INTA 2025 Recap: Insights from San Diego

The GoDaddy Corporate Domains crew just returned from a week at the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting in San Diego, where conversations around emerging trends across the IP landscape were plentiful. This year’s theme, “The Business of IP,” hit home, as GCD continues to see the role IP protection plays in driving business success.

There were many highlights from the week spent in San Diego—exciting products, engaging panel discussions, and probably the most impressive takeaway is that I did not get sunburned. A recap:

GlobalBlock Draws a Crowd at INTA

The GlobalBlock booth, hosted by the Brand Safety Alliance, was a standout at this year’s INTA conference. Attendees were drawn in by the now-infamous claw prize machine, which proved to be a major crowd-pleaser. The booth also offered on-site trademark reports, adding a practical and engaging touch to the experience. Fingers crossed, the claw machine makes a return next year!

Beyond the booth buzz, GlobalBlock continues to gain traction as a powerful brand protection tool. With one registered block covering over 600 extensions, it offers a cost-effective and efficient way to prevent trademarked names from being registered by bad actors. Just after INTA, the team announced the addition of 39 more extensions to its coverage—further strengthening its reach. Learn more about GlobalBlock here.

AI is leading concerns and opportunities for brand owners

Phil Lodico, Head of GoDaddy Corporate, took the stage at INTA for a lively panel that included other talented thought leaders in the domain space: David Degan, Senior IP Counsel of Novartis; Lauren Dienes-Middlen, Deputy General Counsel at WWE (USA); and Susan Stearns, Director of Trademark and Brand Enforcement at PayPal.

With the discussion centering around AI having the ability to reshape domain strategy and enable better decision-making around domain management, the panel drew a large crowd of INTA attendees eager to dive into this timely topic.

Key Takeaways:

•   – Domain portfolios are inherently data-rich, making them well-positioned to benefit from AI-driven analysis and forecasting.
•   – AI technologies should be viewed as another tool to use for brand professionals — but not a substitute for expert industry judgment and strategic oversight
•   – Legal should be a strategic partner across all business units, especially in domain management and AI integration. Involving Legal early ensures innovation and growth are grounded in compliance, risk mitigation, and long-term brand protection.
•   – The discussion around AI and IP continued across many panels throughout the week, from “The Business of Music,” which explored AI’s impact on the creative industry, moderated by Humanable’s Lili McGrady, and “Harnessing AI,” presented by the Professional Development Committee to improve efficiency in day-to-day work for trademark professionals.

Client conversations and new connections:

A personal highlight for me was the chance to catch up with current clients and connect with fresh faces. Seeing the people I work most closely with, in person (if only to prove that I am, indeed, a real person) is invaluable for understanding their goals and identifying any pain points that need attention. These in-person conversations reaffirmed that expert domain management is crucial for success in the IP space.

We’re grateful for the conversations, connections, and insights shared in San Diego. If we didn’t get a chance to connect during the event, feel free to reach out gmcmanus@gcd.com.