CEO Joe Naylor to open DMLA's 75th anniversary summit as executives from across media, technology, and AI convene to shape the future of authorship, licensing, and trust

BOSTON, MA - July 30, 2026 - ImageRights International, Inc. announced today that it will participate in the Digital Media Leadership Alliance (DMLA) Leadership + AI Summit, taking place September 30, 2026, at the historic Harvard Club in New York City. ImageRights CEO Joe Naylor, who also serves as President of DMLA, will open the summit with introductory remarks.

As the digital media ecosystem rapidly evolves, executives and leaders from across media, technology, publishing, licensing, law, and AI will convene for an afternoon of candid, thought-provoking conversations. Marking DMLA's 75th anniversary, this year's expanded summit centers on the decisions that will shape the industry's next chapter: protecting authorship, authenticity, and licensing, and building an AI ecosystem grounded in trust, transparency, and accountability.

Summit Highlights

• Keynote Speaker: Kira Pollack is a 2025 Walter Shorenstein Media & Democracy Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, 2026 Global Jury Chair of World Press Photo, and founder of Corpus Labs. She was previously a fellow at Stanford and USC's Starling Lab, Director of Photography at TIME, and Creative Director and Deputy Editor of Vanity Fair.  Kira will explore what is at stake as technology transforms how visual history is created, understood, and preserved.
• Fireside Chats & Panel Discussions: Insights from prominent leaders at organizations including The Associated Press, Wirestock, and Rutgers University.
• Industry Roundtables: Discussions on content authenticity, metadata standards, copyright, and new licensing models.
• DMLA 75th Anniversary Reception: Following the summit, attendees will gather for a cocktail reception celebrating 75 years of DMLA leadership and community

Marking the occasion, Joe Naylor reflected on what the summit represents: "For 75 years, DMLA has brought this industry together to set standards, advocate for creators, and build a truly global community, not just to react to change, but to help shape it. And this summit comes at a moment when that kind of collaboration matters more than ever. I'm honored to open the conversation and proud that ImageRights, on behalf of its artists and photographers, has an opportunity to impact what comes next for creators, licensing and distribution, and building trust in the age of AI."

Event Details

• Date: September 30, 2026
• Location: Harvard Club | New York City
• Hosted by: Digital Media Leadership Alliance (DMLA)
• Founding & Lead AI Summit Partner: Google

Availability

Registration is open now. Creators, executives, and industry professionals can find full details and register on the DMLA Leadership + AI Summit event page.

About ImageRights International, Inc.

ImageRights International, Inc. provides AI-driven image search and copyright enforcement services to photo agencies, image archives, professional photographers, media companies, and brands worldwide. Through its in-house license compliance team and global network of legal partners, ImageRights negotiates and collects fees for unauthorized use, either directly or through court proceedings, with clients bearing no upfront costs or financial risk. ImageRights also operates a fully automated U.S. Copyright Office registration service. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. More at www.imagerights.com.

About the Digital Media Leadership Alliance (DMLA)

For 75 years, DMLA has served as a trusted voice for the media production, distribution, and licensing industry. Building on that legacy, DMLA now convenes executives, innovators, and organizations across the broader digital media ecosystem, spanning content, technology, legal rights, distribution, and monetization, to address the industry's most pressing opportunities and challenges. More at www.dmla.org.

Media Contact

ImageRights International | Joe G. Naylor, President & CEO | joe.naylor@imagerights.com