The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has invited applications for the third edition of its IP Moot Court Competition, with the final rounds scheduled from June 8–10, 2027, at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The competition is open to eligible law students worldwide. Selected teams will participate in written memorial and virtual oral rounds, with the top eight teams advancing to Geneva. WIPO will cover travel, accommodation and required visa fees for the qualifying student participants.
About WIPO
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations concerned with intellectual property.
The WIPO IP Moot Court Competition is organised under WIPO’s Intellectual Property and Youth Empowerment Strategy (IP-YES!).
About the Competition
The 2027 competition is the third edition of the WIPO IP Moot Court Competition. The competition involves written memorials and oral arguments based on a hypothetical intellectual property dispute.
The 2027 moot problem will focus on live streaming, including issues concerning innovation, intellectual property rights and online enforcement. Teams will first be selected through a video application process. Selected teams will prepare written memorials and participate in virtual oral rounds.
The eight highest-ranked teams will qualify for the in-person finals in Geneva. The competition will be conducted entirely in English.
Competition Structure
The competition begins with a video-based selection process, followed by three stages.
Stage 1: Application and Selection
Teams must submit an online application, a signed declaration form and a prerecorded video argument.
Applications will be assessed using the evaluation criteria specified in the official Application Guidelines. The WIPO Steering Committee will determine the number of teams selected to participate.
Stage 2: Written Memorials
Selected teams must prepare two memorials:
- Memorial for the Applicant.
- Memorial for the Respondent.
Stage 3: Virtual Oral Rounds
The virtual oral rounds will be conducted through Zoom. Each team will argue at least twice, including once as the Applicant and once as the Respondent.
Each team will be allocated 30 minutes of speaking time per moot. The Applicant may reserve up to five minutes for rebuttal within its allotted time. The precise number of moots per team, either two or three, will be communicated after memorial submissions.
Stage 4: In-Person Finals
The top eight teams, determined by their combined scores from the memorials and virtual oral rounds, will advance to Geneva.
The final rounds will include Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Grand Finale. Each team will receive 40 minutes of speaking time per moot during the in-person rounds. All eight teams will plead twice in the quarter-finals, once as the Applicant and once as the Respondent.
The four highest-ranked teams will advance to the semi-finals. The final rounds will be scored independently of the earlier stages. Memorial and virtual oral-round scores will not be carried forward.
Eligibility
- Students 35 years of age or younger.
- Students enrolled full-time or part-time in a law programme leading to a legal degree.
- Students who have not previously completed a law degree.
- Students who have not been admitted to practise law in any jurisdiction.
Students who have completed their coursework but have not yet graduated may participate if they meet the other eligibility conditions. PhD students are also eligible if they satisfy these requirements.
Students who have participated in previous editions may apply again, provided they remain eligible. However, previous competition winners cannot participate again.
Important: Students who already hold an LL.B. or another law degree are ineligible under the published rules, even if they are pursuing an additional law degree.
Team Composition
Each team must consist of two law students enrolled at the same university and one optional coach. The coach must be a student or faculty member of the same university. The age restriction of 35 years does not apply to coaches.
Coaches may provide general guidance but cannot make substantive contributions to memorials or oral arguments. Any changes to team composition after the application require written approval from the WIPO Steering Committee.
Memorial Submission
Selected teams must prepare separate memorials for the Applicant and Respondent. Each memorial must contain:
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents
- Index of Authorities
- Summary of Facts
- Summary of Arguments
- Arguments
- Conclusion
Memorials must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx) with a maximum length of 3,000 words per memorial, including headings and footnotes (excluding the cover page, table of contents, and index of authorities).
Memorials must be anonymous. They must not disclose the names of team members, universities or countries, including through document metadata.
Prizes
The competition provides the following awards:
- Winner
- Runner-Up
- Best Memorials
- Runner-Up Memorials
- Second Runner-Up Memorials
- Best Oralist
- Runner-Up Oralist
- Second Runner-Up Oralist
The rules also provide for determining the third-placed team based on the scores of the two teams eliminated in the semi-finals. The official rules currently do not specify cash prizes or monetary amounts for these awards.
Registration Details
There is no registration fee for participation in the competition.
Important Dates
- Applications Open: October 12, 2026
- Application Deadline: November 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM Geneva time (CET).
- Announcement of Selected Teams: November 30, 2026
- Release of Moot Problem: December 10, 2026
- Clarification Request Deadline: December 17, 2026
- Responses to Clarifications: January 15, 2027
- Memorial Submission Deadline: February 1, 2027
- Virtual Oral Rounds: March 1–12, 2027
- Quarter-Finals: June 8, 2027
- Semi-Finals: June 9, 2027
- Grand Finale and Awards: June 10, 2027
How to Apply?
Interested, eligible teams must complete the application process on WIPO’s official competition website.
Step 1: Prepare the Declaration Form
Download and complete the official declaration form. The form must be signed by:
- Both student team members.
- The coach, if appointed.
- The Dean of Students or appropriate Faculty Representative.
Step 2: Complete the Online Application Form
Visit the official application portal and complete the required details (attached at the end of the post). The application form covers university information, both student members, coach details, institutional authorisation and supporting documents. Upload the completed declaration form in the designated section.
Step 3: Record the Application Video
Prepare a video argument of no more than five minutes addressing one of the two questions provided in the Application Guidelines. Ensure that the video meets the prescribed content and technical requirements.
Step 4: Submit the Video
Submit the video separately through the official Tresorit upload link provided on WIPO’s competition webpage. Both the online application form and the separate video submission are required. Teams should complete both before the deadline.
Application Video Requirements
Applicants must submit a prerecorded video argument lasting no more than five minutes. The application video must address one of two questions based on a hypothetical intellectual property scenario involving a stationery company, Artstation, and its scented agendas marketed under the name Smellmorables.
The product’s sandalwood and jasmine scent has become associated with the brand. Teams must address one of the following questions:
- What form of intellectual property protection could the company consider for the perfumed agendas?
- What challenges might the company encounter in seeking protection for the smell associated with the product?
The video must include:
- An introduction to both team members and their roles.
- An overview of the selected legal issue.
- Identification of relevant legal frameworks.
- At least two substantive legal arguments.
- At least one counterargument and the team’s response.
- A concluding summary.
Both team members must participate.
Travel, Accommodation and Visa Support
WIPO will provide funding for the eight teams qualifying for the final rounds in Geneva.
The funding covers travel to Geneva, accommodation during the final rounds, and required visa fees. WIPO will also provide supporting letters for visa applications.
Important: WIPO will not fund the travel or accommodation of team coaches.
Participants must arrange their own passports and visas. Any additional costs incurred in obtaining a visa, apart from the required visa fees covered by WIPO, must be borne by the participants.
Teams may bring one additional non-participating student to Geneva at their own expense. That student cannot assist the team during the competition.
Mode and Location
The application, memorial submissions and virtual oral rounds will be conducted online. The final rounds will take place at WIPO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.
Contact
Email: ipmoot@wipo.int