Report by CSC
The State of Online IP Risk 2026
Key Findings
27% of senior executives specializing in IP law report a significant increase in IP infringements over the past 12 months
58% of senior executives specializing in IP law are concerned about cybersquatting or brand-infringing registrations under new extensions
90% of senior executives specializing in IP law say AI-enabled systems are increasing online IP infringements
Senior executives specializing in IP law rate phishing as a top concern at 39%
Senior executives specializing in IP law rate domain name abuse as a top concern at 39%
73% of senior executives specializing in IP law cite slow enforcement processes as a top operational challenge when managing IP infringements
65% of senior executives specializing in IP law cite small teams or lack of dedicated staff as a top operational challenge when managing IP infringements
64% of senior executives specializing in IP law cite high volume of infringement activity as a top operational challenge when managing IP infringements
66% of senior executives specializing in IP law cite regulatory issues and penalties as a significant consequence of IP infringement
59% of senior executives specializing in IP law outsource up to half of infringement monitoring activities to specialist third parties
26% of senior executives specializing in IP law use AI extensively to support IP protection
70% of senior executives specializing in IP law use AI moderately to support IP protection
60% of senior executives specializing in IP law cite the cost of defensive domain registrations among new gTLDs as their biggest concern related to domain namespace expansion
96% of senior executives specializing in IP law are concerned about the threat of IP infringements
Senior executives specializing in IP law rate impersonation as a top concern at 40%
29% of senior executives specializing in IP law anticipate a significant increase in online IP infringements in the next 12 months