AI is transforming creation, ownership and commercial value faster than IP law can comfortably respond. Join New Zealand’s leading practitioners for a practical examination of AI and copyright risk, ownership and provenance in transactions, mātauranga Māori and cultural authenticity, and the 2026 decisions that should change how lawyers advise clients. From training data and open-source software to brand battles, genuine use and enforcement strategy, gain the insights needed to protect, commercialise and enforce IP with confidence in 2027.
Wednesday, 24 March 2027
11.45am to 12.35pm The Year In IP: Big Cases, Bigger Lessons, Recent Decisions - The Hits, The Misses and What Practitioners Need to Know for 2027
Which cases made us laugh, which made us wince, and which should change the way we advise clients? A practical and probing look back at the year in intellectual property. From the courtroom to IPONZ, unpack the decisions that caught our attention, the arguments that landed (and those that didn’t), and the lessons hiding behind the headlines.
Expect a mix of the unusual, the fascinating and the consequential: brand battles, trade mark missteps, disputes over what counts as genuine use, and the perennial question of just how far IP rights really extend. You'll explore the hits, the misses and the unexpected twists, with a focus on what these decisions mean for clearance searches, brand protection, enforcement, evidence and litigation strategy
A case roundup aiming to show what we should take away from the decisions of 2026, what we might do differently tomorrow, and the risks and opportunities to watch as we head into 2027.
Presented by Tania Goatley, Barrister and Solicitor, Tania Goatley Law
12.35pm to 1.15pm Commercialising and Enforcing IP in 2027: What Should Advisers Change Now?
Facilitated by Richard Watts, Partner, Simpson Grierson
Panel Members:
Tania Goatley, Partner, Tania Goatley Law
Lynell Tuffery Huria, Partner, Kāhui Legal
Joseph Bracewell, Special Counsel, Commercial Law Lead, AJ Park
Andrew Dentice, Partner, Hudson Gavin Martin
Caitlin Hadlee, Special Counsel, Hudson Gavin Martin
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD Hours
Chair:
Richard Watts, Partner, Simpson Grierson
9.00am to 9.50am AI, Copyright and Text-and-Data Mining Risk: Ownership, Training Data and Contract Controls
- Copyright implications of training data and text-and-data mining
- Vendor terms, licensing structures and allocation of AI-related risk
- Contractual protections and governance controls for AI adoption
- Practical considerations for businesses and advisers using AI tools
Presented by Andrew Dentice, Partner and Caitlin Hadlee, Special Counsel, Hudson Gavin Martin
11.30am to 11.45am Break
Learning Objectives:
- Assess AI-related copyright, ownership and text-and-data mining risks and implications
- Gain prctical assistance with IP due diligence
- Evaluate options fors for protecting mātauranga Māori and cultural authenticity
- Gian an analysis of the past 12 months of IP decisions from Courts and IPONZ
- Understand practical strategies for commercialising and enforcing IP
9.50am to 10.40am IP Due Diligence for Transactions: Ownership, Chain of Title, Open Source and AI Tools
- Common gaps in IP ownership records and chain-of-title documentation identified during due diligence
- AI-generated assets, provenance uncertainty and the implications for warranties, risk allocation and transaction pricing
- Using AI tools to review high volumes of contracts while maintaining appropriate human oversight
- Open-source software, copyright ownership and specialist IP issues commonly missed by non-IP lawyers
- Practical due diligence questions for acquirers and businesses preparing for a future transaction
Presented by Joseph Bracewell, Special Counsel, Commercial Law Lead, AJ Park
10.40am to 11.30am Mātauranga Māori, Trademarks, GIs and Cultural Authenticity: Managing Brand and Registration Risk
- What is Mātauranga Māori?
- Why should we protect Mātauranga Māori?
- How can certification trade marks and geographical indications help protect Mātauranga Māori and maintain cultural authenticity?
- Managing risks when adopting and using Māori trade marks
Presented by Lynell Tuffery Huria, Partner, Kāhui Legal
Presenters
Richard Watts, Partner, Simpson GriersonRichard Watts is one of New Zealand's pre-eminent IP lawyers, and considered New Zealand's leading expert on IP commercialisation and strategy. He co-heads Simpson Grierson's intellectual property group, advising a number of the world's leading companies in the FMCG, pharmaceutical, IT, and sports industries. Richard works with a number of leading pharmaceutica lcompanies and research institutions, developing commercialisation strategies for leading local andinternational businesses. Acting for a number of leading brands in the FMCG area, Richard has co-, ordinated trade mark protection, enforcement and border protection measures for numerous household names, both in New Zealand and abroad. Richard is also highly regarded in copyright law, particularly in relation to IT and new technologies, having advised a number of the world's favorite brands in relation to the launch of their new electronic and web products in New Zealand. Richard appears frequently in IP disputes, having appeared in leading Supreme Court and Court of Appeal IP cases, as well as in the High Court, Copyright Tribunal and Intellectual Property Office.
