Massimo Sterpi is an Italian lawyer specializing in intellectual property, new technologies, and art law. He is a partner and Head of IP in Rome, has litigated over 250 IP cases across borders, and is also a passionate art collector. In this episode, Massimo joins David Breitenbach, CCO at PatentRenewal.com, to explore how emerging technologies are changing art, copyright, and the wider IP landscape. They discuss why artists often act as the “R&D department of humanity”, how AI-generated work challenges traditional ideas of creativity, why data may now be one of the most important assets in IP, and why lawyers need to become more flexible, industry-focused advisors in a world where technology moves faster than legislation. In this episode, you’ll learn: ◼️ Why artists are often the first to experiment with emerging technologies ◼️ Why AI may be “recreative” rather than truly creative ◼️ How copyright, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets are being reshaped by digital technology ◼️ Why data is becoming one of the most valuable assets in the AI economy ◼️ What artists should consider before using AI tools in their work ◼️ Why AI training data raises major copyright and fairness questions ◼️ How the Brussels Effect can turn EU regulation into a global standard ◼️ Why trade secrets are becoming more important for software and algorithm protection ◼️ Why future IP lawyers may need to become industry specialists, not just legal specialists 00:00 Intro 01:08 Why artists are the R&D department of humanity 02:33 Art as a testing ground for new technology 03:10 NFTs, neural networks, and early AI art 04:10 Why AI mimics rather than truly creates 05:39 Why law moves slower than technology 06:42 IP territoriality in a borderless digital world 07:54 Why copyright and trade secrets are gaining importance 08:14 Why data is the new IP 09:22 How IP work is shifting toward technology law 09:48 Neural implants and the rise of neuro rights 11:04 Can artists use AI to support their work? 12:00 AI tools, terms, and copyright risk 13:35 The Church of Prompts and AI-assisted art 14:20 AI agents and humans as physical executors 15:43 AI companies, training data, and artist infringement 16:41 Should creators be paid when their work trains AI? 18:06 Territorial issues in global copyright enforcement 19:31 The Brussels Effect and global AI regulation 21:47 Why algorithms are often protected as trade secrets 22:42 Trade secret disputes and employee movement 23:36 Why lawyers need to become more flexible 24:08 From legal silos to industry expertise 24:37 How to become an expert in a specific field 26:15 Rapid fire IP Confessions 26:22 Patents or copyright? 26:34 A client habit Massimo loves to see 27:10 Advice for software companies protecting trade secrets 28:06 What patent offices could do better 28:39 The artwork Massimo would love to own 29:03 Final thoughts: stay close to the next new thing Follow Massimo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/massimo-sterpi/ Join PatentRenewal.com’s circle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/patentrenewalcom Follow David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-breitenbach/ GET IN TOUCH Our website: https://patentrenewal.com/ About us At PatentRenewal.com, we believe IP renewals should be simple, transparent, and stress-free. We care about innovation and about making IP easier to understand and easier to use. That’s why we created Talk IP to me, the podcast that brings fresh conversations to the world of intellectual property. In each episode, innovators, IP experts, founders, and legal minds share real stories, hard-won lessons, and practical insights you can actually apply in your work. Our goal is simple: make IP feel human, practical, and accessible.