About the Organization
The Cell for Studies in Intellectual Property Rights (CSIPR), National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, is a student body established to promote knowledge and research in intellectual property rights. Under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Ghayur Alam, Faculty In-Charge, CSIPR undertakes academic initiatives and facilitates discourse on contemporary developments in intellectual property law.
NLIU Bhopal, established in 1997, is recognized by the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India. The university promotes interdisciplinary legal education and research concerning contemporary legal and technological challenges.
Saikrishna & Associates is a full-service law firm founded in 2001, with its principal office in Noida and an office in New Delhi. The firm has practices in intellectual property, technology, media and telecommunications, corporate law, and competition law.
About the Publication
CSIPR publishes the annual NLIU Journal of Intellectual Property Law, launched in 2012, and runs the CSIPR Blog, which publishes double-blind, peer-reviewed articles on contemporary issues concerning intellectual property and technology law.
About the Call
CSIPR, NLIU Bhopal, in collaboration with Saikrishna & Associates, invites submissions for the 1st NLIU–Saikrishna & Associates IP Blog Writing Competition, 2026. The competition seeks to encourage critical engagement with contemporary developments in intellectual property law and promote original, analytical, and accessible legal research.
Participants must move beyond describing the existing legal position and develop a clear, reasoned perspective on a contemporary issue within the broader domain of intellectual property law.
Theme
Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Property Law
Indicative Sub-Themes:
- Generative AI, Authorship and Copyright
- AI-Assisted Inventions and the Limits of Patentability
- Copyright, Streaming and Digital Piracy
- Broadcasting, Media and Sports Rights in the Digital Age
- Trademarks, Passing Off and Brand Protection in Digital Markets
- Personality Rights, Deepfakes and the Protection of Celebrity Identity
- Standard Essential Patents and FRAND Licensing
- Intellectual Property, Public Health and Access to Medicines
- Traditional Knowledge, Geographical Indications and Community Rights
- Intermediary Liability and IP Enforcement Online
- Intellectual Property and Competition Law
- Global IP Governance and Emerging Challenges
Participants may also write on another contemporary issue within the broader scope of Intellectual Property Law, provided that it is clearly connected to the theme.
Submission Categories
Submissions may be made individually or in co-authorship, with a maximum of two authors per entry. Co-authors may belong to different institutions. Multiple submissions by an author are permitted.
Eligibility
- Students enrolled in undergraduate three-year or five-year LL.B. programmes at any recognised university or college in India.
- Students enrolled in postgraduate LL.M. programmes.
- Research scholars, professionals and students of allied disciplines.
- Students of NLIU Bhopal.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions must be analytical rather than descriptive. Authors must take a clear position on the issue and arrive at a definite conclusion supported by legal authorities and reasoning.
The word limit is 1,200–2,000 words, exclusive of endnotes. Entries exceeding the prescribed limit by more than 10% may be penalised or disqualified. Each entry must have a concise title reflecting its central argument; an optional subtitle may be included.
Submissions must be written in English using clear and accessible language. Technical concepts should be explained in a manner comprehensible to non-specialist readers.
Entries must be uploaded in both MS Word (.docx) and PDF formats. The file must be named “[Title of the Blog]”. The manuscript, file name and document properties must not contain the name, institution or any other identifying information of the author or authors.
Formatting Guidelines
The main text must use Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 line spacing and justified alignment. Endnotes must use Times New Roman, size 10, with single line spacing. Margins must be one inch on all sides.
The title must be bold, size 14, centred and in Title Case. Sources should, as far as possible, be hyperlinked within the text in keeping with blog-writing conventions. Where reliable online sources are unavailable, endnotes may be used. Endnotes must uniformly follow the Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA), 4th Edition. Substantive or explanatory endnotes are not permitted.
Editorial Policy
All submissions will be checked for plagiarism using Drillbit or Turnitin. The similarity percentage must not exceed 15%, in accordance with the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018. Quoted text, case names and citations are excluded from the calculation.
AI-generated content must not exceed 10% of the submission. Any use of AI tools for research assistance or grammar checking must be disclosed in the submission form. Fabricated or falsified cases, data or quotations, including AI-hallucinated authorities, will result in immediate disqualification.
Awards
- Winner: Rs. 10,000, an internship opportunity at Saikrishna & Associates, and a Certificate of Merit.
- First Runner-Up: Rs. 5,000, an internship opportunity, and a Certificate of Merit.
- Second Runner-Up: Rs. 3,000 and a Certificate of Merit.
- Top 10 Entries: Publication on the CSIPR Blog along with a Special Mention Certificate.
- All Eligible Participants: E-Certificate of Participation
Internship opportunities are subject to the availability of Saikrishna & Associates and applicable terms.
Publication Details
The top 10 entries will be published on the CSIPR Blog. The declaration of results is scheduled for December 14, 2026, and publication of the top entries is scheduled for January 14, 2027.
Fees
- Single authorship: ₹400.
- Co-authorship: ₹600 per entry.
Important Dates
- November 5, 2026: Release of brochure and commencement of registration.
- November 22, 2026: Last date for registration.
- November 29, 2026: Last date for submission.
- December 14, 2026: Declaration of results.
- January 14, 2027: Publication of top entries.
All deadlines are at 11:59 PM IST on the respective dates.
How to Submit?
Check the registration details at the end of the post!
Contact Details
- Priyansh Shrivastava, Convenor: +91-8305808314
- Kavya Johar, Co-Convenor: +91-70623 81811
- Jagyansh Kumar, Secretary: +91-72380 42204