“IP remains a central element that must be protected to safeguard the value of AI models”

Leaders League: Given that software cannot be patented, what intellectual property assets does EarthLab possess?

Thomas Friederich: Our company's intellectual property (IP) assets are divided into two categories: those we inherited from our shareholders and those we developed in-house. The latter, Max-ICS, is our primary revenue source. This platform enables us to handle massive amounts of data, establish data processing chains, and continuously develop artificial intelligence (AI) models, also known as the Factory.

The Max-ICS platform was designed to meet our company’s needs and optimize our data scientists’ time by automating tedious tasks. It also takes care of purely computer-related functions, such as data storage and setting up processing machines. Therefore, our IP assets mainly rely on this platform since AI models cannot be filed as they are. However, AI models’ origin and ownership raise critical questions about IP, including data ownership, model ownership, and result ownership, especially in a situation where multiple parties are involved in the process.

Addressing these issues is crucial, and it is primarily achieved through contractual agreements established at the beginning of a project. However, the reuse of AI models in the same or different contexts after a few years raises questions about IP ownership and value. These challenges are significant for companies that work in AI, and they need to be defined and clarified to avoid legal complications. Therefore, it is essential a clear and standardized approach is found to manage and protect IP assets related to AI.

What are the primary intellectual property challenges that confront the space industry?

Intellectual property issues in the space sector are similar to those in other industries. Luxembourg’s focus on space resources brings up unique IP and taxation considerations. Other than space resources, the space sector follows a typical IP framework found in most industries. 

How are European lawmakers addressing intellectual property regulation in artificial intelligence? Is there a trend towards standardized regulations?

The protection of intellectual property related to artificial intelligence is a crucial concern for businesses that use AI models. As AI increasingly becomes a significant asset for companies, with multiple models trained on unique data, protecting these models will give businesses a competitive edge. However, there are complex and unresolved issues surrounding IP and security in AI at the European level.

“As AI models increasingly become a significant asset for companies, protecting them will give businesses a competitive edge”

While other aspects of AI attract more attention, IP remains a central element that must be addressed to safeguard the value of AI models. It is essential clear and effective regulations for IP and security concerning AI models are established. Lawmakers and businesses must collaborate to address these challenges and ensure that the legal framework protects these models’ IP rights and guarantees their security.