Andrew Dentice, Partner, Hudson Gavin Martin
Specialising in technology, data and commercial law, Andrew works with all sizes of clients (challengers and incumbents, customers and providers) at the cutting-edge of innovation. He is an expert in technology transactions, data protection and commercialisation, and regulatory issues applying to technology products and services. With technology developing faster than traditional legal frameworks, clients turn to Andrew for his specialist expertise in areas like fintech & virtual assets, AI, SaaS and platform business models. Andrew relishes situations where complex regulation meets new technology and working with clients to navigate a way through those challenges. He spent 6 years (including 3 as Co-Chair) on the Executive Council of Fintech NZ, and is regularly asked to present on technology, data and commercial law matters both in New Zealand and overseas. Andrew is recognised as a ‘Next Generation Lawyer’ by The Legal 500, where he is praised as being "a standout commercial and technology lawyer with exceptional market knowledge."
Lynell Tuffery Huria, Partner, Kāhui Legal
For over 30 years, Lynell is a commercial lawyer, but has advised on all aspects of trade mark protection, management and enforcement for sole traders, start-ups, whānau, hapū, and iwi organisations in New Zealand, and multinational companies across the globe. Lynell is recognised as the first Māori patent attorney and regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading experts on indigenous intellectual property (IP) law in New Zealand and the Pacific. Lynell has also developed a broad commercial practice advising on entity establishment, trust law, and a wide range of commercial transactions. She is a Past Chair of the Indigenous Rights Committee for the International Trademark Association. In 2018, she was a member of the organising team for the inaugural Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho conference.
Tania Goatley, Partner, Bell Gully
Tania Goatley is a senior litigation and dispute resolution lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience at a leading New Zealand law firm. She now practises independently, with particular expertise in intellectual property, media, advertising and regulatory law. Tania has extensive experience in intellectual property disputes and litigation, including copyright, trade mark infringement, passing off, breach of confidence, design and branding disputes, and related commercial claims. She also advises on strategic IP protection and enforcement, brand development and commercialisation, and consumer and competitor disputes. Her experience includes significant trade mark disputes concerning the distinctive “V” colour mark, claims relating to the shape and silhouette of glass beverage bottles and fair dealing in relation to coverage of international sporting events. Tania also has a substantial media and reputation management practice, having advised leading media organisations on defamation, suppression and open justice, pre-publication risk, and broadcast rights. Tania is ranked Band 4 for Intellectual Property and Band 3 for Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT) in New Zealand by Chambers Asia-Pacific, and has been recognised by The Legal 500 for intellectual property, media, advertising, privacy and data protection. She is also recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer in New Zealand.
Caitlin Hadlee, Special Counsel, Hudson Gavin Martin
Caitlin is a senior litigator specialising in entertainment law, technology and intellectual property disputes. Caitlin has particular expertise in disputes relating to copyright and also regularly appears in courts and tribunals in disputes relating to brand protection, trade marks, defamation, consumer protection legislation and negligence. In addition to representing significant rights holders, publishers, social media platforms, telecommunications providers and broadcasters, Caitlin also acts for individual authors, artists, directors, producers, actors and start-ups, across the music, art, news media, fashion, gaming, software and film industries. Caitlin frequently presents seminars for clients and entertainment industry guilds on copyright and AI. She is a member of Women in Film and Television (NZ) a New Zealand committee member for IPSANZ and has been recognised as a 2024 Rising Star and 2025 Leading Associate for Intellectual Property in the Legal 500. She is also recommended for both Intellectual Property and TMT by Doyle's Guide.
Joseph Bracewell, Special Counsel, Commercial Law Lead, AJ Park
Joseph leads AJ Park’s commercial law service. He has experience across a broad range of intellectual property, corporate and commercial matters, particularly in the creative arts, game development, and emerging technology industries. Joseph advises clients of all sizes in the public and private sectors in relation to the protection and commercialisation of their creative assets and other intellectual property. He is experienced in corporate structuring, intellectual property licensing, business mergers and acquisitions, and day-to-day business contracting. He is of Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāi Te Rangi descent and has also advised several large iwi-owned entities on their commercial arrangements. Joseph returned to AJ Park in 2026 to lead the commercial team after working across the corporate/commercial and intellectual property teams of a full-service New Zealand law firm. Previously, he worked in the trade marks team of AJ Park and the commercial and trade marks teams at Baldwins before its acquisition by AJ Park in 2020. He started his career as a legal assistant with Recorded Music New Zealand. Outside of work, Joseph’s time is mostly occupied by his three young kids, but he also tries (with mixed success) to fit in time to swim, catch a live music, comedy or theatre show, stay up to date with the latest games, and read a good book or two.
