IPA Congress 2026 Ends on an Optimistic Note for Global Publishing

The IPA Congress 2026 concluded with a positive outlook for global publishing, as industry leaders discussed AI, copyright protection, literacy, translation, freedom to publish and the future of reading.
on Jul 10, 2026

AI, Copyright and the Future of Publishing – Top Industry Players Exchange Their Views

The last International Publishers Association (IPA) Congress of 2026 was held in Kuala Lumpur and ended on a hopeful note regarding the future prospects of the global publishing industry. Through the course of the last day of the event, various stakeholders from the publishing industry gathered and deliberated on the current prospects and challenges for the sector, including artificial intelligence, copyright, literacy, translation and freedom of publication.

Despite technological changes that have transformed the industry’s processes, the basic function of publishing in society has not changed at all.

AI Opens Up New Possibilities—But Also Some Challenges

AI technology was a hot topic at the Congress. Experts from the industry considered ways in which AI could assist publishers by using metadata, making content more discoverable, and through search engines, analytics and reader engagement.

At the same time, it became clear that issues related to copyright, payment of creators, and use of published content in training AI systems without the necessary authorization were also on the table. It was made clear that innovations should go hand-in-hand with strong intellectual property rights.

Developing Robust Reading Ecosystems

In addition to these issues, Congress deliberations addressed the significance of developing robust reading cultures worldwide. This was done by exploring various ways governments, publishers, schools, libraries, and private organizations could collaborate to enhance access and enjoyment of reading.

Malaysian efforts towards enhancing the country’s publishing ecosystem were shared in the form of reading infrastructure, industry collaborations, and rights. This made it clear that in addition to book production, development of reading culture is equally important for growth of the publishing industry.

Literacy and Accessibility Remain Key Issues Globally

In spite of the increased availability of books and other forms of content, literacy issues continue to persist in some regions. The delegates identified the need to provide access to communities where internet connectivity, affordability of books, displacement, and lack of educational resources are some of the major constraints.

The Congress urged concrete ways to make books accessible, including cheaper versions of the books, use of digital libraries, mobile reading programs, and collaborations with educational and humanitarian organizations.

Publication Freedom Front and Center

The publication freedom topic was prominent during the gathering. The participants highlighted issues such as censorship, political pressure, and challenges that publishing houses, authors, and cartoonists face around the globe.

The discussions emphasized the need for protection of divergent opinions so that artists have the freedom to publish. For the international publishing community, freedom of speech still correlates with the right of readers to enjoy divergent views and opinions.

Translation within a Fast Evolving Environment

Translation was yet another important topic of discussion, as technology is beginning to make an impact in multilingual publishing. Representatives from the industry highlighted how technology can help in making translation quicker and possibly more available.

At the same time, it was emphasized that translation of literature needs to take into account cultural nuances and editorial skills, which cannot be provided by machine learning technology.

A Good Sign for the Future of Publishing

The Congress finished on an optimistic note for the future of the publishing business. It was pointed out at the event that this industry has always successfully adjusted to changes like the growth of e-commerce, the appearance of e-books, audiobooks, and digital reading practices.

Thanks to the increasing readership in several countries, the need for printed books, growth in children's and young adults' book publishing, and the demand for audio versions of publications, there is no reason for the industry to doubt itself.

As the industry enters another period of transformation, the main message of the IPA Congress 2026 was that publishing should innovate while protecting creativity, intellectual property, knowledge accessibility, and freedom of speech.

The next IPA Congress will be held in 2028.