Photo of Michael Word

Michael Word

Subscribe to Michael Word's Posts

Mike Word represents some of the world’s leading technology companies, as both plaintiffs and defendants, in matters before the U.S. federal district courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Patent Trials and Appeals Board (PTAB), and before American Arbitration Association (AAA) panels. In addition, he serves as the co-leader of Dykema’s Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Group.

Contact:Read more about Michael Word
Acme Parts

Right to repair laws are giving consumers and independent repair shops greater access to parts and information. While these laws benefit consumers, they also create challenges for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and authorized suppliers, raising concerns about safety, privacy, and security. Intellectual property (IP) laws offer companies tools to protect their aftermarket business and maintain brand integrity.Continue Reading 2025 IP Update and Year in Review: Navigating Right to Repair and What It Means for Brands in a Changing Aftermarket

Trending Up: Liability by Algorithm

Lawmakers and courts are shifting from theory to rulemaking as AI takes the wheel, bringing new questions about fault along for the ride. Recent legislation in the EU and UK places a presumptive share of liability on manufacturers and software providers, treating autonomous decision-making as an extension of product performance rather than driver behavior.

In the U.S., emerging state-level laws and agency guidance are starting to follow this pattern, especially where human oversight is limited. This trend marks a subtle but significant shift in the legal guardrails around AI: companies are no longer just expected to disclose risks—they’re being required to absorb them.

Trending Down: Compliance Guesswork

Continue Reading Trending Up/Trending Down: Artificial Intelligence

Six months after releasing our 2024 Automotive Trends Report, we look at which of our legal trends continue driving the industry forward… and which ones might be in the rearview mirror. Today, Tom Moga, Jen Fraser, and Mike Word dive into the major Intellectual Property issues impacting the automotive industry.Continue Reading 2024 Automotive Trends: Trending Up or Trending Down? Spotlight: Intellectual Property