Institute for Internet Policy & Law @ Beijing Normal University

The possibility of a new Renaissance made possible by Artificial Intelligence – which in the national strategy proposal drawn up by a group of experts appointed by the Government, is defined as RenAIssance – represents an exciting challenge to deal with: future of work, interpersonal relationships as well as social and environmental protection, will inevitably be affected by the impact that Artificial Intelligence systems will increasingly have in everyday life. Then, it is important to face, both from the legal and ethical-anthropological point of view, the relationship between man and intelligent machines, in order to preserve the human being in his cultural and material wealth. In this context, the European University of Rome, with the Innovation Law Laboratory (InnoLawLab) has enriched its educational offer with the post-graduate Master’s Degree on “Artificial Intelligence: Law and ethics of emerging technologies”, aimed at providing students with the necessary knowledge to understand the impact and the legal functions of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies (Blockchain, IOT, 5G), in order to address the issues underlying its development and the spread of AI systems.

Prof. Xue was invited by the Director of InnoLawLab of European University of Rome, Prof. Stazi, to give a keynote speech at the Seminar  ” RenAIssance: Artificial Intelligence for a new Renaissance between development opportunities and need for protection”  on 14 October, 2019, 12.30 pm at Fondazione Alcide De Gasperi Rome, Via del Governo Vecchio 3.  Prof. Xue talked about the various legal impacts of deployment of AI in international trade.  She examined a variety of legal areas that may be affected including the contract law (automated and intelligent contracting agent), data protection law (GDRP’s ban on automated data process) and international trade law (3D and other tech to circumvent the trade barriers). She also answered many questions from both the faculties and students. Her presentation was warmly hailed by all the audience.

Program

Introduction

Pedro Barrajón LC
Rector of the European University of Rome

Keynote Speeches

Giorgia Abeltino
Director Government Affairs & Public Policy South Europe, Google
Economy of Intelligence and Smart Regulation

Hong Xue
Beijing Normal University Law Professor, Director of Institute for Internet Policy & Law (IIPL) and Co-Director of UNCITRAL-BNU Joint Certificate Program on International E-Commerce
AI in International Trade Law

Presentation of the Master’s Degree on “Artificial Intelligence: law and ethics of emerging technologies”

Emanuele Bilotti
Full Professor of Private Law – Coordinator of the Master’s degree in Law – European University of Rome

Round Table
Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Internet of Things: Emerging technologies and challenges for law, ethics, economy and job

Discuss:
Laura Di Raimondo, General Director Asstel
Paolo Cherubini, Foundation Terzo Pilastro Internazionale
Emanuela Girardi, Associazione Pop AI – MISE expert group
P. Alberto Carrara, Università Europea di Roma
Marco Scialdone, InnoLawLab – Università Europea di Roma

Moderates: Raffaele Barberio, Key4Biz

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence: Which policies for innovation, research and development

Luca Carabetta, Vice-President of the Productive Activities Commission Chamber of Deputies – Artificial Intelligence Parliamentary Intergroup

Anna Ascani*, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, University and Research

Aspen Institute Italia is an international non-profit association dedicated to the high level exchange of information and values. The Aspen international network includes independent but coordinated offices in the US, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Romania, Spain and Ukraine.

The Aspen Seminars for Leaders (ASL) are the successful European version of the renowned original Aspen Executive Seminars. Their format represents a unique approach, both at the national and at the international level: the environment created at these events encourages free and open debate, leading to an in-depth analysis of topical issues of the day. The relevance of the discussions, the informal atmosphere, the limited number of participants per seminar and the common activities are just some of the characteristics of Aspen Italia’s seminar activity. ASL provides a unique opportunity to enhance knowledge and gain information; they offer a wide range of perspectives on the strategic challenges of a more and more globalized, multi-sided and competitive world. Far from giving off-the-shelf answers, the Seminars represent a sort of open agorà where businessmen can meditate upon the issues they have to tackle with daily, as well as the contradictory interests, values and cultures of the modern society.

In October 2019 the Aspen Seminars for Leaders was held in Venice at the San Clemente Palace Kempinski. The modern complex, with its beautiful open courtyards, preserves the charm and atmosphere of the ancient Camaldolite monastery, built in the second half of the seventeenth century. The artistic heritage and stunning scenery provide the perfect setting for meditative analysis.

Prof. Xue was invited to presented at the Workshop of data driven society. With the advent of the digital age, the relationship between data, technology, foreign policy and security is growing. For a long time, the Internet was seen as the modern agora. Today however, more and more experts highlight the risks that come from an increasingly concentrated control of data in the hands of a few players. At the center of the discussion is the fear that the internet could turn into a breach of democratic systems, with far greater repercussions than in the past. Prof. Xue emphasized the importance of protection of personal information while pursuing the social economic development. Prof. Xue particularly pointed out that undermining data protection in data-driven society is like development of manufacture industry at the cost of environmental protection. It’s not sustainable to adopt the model of pollution first and clean-up later-on. Her presentation was strongly supported by the all the participants.

The World Trade Organization invited Prof. Xue to give two keynote speeches at the 16th Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property in Geneva.  The two-week colloquium for teachers of intellectual property (IP), jointly organized by the WTO and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), opened in Geneva on 17 June 2019. The event aims at helping teachers from developing countries and economies in transition to become more aware of the Geneva institutions, negotiations and other activities concerning intellectual property law and policy and to strengthen their countries’ independent research, policy analysis and teaching. Xiaozhun Yi and Mario Matus, Deputy Directors-General at the WTO and WIPO, opened the two-week course at WIPO headquarters. They highlighted the importance of this event, which brings together 29 IP scholars and teachers with a strong background in IP and responds to the growing demand for enhanced awareness of IP issues.

