Join the national discourse on the intersection of innovation and accessibility by contributing to the flagship essay competition hosted by the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), NUALS Kochi.
About the Competition
The Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi, is proud to announce the 10th edition of its prestigious essay competition. This milestone event is designed to reward high-quality research and foster critical thinking on how Intellectual Property (IP) functions within a developing global economy.
The competition focuses on the delicate balance between rewarding creators and ensuring that IP laws serve the broader goals of equity and public welfare.
Theme: 2026
“The Public Domain in the Age of Technology: Emerging Challenges for Intellectual Property Law”
Authors are invited to explore how rapid technological advancements—from Generative AI to digital archiving—are redefining the boundaries of the public domain and challenging traditional IP frameworks.
Submission Guidelines
To ensure a fair and rigorous review process, all participants must strictly adhere to the following technical requirements:
| Feature | Requirement |
| Word Limit | Maximum 2500 words (Excluding abstract, footnotes, and bibliography) |
| Citation Style | OSCOLA (4th Edition) |
| Format | Submissions required in BOTH .pdf and .doc/.docx |
| Co-authorship | Permitted (Maximum of 2 authors total) |
| Fee | No Registration Fee |
Formatting Specifics:
- Font: Times New Roman or Garamond.
- Size: 12 pt for main text; 10 pt for footnotes.
- Spacing: One-line gap between all paragraphs and headings.
- Anonymity: The essay must not contain any names or identity marks (Blind Review Process).
Also Read: The Blueprint for Excellence: Navigating Moot Court Competitions in 2026
Important Deadlines & Links
- Submission Deadline: Friday, 27th February 2026 (11:59 PM IST).
Naming Convention (Mandatory):
NameOfSubmittingAuthor-NameOfCoAuthor-TitleOfTheEssay.pdf
Example: PeterParker-MilesMorales-TheJurisprudenceOfOverlappingPatents.pdf
Prizes
The winners will be awarded cash prizes issued by the University administration:
- First Prize: ₹10,000
- Second Prize: ₹5,000
- Third Prize: ₹3,000
Eligibility & Ethics
- Open to: All law students (Undergraduate/Postgraduate).
- Exclusion: Previous top-3 rankers of this competition are ineligible.
- AI Policy: Use of AI writing tools is strictly prohibited and will result in summary rejection.
- Originality: Must be unpublished work not currently under consideration elsewhere.
Contact Information
For any clarifications regarding the theme or guidelines, please reach out to:
- Email: cipr@nuals.ac.in
- Institution: The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi.
