ASU Law and LAIPLA partner to produce 11th annual TechTainment conference

LOS ANGELES (July 21, 2025)—The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA) are excited to announce their partnership to produce the highly anticipated TechTainment 2025 conference, which is renowned for being at the forefront of exploring the dynamic intersection of technology, entertainment and law. This landmark event, now in its 11th year, will take place on Thursday, October 16, at the historic ASU California Center in downtown Los Angeles.

“ASU Law is proud to once again partner with LAIPLA for TechTainment, a dynamic forum that reflects our continued leadership at the intersection of law, technology and entertainment. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to shaping the legal dialogue around emerging technologies and their real-world impact on the creative industries,” said Douglas Sylvester, dean emeritus, faculty director for the Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property and executive director of intellectual property and California strategy at ASU Law. 

“LAIPLA is thrilled to continue its partnership with ASU on the TechTainment conference,” said Sarah Cork, incoming President of the LAIPLA.  “We look forward to building on the success of last year’s collaboration to bring a stellar program to the community this year.”

TechTainment’s mission is to explore the latest technological advancements used in the entertainment industry and delve into their profound legal and business implications. Esteemed speakers and keynotes have comprised the general counsel of the Copyright Office, CEOs, tech gurus, studio vice presidents, award-winning writers and educators – all distinguished leaders in their respective fields. The foresight displayed in past panels has been consistently prescient, empowering attendees with valuable knowledge to deftly guide their clients through the ever-evolving technological landscape.

David Franklyn, professor of practice and executive director of the McCarthy Institute at ASU Law, has spearheaded this partnership to position the college at the cutting edge of intellectual property and technology law.

 “We at ASU Law are proud to partner with LAIPLA on this exciting and cutting-edge event that brings together industry leaders, practitioners and policy makers focusing on entertainment law and technological advances,” said Franklyn.

“This year’s TechTainment is a quantum leap in growth, as we are offering two separate tracks, doubling the previous year’s panels and speakers. One track focusing on entertainment, and the other focusing on technology,” said Mark Treitel, founder of TechTainment, co-chair for Techtainment 2025 and attorney at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.

This year’s TechTainment conference continues its tradition of spotlighting the latest innovations at the crossroads of technology, entertainment and law. Attendees will explore timely and impactful topics with sessions including: To Infinity and Beyond: The New Tech That’s Rewriting Entertainment, Startup IP Bootcamp: From Prototype to Protection, Privacy Under Pressure: Hollywood, Tech and the New Data Laws and Disrupting Creativity: New Technologies and the Legal Challenges Ahead. Panels will tackle everything from AI, NIL and college sports realignment and the ethics of journalism, to legal tech and the future of film finance in the age of artificial intelligence. Plus, don't miss special fireside chats with Senior VP of Visual Effects at 20th Century Studios Joe Comny and Senior VP of Intellectual Property at NBCUniversal Ian Slotin.

LAIPLA, a premier IP law association since 1934, connects over 1,000 members, including attorneys, law firms, solo practitioners and law students, specializing in patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and tech law.

This partnership underscores ASU Law's ongoing commitment to providing students with exceptional opportunities in the ever-evolving field of intellectual property law. ASU Law is expanding its services to a physical location in downtown Los Angeles. ASU Law's focus on growing its IP program reaffirms its dedication to preparing future legal professionals to navigate complex legal landscapes and drive innovation forward.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Arizona State University remains No. 1 in innovation among American universities. The university has recently risen two spots to No. 9 among the world’s top universities for U.S. utility patents issued in 2023, underscoring the university's unwavering commitment to fueling America’s innovation ecosystem and translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit laipla.net/techtainment.

About the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, located in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and online, boasts more than 10,000 graduates, features a world-class faculty and consistently ranks among the nation’s top 20% of all law schools by U.S. News & World Report. ASU Law offers students a personalized legal education and is committed to advancing the next generation of professionals through its JD, three master’s and LLM degrees. Honoring its namesake, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, ASU Law embodies her legacy of integrity, innovation and dedication to public service. For more information, visit law.asu.edu

About the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA)

LAIPLA is one of the nation’s premier intellectual property law associations. Since 1934, LAIPLA has been educating and connecting members of the local intellectual property legal community. As a nonprofit organization with more than 1,000 members, and 30+ Member Firms and Companies, LAIPLA represents a mix of in-house, large and small firm, and government attorneys; solo practitioners; and law students and professors who specialize in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and entertainment and technology law.

Written by Kourtney Kelley