KellDann’s Kirk Sigmon took part in the 2026 Intellectual Property Owners Association Annual Meeting in Toronto, moderating a panel on global online brand protection before an international audience of IP professionals. The meeting also saw IPO’s Anti-Counterfeiting & Anti-Piracy Committee—where Kirk serves as Vice Chair—honored with the 2026 Outstanding Committee of the Year Award.
Global Strategy for Online Brand Protection
At the Annual Meeting, Kirk moderated “Global Strategy for Effective Online Brand Protection in the AI Era,” a panel featuring representatives from Temu, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Corsearch, and East IP.
The panel brought together perspectives from brand owners, online marketplaces, brand-protection professionals, and international IP practitioners to address the changing landscape of global online brand protection and the growing role of artificial intelligence in IP enforcement.
IPO Anti-Counterfeiting & Anti-Piracy Committee Named 2026 Committee of the Year
The Annual Meeting also brought significant recognition for IPO’s Anti-Counterfeiting & Anti-Piracy Committee, which received IPO’s 2026 Outstanding Committee of the Year Award. Kirk serves as a Vice Chair of the Committee.
In announcing the award, IPO highlighted the committee’s contributions to anti-counterfeiting advocacy, its collaboration with major online marketplaces, and its work creating opportunities for rights holders and other stakeholders to address enforcement challenges.
The recognition reflects the committee’s continuing work on issues involving counterfeiting, piracy, online marketplaces, intellectual property enforcement, and emerging technologies.