What’s in this episode?

In this episode of GCC Tech Talks, ⁠Tom Stroud⁠ and Sye Rahman sit down with Mumtaz Kinston Pearson — a seasoned in-house legal counsel with a background spanning biology, big law, FTSE 100 blue-chip corporations, and tech SMBs, currently wearing multiple hats across product law, IP, and ESG.
This one is a deep dive into the legal complexities of the AI era, exploring code licensing, content ownership, data privacy, and why legal teams must sit at the product table from day one.

We cover:

• Why lawyers need to be "product whisperers" integrated into early R&D sprint cycles
• M&A due diligence realities: European regulation vs. US and Southeast Asian "skeletons in the closet"
• Data sovereignty in the GCC: Using GDPR as a high-water mark and navigating regional privacy laws (PDPL)
• The global gap in AI regulation and the GCC’s opportunity to set world benchmarks
• The Dr. Stephen Thaler landmark cases: Why courts worldwide ruled that AI systems like DABUS cannot own patents
• IP ownership of AI outputs: How much human contribution is actually required?
• Enterprise vs. personal AI licensing risks (Claude, Lovable) and blind spots in employment contracts
• AI in the legal sector: Replacing junior research tasks vs. the impending skills shortage

Join us to listen about the legal mechanics of AI, protecting intellectual property, product governance, and how businesses can innovate safely in the evolving regulatory landscape.