On July 30, 2026, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will convene chief executives, senior legal counsel, and policy leaders at the Grand Hyatt Denver for the ANSI Legal Issues Forum: Standards at a Crossroads-AI Policy, Practice, and Protection. The half-day program, part of the 2026 ANSI Innovation Summit (July 28-31), examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping standards licensing and forcing standards developing organizations (SDOs) to rethink intellectual property protection in a new set of commercial realities.
"AI is rapidly changing the commercial realities of standards," said Laurie E. Locascio, Ph.D., NAE, president and CEO of ANSI. "Standards developers are making consequential decisions about how to digitize their content, how to engage with AI platforms and enterprise users, and how to protect their intellectual property in a new kind of licensing landscape. This forum brings the legal, technical, and commercial expertise together to help our community navigate that terrain."
The forum opens with welcome remarks from Patricia A. Griffin, senior vice president and general counsel, ANSI, followed by a keynote address from Elham Tabassi, director of the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative and senior fellow for Global Economy and Development at the Brookings Institution.
Three panels tackle SDO strategies, market demands, and IP protection
The first panel, "What SDOs Are Doing," moderated by Andrew Updegrove of Gesmer Updegrove LLP, features Christopher Carnahan (Aerospace Industries Association), Emilie B. Delo (SAE International), Andrew G. Kireta Jr. (ASTM International), and Joan O'Neil (International Code Council). They will explore the range of approaches SDOs are taking-from prohibiting AI-enabled uses altogether to actively negotiating AI-related rights and permissions-and the policy frameworks driving those divergent positions.
The second panel, "What Companies, System Integrators, and Enterprise Users Are Building," moderated by Daniel Vreeman of HL7 International, brings together Ségolène Dessertine-Panhard (AWS), Grant Hunter (Outsell), Danny Manimbo (Schellman), and Claude Pumilia (Accuris). The discussion will focus on how companies are coupling digitized standards with AI-enabled platforms, what end users demand, and the opportunities and risks of enabling or restricting AI access to standards content.
The third panel, "How SDOs Can Protect Their IP," moderated by Miranda Means of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, includes Jorge L. Contreras (University of Utah), Roy Kaufman (Copyright Clearance Center), Austin Mayron (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), and Rich Spilde (Holland & Hart LLP). Panelists will address practical legal tools for navigating AI licensing negotiations-contract frameworks, protective provisions, and enforcement approaches-that safeguard standards content while enabling commercial distribution. Attendees will leave with clear insights on what terms to demand, how to allocate liability, and when partnerships make sense.
CLE credits may be available for attending attorneys
In prior years, ANSI has offered Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for this program. Should ANSI be approved again, the Institute will notify registered participants so they can take advantage of the opportunity.
Why this matters for legal professionals
For lawyers who advise standards bodies or companies integrating AI, the forum surfaces the concrete legal frameworks needed to navigate AI licensing negotiations. Understanding what terms to demand, how to allocate liability, and when to pursue partnerships can prevent costly IP disputes as AI adoption accelerates. Resources like AI for Legal provide ongoing coverage of these intersections between artificial intelligence and legal practice.
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