WIPO Pathfinders: The Futures of Video Games and Intellectual Property

Name: WIPO Pathfinders: The Futures of Video Games and Intellectual Property
Start: 2026-10-16T08:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-16T17:30:00+02:00
Location: No location set

16 October 2026

Europe/Zurich timezone

Provisional Program

Friday, October 16, 2026

Time	Agenda item
9.30 – 10.00	Opening Introductory remarks Mr. Andrew Staines, Assistant Director General, Global Challenges, Opportunities and Partnerships Sector, WIPO Mr. Stan McCoy, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Entertainment Software Association (ESA)
10.00 – 10.45	High level dialogue: Trends and transformation in the video game sector This panel will explore the key trends and transformations reshaping the video game ecosystem and share perspectives from industry leaders and academics, on how video games are becoming creative, technological and cultural ecosystems, and how intellectual property (IP) can enable creativity, investment, collaboration, trust and enduring value. Moderator: Ms. Intan Hamdan-Livramento, Senior Economist, Innovation Economy Section, WIPO Speakers: Mr. Tim Scott, Senior Director of Public Policy, ROBLOX Ms. Maria Burns Ortiz, Executive Director, Global Game Jam Ms. Susanna Pollack, President, Games for Change (G4C) Mr. Gaetano Dimita, Reader in Interactive Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London Mr. Paolo Lanteri, Senior Director, Global IP Policy, Microsoft
10.45 – 11.00	Coffee break
11.00 – 12.30	Scenarios for video games & IP 2037 This panel will engage in an interactive conversation about the different futures of video games and IP. Using scenario exploration, participants will discuss issues including how to maintain appreciation for video game IP in each scenario, how can emerging video game hubs leverage IP to scale distribution, what types of new technologies may transform video game experience and overall, exchange ideas on how IP would enable creativity and innovation in the future. Moderator: Mr. Martin Correa Finsterbusch, Head of IP Futures and Knowledge Management Section, WIPO Speakers: Mr. Yaniv Benhamou, Professor, Director Digital Law Center, University of Geneva Ms. Ewelina Jarosz-Zgoda, VP, Legal & General Counsel, CD PROJEKT RED Mr. Ben Golant, Senior Director for Global Game Policy, Tencent Ms. Amanda Denton, Senior Counsel, Global Policy, Entertainment Software Association (ESA)
12.30 – 14.30	Lunch break & Esports Play During the lunch break onsite participants may participate in a friendly esports tournament, offering a fun chance to play, compete, and connect.
14.30 – 16.00	Afternoon parallel sessions Track 1 · Room B Protecting creativity: IP foundations of the video game ecosystem This panel explores the legal, technical, and policy frameworks that enable creativity and innovation in the video game sector. Participants will examine how IP rights support investment, collaboration, and growth, while addressing emerging challenges related to digital distribution, AI, enforcement and dispute settlement. The session will consider how IP systems can remain effective in a rapidly evolving environment in the video game industry. Moderators: Mr. Gaetano Dimita, Reader in Interactive Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London Mr. Yaniv Benhamou, Professor, Director Digital Law Center, University of Geneva Speakers: Ms. Ewelina Jarosz-Zgoda, VP, Legal & General Counsel, CD PROJEKT RED Mr. Ben Golant, Senior Director for Global Game Policy, Tencent Ms. Alyssa LeBarron, Senior Analyst for Enforcement & Tooling, Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Mr. Morten Bro, COO, Astralis Mr. Oscar Suarez Bohorquez, Legal Officer, Business Development and Digital Content Disputes Section, WIPO Track 2 · Red Room Empowering creators: IP fueling the next generation of video game innovators This panel focuses on how intellectual property enables a diverse and globally distributed community of creators. Panelists will discuss how to support independent developers, young innovators, and emerging studios, and explore how IP can create opportunities for creativity, entrepreneurship, and participation in the digital economy. The discussion will highlight pathways for transforming ideas into sustainable creative ventures. Moderator: Ms. Maria Burns Ortiz, Executive Director, Global Game Jam Speakers: Mr. Tim Scott, Senior Director of Public Policy, ROBLOX Mr. James Francis Lorenzo (WIPO game jam winner) Mr. Luca Cannellotto, Specialist Game Design, Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council Track 3 · Room Uchtenhagen Amplifying Impact: Video games as partners for UN agencies This panel examines the growing role of video games as platforms for education, awareness-raising and social impact. Representatives from international organizations will explore how games can contribute to advancing global development objectives and reaching new audiences. The session will showcase collaboration between the video game sector and the UN system. Moderator: Mr. Ryszard Frelek, Counsellor, External Relations Division, WIPO Speakers: Ms. Susanna Pollack, President, Games for Change (G4C) Ms. Tatjana Sachse, Lead spokesperson and Counsel, Global Video Game Coalition Mr. Andy Pattison, Team Lead, Frontier Technologies Team, World Health Organization Ms. Raquel Abifadel, Partnership Specialist, Partnerships and Communications, UNICEF Office of Innovation Mr. Benjamin Syme Van Ameringen, External Partnerships Officer, UN World Food Programme Mr. Rafael Ferraz Vazquez, Legal Officer, Copyright Law Division, WIPO
16.15 – 16.30	Coffee break
16.30 – 17.00	Closing plenary Parallel track summaries Moderator: Mr. Martin Correa Finsterbusch, Head of IP Futures and Knowledge Management Section, WIPO Speakers: Mr. Ryszard Frelek, Counsellor, External Relations Division, WIPO Ms. Maria Burns Ortiz, Executive Director, Global Game Jam Mr. Gaetano Dimita, Reader in Interactive Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London Mr. Yaniv Benhamou, Professor, Director Digital Law Center, University of Geneva Closing remarks Mr. Andrew Staines, Assistant Director General, Global Challenges, Opportunities and Partnerships Sector, WIPO

WIPO Pathfinders: The Futures of Video Games and Intellectual Property

Protecting creativity: IP foundations of the video game ecosystem

Empowering creators: IP fueling the next generation of video game innovators

Amplifying Impact: Video games as partners for UN agencies