2026 Midwinter Meeting January 24, 2026 – January 26, 2026 11:59 PM PST On-Demand About the Midwinter Meeting We are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to you for our 2026 Midwinter Meeting, scheduled for January 24-26, 2026. We are back at the gorgeous Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in the sunny and warm Rancho Mirage, California. The Midwinter Meeting is a wonderful opportunity to meet other members, identify new clients, make new friendships, and establish important professional relationships. Over two and a half days, attendees are engaged in a collaborative exchange and discourse on some of the most critical, cutting-edge issues at the forefront of copyright and intellectual property. Hotel Accommodations The 2026 Midwinter Meeting will be at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. Our group room block is sold out for Saturday and Sunday nights. Friday night reservations are still available here or by calling 1-800-843-6664 and mentioning the Copyright Society. There are a number of nearby hotels that are a short drive or cab ride away from the conference. Please see below for our recommendations. Alternative Hotel Recommendations: Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa 71333 Dinah Shore Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 328-5955 Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort 44600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, CA 92210 (760) 776-1234 Hilton Garden Inn Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage 71-700 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 776-9700 SpringHill Suites by Marriott Palm Desert 71730 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (760) 341-9100 Getting to the Meeting: Resort’s Address: Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa 41000 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 By Car: The resort is about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles, CA via I-10 E / 4-hour drive from Phoenix via I-10 W / 2.5-hour drive from San Diego, CA via I-15 N. See here for directions. By Plane: The closest airport is Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), which is about 8.5 miles from the resort. Registration Attendee Type Early-Bird thru 1/9/26 After 1/9/26 Member $1,145 $1,345 Non-Member $1,745 $1,945 First-time Attendee $1,045 $1,245 Academic/Gov’t Member $945 $1,145 Student Member $745 $745 Student Member Virtual Free Free Single Day Pass* $675 $675 * Meals are not included with single day registration. Please purchase guest meal tickets if you are planning to attend conference meals. Please note: in person registration will close Friday, January 16, 2026. At-the-door tickets will be increased by $100. Sponsorship Interested in sponsoring the 2026 Midwinter Meeting? Explore our sponsorship & marketing opportunities here. Thank You Sponsors! Thank you to the 2026 Midwinter Planning Committee! Useful Links Sponsorship & Marketing Opportunities Cancellation Policy Financial Aid CLE FAQ CLE Credit Details The Copyright Society is an accredited provider in California, New York, and Pennsylvania. MCLE Credits will be available for those jurisdictions, and requests for credit in other jurisdictions may be made when registering. While credit in other jurisdictions is not guaranteed, Copyright Society staff will submit applications for accreditation and notify attorneys upon approval. This intermediate program is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys. Total minutes of instruction: 360 minutes. For more information about CLE, please access copyrightsociety.org/mw26-cle. Please email cle@copyrightsociety.org for CLE related questions. Agenda 1/24 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm PST Las Palmas Lawn First-Time Attendee Reception Join us on the lawn for a first-time attendee mixer prior to the Welcome Reception. All are welcome! 1/24 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm PST Las Palmas Lawn Welcome Reception Join Copyright Society members and guests for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking outdoors. The welcome reception is included in your registration fee and guest tickets are available for purchase. 1/24 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm PST Various Optional Dine-Arounds Sign up for a dine-around here! 1/25 7:30 am - 8:30 am PST Starlight Terrace Breakfast 1/25 8:45 am - 9:00 am PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 Welcome Remarks 1/25 9:00 am - 10:00 am PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 Clones, Clips & Clearances Voice cloning and music-generation tools are colliding with short-form video at scale. This session unpacks who owns what (and when) in creator uploads that use AI-made or AI-modified vocals, beats, and stems. We’ll map the lines between platform licenses and sync, how right-of-publicity and copyright intersect, and what recent music-platform deals with AI guardrails mean for takedowns, attribution, and payouts. Panelists will pressure-test real-world hypotheticals and leave you with practical advice for licensing, clearance, and enforcement. Alfred Yen Professor of Law and Dean's Distinguished Scholar | Boston College Law School View Full Bio Philip Castro General Counsel | Suno View Full Bio Jacqueline Charlesworth Partner | Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz View Full Bio Gabe Fleet Partner | Latham & Watkins View Full Bio 1/25 10:00 am - 10:20 am PST Fiesta Foyer Coffee Break 1/25 10:30 am - 11:30 am PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 A Brief History of Copyright Revision This panel will briefly recount the 21-year saga that shaped modern copyright law with the enactment of the Copyright Act of 1976. The panelists will revisit some of the major battles, stakeholder positions, and legislative challenges that culminated in the landmark Copyright Act. This is part one of a two-part program by the Copyright Society to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Act with special commemorative programming. A second panel will present related issues at the Annual Meeting in June 2026. Be part of this milestone anniversary as we honor the legacy that continues to shape creativity and innovation today. Justin Hughes Honorable William Matthew Byrne Professor of Law | Loyola Law School View Full Bio Molly Van Houweling Harold C. Hohbach Distinguished Professor of Patent Law and Intellectual Property | Berkeley Law View Full Bio 1/25 11:30 am - 11:50 am PST Fiesta Foyer Coffee Break 1/25 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 The Illusion of Control: Are State Consumer Protection Laws Rewriting Copyright? This panel will explore the rise of state consumer protection initiatives on right-to-repair, e-book licensing, and digital purchase transparency mandates and unpack the tension between these efforts and copyright law. Panelists will also discuss the role of preemption in shaping the balance and whether state innovation in this space complements or disrupts the federal framework for copyright protection. Lateef Mtima Founder and Director | Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice (IIPSJ); Howard University School of Law View Full Bio Jonathan Band Founder | policybandwidth View Full Bio Terrance Hart General Counsel | Association of American Publishers (AAP) View Full Bio Devlin Hartline Senior Fellow | Hudson Institute’s Forum for Intellectual Property View Full Bio 1/25 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm PST Starlight Terrace Lunch 1/25 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm PST Meet at Conference Registration Area (Fiesta Foyer) Activity: Rat Pack Playground Walking Tour Discover the trendy midcentury neighborhood Vista Las Palmas, once nicknamed the “Beverly Hills of Palm Springs” and view the homes now called “Alexanders” developed by George and Robert Alexander. Celebrities like Debbie Reynolds, Elvis Presley, Kim Novak, Dean Martin and the Rat Packers lived and frolicked here in the 50s and 60s. Experience the architectural genius of Palmer and Krisel in a collection of stunning homes that were mass-produced but appear to be custom designed. See the Kaufmann house, designed by Richard Neutra, a true masterpiece of midcentury Modern architecture. Meet at 2:30pm by Meeting Registration Desk to board bus. Tour starts at 3:00pm. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Limited to 16. Time: 2:30-5:30pm (Tour: 3-5pm) Cost: $75 per person (includes shuttle) Generously sponsored by 1/25 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm PST Meet at Conference Registration Area (Fiesta Foyer) Activity: Movie Colony Walking Tour The impressive movie colony neighborhood in Palm Springs represents Hollywoods’ glamour heyday with its mix of romantic Spanish Colonial Revival estates and elegant modernist homes. Originating in the 1930s with the luxurious El Mirador as its centerpiece, this posh area in Palm Springs became the private refuge of Hollywood royalty–Cary Grant, Gloria Swanson, Tony Curtis, Roger Moore, Marilyn Monroe, among others. Join us for this private 2-hour walking tour with a docent from the Palm Springs Historical Society. Transportation will be provided to/from the tour. Meet at Meeting Registration Desk at 2:30 to board shuttle. Tour starts at 3:00pm. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Limited to 16. Time: 2:30-5:30pm (Tour: 3-5pm) Cost: $75 per person (includes shuttle) Generously sponsored by 1/25 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm PST Meet at Conference Registration Area (Fiesta Foyer) Activity: Frey House II Tour Join an exclusive tour of Frey House II, designed by Albert Frey. Completed in 1964, this home was his long-time residence and perched on the hillside at the west end of Tahquitz Canyon Way. At the time it was built, it was at the highest elevation of any residence in the city. Frey took five years to select the site and a year to measure the movement of the sun using a 10-foot pole. Meet at Meeting Registration Desk at 3:00pm to board shuttle. Tour starts at 3:30pm. Limited to 10 people. Time: 3:00-5:30pm (Tour: 3:30-4:300pm). Cost $75 per person (includes shuttle). Generously sponsored by 1/25 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm PST Meet at Conference Registration Area (Fiesta Foyer) Activity: General Admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum Founded in 1938, the Palm Springs Art Museum has become a cornerstone of the Coachella Valley’s cultural landscape. Located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, the museum offers compelling art exhibitions, diverse collections, and engaging community programs for visitors of all ages. General admission to Art Museum w/out docent Meet at Meeting Registration Desk at 3:00pm to board shuttle. Tour starts at 3:30pm. Limited to 30 people. Time: 3:00-5:30pm (Tour: 3:30-5:30pm). Cost $150 per person (includes shuttle). Generously sponsored by 1/25 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm PST Las Palmas Lawn Activity: Stretch & Sound Meditation This 45-minute session combines breathing, light yoga/seated stretching, guided meditations and sound instruments to calm the mind. Start the day with a strong mind and body connection with raised energy and clear out any cobwebs or negative thoughts. Meet at the Lawn. Limited to 50 people. 