Intellectual property risks continue to evolve alongside rapid advances in automotive technology, particularly as software-defined vehicles and AI reshape how innovation is developed, protected, and commercialized. These developments, along with other key themes from Dykema’s 2026 Automotive Trends Report, will help frame discussions at Dykema Drives: Automotive Legal Summit on August 20. Register now.
As automotive innovation increasingly shifts from hardware to software, intellectual property risks continue to evolve. While IP theft remains the leading concern among respondents, companies are also navigating emerging challenges related to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), AI-generated innovations, and evolving patent eligibility standards.
More than half of respondents identified IP theft as a significant concern for 2026, underscoring the growing importance of protecting software, proprietary data, battery technologies, and manufacturing processes. At the same time, SDV licensing risks emerged as a growing challenge, reflecting the industry’s transition toward software-enabled vehicle platforms and the complex questions surrounding software ownership, access, and control.
The findings highlight how companies must balance innovation with effective strategies to protect and manage intellectual property in an increasingly connected and technology-driven automotive landscape.
Click here for a closer look at the trends shaping automotive IP.