The Armenian Bar Association’s Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law Committee, also known as the IP/IT or TechLaw Committee, brings together legal professionals, academics, businesses, entrepreneurs, scientists, and technology-sector stakeholders in Armenia, the United States, and the global Armenian community.
The Committee supports education and professional engagement in intellectual property and information technology law.
This page provides access to the Committee’s public reports, educational programs, panel discussions, media coverage, and selected activities.
U.S. - Armenia Technology Partnership: From Innovation to Opportunity
Yervant Zorian and Greg Demirchyan explore emerging opportunities for U.S.-Armenia collaboration in technology, with a focus on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, research, investment, workforce development, and the legal and regulatory frameworks that can support cross-border innovation. The discussion will consider how recent bilateral initiatives can translate into meaningful partnerships across industry, academia, government, and the legal and professional communities.
Third Report: Unlocking Advanced Technology Access for Armenia: A Practical Roadmap for Reducing U.S. Export-Control Barriers and Implementing the U.S.-Armenia MOU on Microchips, Artificial Intelligence, and Intellectual Property (September 2026)
2026
Advancing Collaboration with the American University of Armenia
August 6, 2026 — Armenian Bar Association representatives Karén Tonoyan and Kamelia Antranik met with AUA President Bruce Boghosian and Knar Khachatryan, Academic Director of Sponsored Programs & Technology Transfer, to discuss collaboration in intellectual property and technology law. Dr. Naira Campbell-Kyureghyan, C. Judson King Endowed Visiting Professor at AUA and involved with AUA’s Office of Sponsored Programs and Technology Transfer, participated remotely and is shown on screen.
AIPO and Ministry of Economy meeting
August 4, 2026 — Armenian Bar Association IP/IT Committee representatives Karén Tonoyan and Kamelia Antranik met with Ani Harutyunyan, Chief Specialist of Copyright and Related Rights Department, and Arpine Yeganyan, Head of the Information Technologies and Publications Department, at the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Armenia.
Bridging Innovation and Regulation: Advancing U.S.–Armenia Technology and Business Collaboration
An Armenian Bar panel moderated by Karén Tonoyan, with panelists Greg Demirchyan and Zmarak Khan. Explore the legal, regulatory, and commercial framework shaping U.S.–Armenia collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation policy. Panelists will discuss regulatory developments, cross-border technology partnerships, commercialization pathways, export-control considerations, and opportunities to strengthen the innovation ecosystem between the United States and Armenia.
Armenia: Protecting and Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights
April 12–14, 2026 — The Commercial Law Development Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce convened a regional working group in Yerevan concerning intellectual-property protection, enforcement, and commercialization.
2024
Meeting with Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry
June 2024 — The Armenian Bar Association IP/IT Committee, in collaboration with the AESA-NE Branch, met with Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, and members of his team.
Meeting with the Head of Armenia’s Intellectual Property Office
September 2024 — IP/IT Committee Co-Chair Karén Tonoyan and Committee members Emma Arakelyan, Vanik Margaryan, and Annie Davtian met with Kristine Hambaryan, Head of the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Armenia within the Ministry of Economy.
Alpha News interview: “Level of Awareness About Intellectual Property Protection in Armenia Is Low — Karén Tonoyan”
November 21, 2024 — An Alpha News interview with Karén Tonoyan about public awareness of intellectual-property protection in Armenia.
2023
IP/IT Committee at the 2023 International Armenian Lawyers’ Assembly
2023 — Members of the Armenian Bar Association’s IP/IT Committee participated in a panel at the International Armenian Lawyers’ Assembly.
Armenian Lawyers’ Assembly interview with Karén Tonoyan
November 6, 2023 — An interview with Karén Tonoyan concerning the Armenian Bar Association’s IP/IT Committee and its work.
2019
IP & Corporate Law Transformation Summit
October 12, 2019 — The Armenian Bar Association’s recorded summit accompanied the Committee’s first six-part report on intellectual-property protection and corporate-law transformation in Armenia.
Meeting with Tavush Governor Hayk Chobanyan
October 2019 — IP/IT Committee members Emma Arakelyan, Karén Tonoyan, and Narek Zohrabyan met with Hayk Chobanyan, who was then Governor of Tavush Province and later served as Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry.
2019 Armenian Public Radio discussion on the Committee’s work
Karén Tonoyan, Armen Morian, and Narek Zohrabyan discuss the Armenian Bar Association IP/IT Committee’s work, its first report, and the IP & Corporate Law Transformation Summit.
2018
2018 Mid-Year Meeting Wraps Up with Historic, Hugely Successful Conference: The Startup Revolution
The Armenian Bar Association helped lay the legal and corporate groundwork for Armenia’s tech movement through its signature “Startup Revolution” initiatives, which directly intersected with major international tech events hosted in Yerevan—such as the landmark World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019) held in October 2019.
The Startup Revolution Genesis: The movement originated as a marquee continuing legal education program created by the Armenian Bar Association (first launched at Columbia Law School) focused on intellectual property, rights protection, and scaling tech ecosystems in Armenia.
How to Get Involved
Interested in intellectual property, information technology, innovation, or Armenia–U.S. technology collaboration? We welcome Armenian Bar Association members who would like to contribute to the work of the IP/IT Committee.