1/25 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm PST Omni Rancho Mirage Tennis Courts Activity: Pickup Tennis Games Square up for a few friendly tennis matches on the Omni’s courts. Four courts reserved. $50 per player. Generously sponsored by 1/25 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm PST West 5th Fairway Dinner Reception on the West 5th Fairway 1/25 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm PST Sunrise Terrace S'Mores at the Fire Pits - Hosted by Engagement & Inclusion Committee Join the Engagement & Inclusion Committee for conversation and s’mores by the fire pits at the Sunrise Terrace (just outside of the hotel lobby). 1/25 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm PST Golf Clubhouse Afterparty with special performance by Crude Humble & Obvious Join us after dinner for a casual afterparty with special performance by the Copyright Society’s house band, Crude Humble & Obvious. Generously sponsored by 1/26 7:30 am - 8:30 am PST Starlight Terrace Breakfast 1/26 8:45 am - 9:00 am PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 Welcome Remarks 1/26 9:00 am - 10:00 am PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 Review Board, Review Board While the Copyright Office’s Registration Division resolves hundreds of thousands of applications every year, sometimes copyright registrations get complicated. A small number of applicants appeal the denial of their applications to the Office’s Review Board—the final agency authority on registration refusals. Copyright protection starts with copyrightability. The Board’s decisions provide invaluable guidance for all copyright lawyers on the issue of copyrightability and registration. Peek behind the curtain with three former Review Board members who will explain how the Board operates, spotlight some of its intriguing decisions, and discuss how this often-overlooked body plays an important role in the larger copyright system. Mark Gray Copyright Counsel | OpenAI View Full Bio Suzanne Wilson Former General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights View Full Bio Catherine Zaller Rowland Copyright Fundamentals Committee Co-Chair, The Copyright Society | VP, General Counsel, CCC View Full Bio 1/26 10:00 am - 10:20 am PST Fiesta Foyer Coffee Break 1/26 10:30 am - 11:30 am PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 Old Claims, Ongoing Risks: Repose in a Post-Petrella World This panel revisits the Supreme Court’s landmark Petrella v. MGM decision, which held that laches cannot bar otherwise timely claims for copyright damages, and explores its impact on the copyright litigation landscape in the decade-plus that’s since passed. We’ll revisit Petrella, discuss whether other equitable defenses have filled the laches gap, and unpack the Court’s recent Warner Chappell v. Nealy ruling, which has injected even more uncertainty around whether repose can be achieved in the post-Petrella world. Panelists will explore what these shifts mean both legally and practically—how has the scope of “old” claims been broadened, and how can those risks be managed? Wook Hwang Partner View Full Bio Wes Earnhardt Partner | Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP View Full Bio David Jacoby Senior Vice-President, Head of U.S. Litigation, Business & Legal Affairs | Sony Music Entertainment View Full Bio Marysa Lin Vice President, Litigation | NBCUniversal Media, LLC View Full Bio Jay Srinivasan Partner | Gibson Dunn View Full Bio 1/26 11:30 am - 11:55 am PST Fiesta Foyer Coffee Break 1/26 12:00 pm - 12:10 pm PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 Photo Contest Awards Presentation 1/26 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm PST Fiesta Ballroom, Salons 1-5 From Ideation to Production: Copyright Considerations from the Front Lines of AI-Augmented Creation This panel will showcase in real time the process of AI-augmented creation of audio-visual content, from ideation to generation, editing and production, touching on the copyright concerns and best practices that creators, publishers, and studios should be aware of at each stage: (1) human authorship; (2) work-made-for-hire; (3) guidance for successful registration; (4) assignment of rights in AI-augmented works; and (5) mitigation of litigation risk. Angela Dunning Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP View Full Bio Erik Burtin Acting Associate Register and Director of Registration Policy and Practice | U.S. Copyright Office View Full Bio Bobby Ghajar IP and AI Litigation Partner | Cooley LLP View Full Bio Matt Wenhardt Head of Production | Gennie View Full Bio