The programme included a wide range of IP policy and legal issues, such as IP and public health, IP and e-commerce, IP and biotechnology, IP and artificial intelligence, and IP and blockchain. More than 40 experts from WIPO, the WTO, partner intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and various fields of industry addressed participants to keep them up to date with the key issues and challenges confronting IP law and policy. Prof. Xue presented on “IPR Issues in the Digital Economy” and “Copyright Issues in E-commerce” on June 17 and 18 respectively. The keynotes were warmly welcomed by all participants. Prof. Xue responded to all the questions with great enthusiasm.

Participants were provided with an update on the activities and instruments of WIPO and the WTO, focusing on policy issues under negotiation or discussion in the two organizations, and placing these issues in their wider legal and policy contexts. The colloquium strengthened the capacity of universities to develop national expertise in IP, thereby building their capacity to provide policy support for current negotiations or discussions in WIPO and the WTO.

Prof. Xue was also invited the WTO Intellectual Property Department to provide a presentation at the “IP & TRADE POLICY TODAY” SEMINAR SERIES on June 20 in the WTO Room A. The Seminar series are s a series of informal conversations about the interaction between intellectual property and international trade in today’s global economy. Prof. Xue’s topic is “Intermediary Liability in the Platform Economy: A Key Issue for Intellectual Property Law Regimes”. Prof. Xue addressed that the operators of platform economy provide tens of millions of parties with virtual business premises and with deal-making, information dissemination and other related services, and enable them to independently engage in transactions. The operator plays a vital role in intellectual property protection. Online intermediary liability is the concept of holding online platform operators responsible for illegal or harmful acts of Internet users. An appropriate liability regime for platform operators should recognize the importance of keeping a balanced approach between IP right holders and business operators. The platform operator should be incentivized to cooperate with IP right holders to deter the unauthorized storage and transmission of IP-protected materials. Meanwhile, IP right holders should be granted effective enforcement procedures against infringement. While legal remedies are available for right holders to address such infringement, platform operators should be eligible for appropriate safe harbors in respect of online services which they do not control or initiate and that take place through the system or network controlled or operated by them or on their behalf.

The Seminar was held during the WTO E-commerce Negotiation period and attracted the official delegates from more than fifty countries from Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa to take part. The Head of IPD and other officials gave very high remarks to the insightful and innovative presentation, which was followed with the interesting and fruitful interactions with the delegates and IPD officials.

IP TRADE POLICY TODAY – Prof. Dr. Hong XUE

         2019中国电子商务大会电商法论坛于2019年5月29日下午在北京国家会议中心举办，论坛邀请政府相关主管部门、《电子商务法》立法专家、电商企业代表出席，深入解读探讨，共促行业规范发展。商务部电子商务和信息化司副司长蔡裕东、北京市商务局副巡视员王洪存出席论坛并致辞。论坛由商务部电子商务专家咨询委成员、亿邦动力董事长兼CEO郑敏主持。

2018年8月31日，第十三届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第五次会议通过了《中华人民共和国电子商务法》（以下简称《电子商务法》），2019年1月1日正式实施。作为我国首部电子商务领域综合性法律，《电子商务法》的出台标志着中国电子商务进入历史发展新阶段。

《电子商务法》起草专家北京师范大学教授薛虹，从《电子商务法》电子商务知识产权保护制度的新发展等角度深入解读。国家市场监管总局网监司副司长韦犁、中国消费者协会副秘书长董祝礼、苏宁易购集团法务总监吴振兴，分别作为政府主管部门、行业组织、电商企业代表发表主题演讲。为推动《电子商务法》落地实施、加强消费者维权意识、促进企业落地实践提供参考。

会上，商务部电子商务司发起电子商务绿色发展倡议，号召各电子商务企业戮力同心、不懈努力，积极探索电子商务绿色发展道路。商务部电子商务司蔡裕东副司长与首批响应倡议的阿里巴巴、京东、苏宁易购，唯品会，美团点评、饿了么、小米，三只松鼠等企业代表一齐启动发布装置，宣示共同促进电子商务绿色发展。

2019中国电子商务大会由商务部、北京市人民政府主办，商务部电子商务和信息化司、北京市商务局承办。大会以“数据驱动 开放融合”为主题，邀请国内外政府主管部门和行业组织、企业领袖、权威专家汇聚一堂，围绕中国电子商务发展趋势、“丝路电商”国际合作、《电子商务法》、电商扶贫、跨境电商、数字化零售、电商诚信等热点主题展开探讨，共议全球电子商务发展前景。薛教授对于本次会议的贡献，商务部特别发出感谢信，以兹鼓励。

Prof. Xue was invited by the Center of Intellectual Property and Information Law of Cambridge Law Faculty to lecture to the faculties and graduate students on January 16-21, 2019. Prof. Xue Lectured on “Copyright on E-commerce Platforms: An Insight Preview of the Chinese New Law”. Chinese E-Commerce Law, effective from 1 January 2019, impacts all the stakeholders in the business. This comprehensive Law revamps the copyright system applicable to e-commerce platforms by redefining their roles, responsibility and liability. E-commerce platforms are one of the powerful infrastructures that enable Chinese global business development. The Law’s extra-territoriality may not be overlooked. How would this new system affect the interests of the parties involved? Would it facilitate a balanced copyright system through multi-stakeholder interaction? Is the platform governance relevant to the copyright liability and law enforcement? Prof. Xue explored all these questions and exchanged the views and opinions with the faculties and students. Prof. Xue also answered a couple of questions raised by the audience. All were highly interested in the Chinese new Law and looked forward to knowing more from Prof. Xue.