AI Meets IP: Balancing Innovation and Risk for Startups
Learn how startups can use AI to accelerate innovation without unintentionally weakening or compromising their intellectual property.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how startups research, design, develop, and protect new technologies. While AI tools can help companies move faster, their use can also introduce intellectual property risks that may be easy to overlook.
Join FORGE and Wolf Greenfield for a practical webinar with intellectual property attorney John Harmon PhD. John will discuss how early-stage companies can take advantage of AI to support innovation while avoiding common pitfalls that could compromise their intellectual property position.
Attendees will gain insights into:
- What aspects of AI-driven inventions may be patentable, and what typically is not
- Intellectual property and legal risks associated with third-party AI tools, models, and training data
- How the use of AI can affect inventorship, ownership, and the ability to protect an innovation
- Practical steps startups can take to protect their technology while managing AI-related risk
The session will be particularly useful for founders, technical leaders, product developers, manufacturers, and others involved in creating or commercializing new physical products and technologies.
Featured Speaker
John S. Harmon, PhD
Wolf Greenfield
John advises clients on intellectual property strategy, patent prosecution, product clearance, licensing, agreements, and other IP matters. His clients range from venture-backed startups to large corporations and academic institutions working across mechanical, materials, and technology fields.
John has experience with technologies including robotics, machine learning, medical devices, additive manufacturing, sensing systems, batteries, renewable energy, microfluidics, and advanced materials.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free, but registration is required
Registered attendees will receive information on how to join the webinar.
Follow-On Office Hours
FORGE and Wolf Greenfield will also offer separate virtual Office Hours on Thursday, September 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Participants will be able to request an individual time slot to discuss intellectual property questions with members of the Wolf Greenfield team.
About FORGE
FORGE is a nonprofit organization on a mission to help innovators navigate the journey from physical prototype through commercialization and impact at scale.
About Wolf Greenfield
Wolf Greenfield is an intellectual property law firm that helps organizations protect their innovations, build strategic IP portfolios, and navigate complex intellectual property issues.