Name: Trade secrets and AI
Start: 2025-09-23T12:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-09-23T17:00:00-04:00
Location: United States Patent and Trademark Office

Event summary

September 23, 2025

8:30 a.m. ET - 1:00 p.m. ET

United States Patent and Trademark Office

600 Dulany St.

Alexandria, VA 22314

Add to Calendar2025-09-23 08:30:002025-09-23 08:30:00Trade secrets and AI Navigating the intersection of trade secrets and artificial intelligence developments On September 23, we hosted a symposium on the role of trade secrets in emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. This event took place at USPTO headquarters, with both virtual and in-person attendance options. Over four sessions, experts from academia, law practices, and the U.S. AI industry examined the role of trade secret protection in AI development.This hybrid program explored: Trade secret law, including an overview and recent developmentsThe role of trade secrets in AI developmentTransparency in AI developmentStakeholder viewpoints on trade secret protections in AI Questions for panelists were submitted in advance to AskTradeSecrets@uspto.gov. Recordings of each the sessions are now available. Session 1: Trade Secret Law – Overview and Recent DevelopmentsSession 2: Role of Trade Secrets in Artificial Intelligence DevelopmentSession 3: Transparency in Artificial Intelligence DevelopmentSession 4: Viewpoints: Stakeholder Rights and AIAgenda Agenda is available below. TimeAgenda item8:00 – 9:00 a.m.Registration9:00 – 9:10 a.m.Welcoming RemarksSkip Mark, Director, Global Intellectual Property Academy, USPTOMary Critharis, Acting Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, Officeof Policy and International Affairs, USPTO9:10 – 10:00 a.m.Session 1: Trade Secret Law – Overview and Recent DevelopmentsThe session will provide a broad overview of trade secret law along with highlightingdevelopments shaping the current legal landscape.Mark Abumeri, Attorney Advisor, USPTODavid Almeling, Partner, O’Melveny & Myers LLP10:00 – 10:50 a.m. Session 2: Role of Trade Secrets in Artificial Intelligence DevelopmentThe session will explore what role trade secret protection plays in AI research and development.Presenters:Ken Corsello, U.S. Trade Secret Counsel/Patent Licensing Counsel, IBMCorporationCamilla A. Hrdy, Associate Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School10:50 – 11:10 a.m. Coffee/tea break11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Session 3: Transparency in Artificial Intelligence DevelopmentThis session will delve into the reasons why transparency is critical in AI development and how AI developers are addressing the challenges imposed by transparency.Moderator:Vu Nguyen, Attorney Advisor, USPTOPanelists: Jill Crosby, Policy Counsel, Engine AdvocacyAnna B. Naydonov, Partner, White & Case LLPTajh L. Taylor, Special Advisor, Wikimedia FoundationJohn Villasenor, Professor of Law and Engineering, UCLA12:00 – 12:50 p.m.Session 4: Viewpoints: Stakeholder Rights and AIThis session will explore the viewpoints on trade secret protection in the AI developmentprocess in light of legitimate interests in transparency.Moderator: Peter N. Fowler, Senior Counsel, Office of Policy and International Affairs,USPTOPanelists: Laura Sheridan, Head of Patent Policy, GoogleJohn Villasenor, Professor of Law and Engineering, UCLAJoseph Whitlock, Senior Director, Policy and Executive Director, GlobalData Alliance, Business Software Alliance (BSA)12:50 p.m.Concluding remarks Additional informationFor more information, contact Nadine Herbert in the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs at Nadine.Herbert@uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office 600 Dulany St. Alexandria, VA 22314 United States United States Patent and Trademark Office 600 Dulany St. Alexandria, VA 22314 United States United States Patent and Trademark OfficeAmerica/New_Yorkpublic

Navigating the intersection of trade secrets and artificial intelligence developments

A lock icon and an AI icon on green tech background

On September 23, we hosted a symposium on the role of trade secrets in emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. This event took place at USPTO headquarters, with both virtual and in-person attendance options.

Over four sessions, experts from academia, law practices, and the U.S. AI industry examined the role of trade secret protection in AI development.

This hybrid program explored:

Trade secret law, including an overview and recent developments
The role of trade secrets in AI development
Transparency in AI development
Stakeholder viewpoints on trade secret protections in AI

Questions for panelists were submitted in advance to AskTradeSecrets@uspto.gov.

Recordings of each the sessions are now available.

Session 1: Trade Secret Law – Overview and Recent Developments
Session 2: Role of Trade Secrets in Artificial Intelligence Development
Session 3: Transparency in Artificial Intelligence Development
Session 4: Viewpoints: Stakeholder Rights and AI

Agenda

Agenda is available below.

Time	Agenda item
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.	Registration
9:00 – 9:10 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks Skip Mark, Director, Global Intellectual Property Academy, USPTO Mary Critharis, Acting Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, Office of Policy and International Affairs, USPTO
9:10 – 10:00 a.m.	Session 1: Trade Secret Law – Overview and Recent Developments The session will provide a broad overview of trade secret law along with highlighting developments shaping the current legal landscape. Mark Abumeri, Attorney Advisor, USPTO David Almeling, Partner, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Session 2: Role of Trade Secrets in Artificial Intelligence Development The session will explore what role trade secret protection plays in AI research and development. Presenters: Ken Corsello, U.S. Trade Secret Counsel/Patent Licensing Counsel, IBM Corporation Camilla A. Hrdy, Associate Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School
10:50 – 11:10 a.m.	Coffee/tea break
11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Session 3: Transparency in Artificial Intelligence Development This session will delve into the reasons why transparency is critical in AI development and how AI developers are addressing the challenges imposed by transparency. Moderator: Vu Nguyen, Attorney Advisor, USPTO Panelists: Jill Crosby, Policy Counsel, Engine Advocacy Anna B. Naydonov, Partner, White & Case LLP Tajh L. Taylor, Special Advisor, Wikimedia Foundation John Villasenor, Professor of Law and Engineering, UCLA
12:00 – 12:50 p.m.	Session 4: Viewpoints: Stakeholder Rights and AI This session will explore the viewpoints on trade secret protection in the AI development process in light of legitimate interests in transparency. Moderator: Peter N. Fowler, Senior Counsel, Office of Policy and International Affairs, USPTO Panelists: Laura Sheridan, Head of Patent Policy, Google John Villasenor, Professor of Law and Engineering, UCLA Joseph Whitlock, Senior Director, Policy and Executive Director, Global Data Alliance, Business Software Alliance (BSA)
12:50 p.m.	Concluding remarks

Additional information

For more information, contact Nadine Herbert in the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs at Nadine.Herbert@uspto.gov.

Accessibility accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.

Other upcoming events

Trade secrets and AI

Navigating the intersection of trade secrets and artificial intelligence developments

Agenda

Additional information

Accessibility accommodation