Senior IP and licensing executives, legal professionals, and technology leaders from Fortune 50, 100, and 500 companies will soon be convening at Via Licensing Alliance’s second-ever Via Business Summit – which will this year be held at the Bellagio Hotel in Shanghai from March 18 to March 21.
This year’s summit, an invitation-only event co-organized by PurpleVine IP, will focus on the rapidly evolving Chinese market while also providing valuable insights into global IP trends. The week will kick off with two days of licensor meetings, followed by a half-day IP industry business conference, and rounded off with a full day of dynamic excursions of Shanghai, where attendees will have the choice between a Formula 1 China Grand Prix experience, a tour of Shanghai’s historic and modern landmarks, and a visit to the picturesque Zhujiajiao Water Village.
The conference, co-hosted by the Institute for Intellectual Property of East China University of Political Science and Law, will welcome participants from several Via LA patent pools, alongside China’s Chief Justices and other leading IP figures. It will delve into the latest developments in the IP marketplace and licensing trends, with specialized panels focusing on China’s evolving licensing market.
There will also be ample networking opportunities for attendees throughout the day. Following the conference, co-sponsors Gen Law Firm, JunHe Law Firm, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and King & Wood Mallesons will then host exclusive IP industry dinners, creating further opportunities for networking and discussions on industry developments.
ip fray is an official media partner of the event and will report before, during and after. This is only the second event that we are getting involved in (we are also a media partner for IP Dealmakers Europe + LF Dealmakers Europe in June) and will remain a rare exception. We are excited to be joining such an exclusive event – and one that is expected to host well over 100 senior-level attendees from major licensors, manufacturers, and technology implementers, as well as IP and patent licensing industry officials.
Key summit speakers will include (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Huirong Gu from the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration;
- Professor Huang from the East China University of Political Science and Law;
- Ivan Lam from Counterpoint Research; and
- Hon. Jian Song, former Director of the Intellectual Property Tribunal at the Jiangsu High People’s Court.
The final panel, which will be moderated by Via LA’s Jane Bu, will also include (in alphabetical order by last name):
- Dejian Dai from Sichuan Changhong Electric Co., Ltd.
- Alan Fan from Huawei;
- Vincent Lin from Oppo;
- Na Wei from Xiaomi; and
- Victor Yang from PurpleVine IP.
Why Shanghai?
Shanghai has rapidly emerged as a global hub for commerce and innovation. The city’s dynamic growth as a technological and economic powerhouse, combined with its strategic role in the global IP ecosystem, positions the city as a natural setting for this year’s summit.
Via LA President Heath Hoglund notes that Chinese companies have quickly become global leaders in the IP market, not only as some of the largest implementers but also as some of the largest patent owners across numerous technology fields. “We continue to see China as a growth market for intellectual property,” he says.
Every year, the patent pool administrator holds a Business Summit in an important IP hub and Shanghai is also home to Via’s office in China, Mr. Hoglund notes. The company has grown its presence in China over the last several years (December 10, 2024 ip fray article) and expects that to continue, he says.
Via LA’s summits so far
In 2023, following the formation of Via LA, the company launched two key annual summits: the Via Bridge Summit and the Via Business Summit.
The Via Bridge Summit was first held at the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel in September 2023 and is designed to bridge the gap between licensees and licensors. The Via Bridge Summit takes place every year in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Via Business Summit was first held in Madrid in March 2024. This event is structured to provide licensors with the data and tools necessary to manage their portfolios and navigate the evolving IP landscape, rotating between Asia and Europe, ensuring regional perspectives and opportunities for cross-border collaboration. The summit also provides a unique opportunity for licensors to meet and discuss official patent pool business, and for manufacturers, technology implementers, IP and patent licensing industry officials, and others to come together to explore the most pressing trends in patent licensing and IP.