The North Dakota Law Review held its annual symposium at the Avalon Events Center in Fargo on March 21, 2024
The all-day event, brought together legal scholars, practitioners, technologists, and policymakers to explore the evolving landscape of innovation and its legal implications. Innovation has become the cornerstone of progress in virtually every industry, driving economic growth, social change, and technological advancement. However, with innovation comes a host of legal challenges and opportunities that require careful navigation. From intellectual property rights to regulatory frameworks, from emerging technologies to ethical considerations, the legal landscape surrounding innovation is both complex and ever-changing.
Hiep Pham, senior intellectual property counsel for Cargill, delivered the keynote address, which explored the role attorneys play in facilitating innovation. He outlined why innovation is necessary for businesses to succeed and then looked to the legal profession to assess attorneys’ suitability as innovation champions. He discussed specific areas where attorneys can shape and guide innovation through both influence and thought leadership.
Other sessions included, North Dakota’s Path of Innovation: A Rich History and Promising Future presented by Nikola Datzov, assistant professor of law at UND School of Law, panel discussions focusing on protecting and incentivizing innovation, and Bridging the Divide: Does the EU’s AI Act Offer Code for Regulating Emergent Technologies in America? presented by Renee Henson, visiting assistant professor at the University of Missouri School of Law.
The North Dakota Law Review annual symposium welcomes well-respected and diverse scholars, legal professionals, and community leaders from across the state, region, and country. Topics are selected to challenge participants on legal issues from a variety of perspectives. Symposiums in even years take place in either the spring or fall semester. Every odd year, the symposium topic focuses on Energy Law and takes place during the spring semester in Bismarck, North Dakota. This year’s symposium was coordinated by Danielle Middleton, Research Editor and Symposium Editor for the North Dakota Law Review.