellectual property (IP) sustain markets of great importance worldwide. Copyright is the foundation of the global creative economy from publishing, and journalism to films and music. Patents are equally important across the globe, as they protect property rights in inventions, thus incentivising innovation and science.

But who owns IP that humans create using artificial intelligence (AI)? Does copyright protect AI-generated paintings? Is a cutting-edge medical treatment devised by AI subject to patent protection? These are no longer hypothetical questions. It is a fact that AI is technically capable of being an artist or an inventor. But does it have the legal capacity to enjoy the protection of IP laws?

Our Global Trends service looks at these issues in detail in its latest 'Regulatory Report'. The report explores the provisions behind legal protections for AI-assisted IP in several jurisdictions around the world. But also looks at jurisdictions where the above issues are yet to be addressed or have only been partially addressed.

The new Regulatory Report from the Cullen International Global Trends service:

• analyses guidance and clarifications issued in 2025 by US copyright and patent authorities;
• explains the policy rationales behind the US stance on these issues;
• compares the official IP law approaches to AI-assisted creative works and inventions in eight jurisdictions across three regions of the world; and
• discusses emerging stances in these areas in Australia, Canada, China, India and the UK.

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