Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla is a premier institution dedicated to excellence in legal education, established in 2016 by an Act of the State Legislature. Situated in the Himalayas, HPNLU blends rigorous interdisciplinary academics with practical pedagogy, fostering legal expertise, ethics, professionalism, and social responsibility.
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Rights (CAIPR), established in 2022, is a research centre dedicated to raising awareness and promoting scholarship in the field of Intellectual Property Rights and Artificial Intelligence. It explores how IP frameworks interact with traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, digital technologies, and globalization, with a focus on emerging trends of AI and challenges in the domain.
About the Event
The National Virtual Intellectual Property Rights Essay Writing Competition 2.0, 2026, is organised by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Rights (CAIPR) at Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU). The competition is designed to be an educational and rewarding experience that fosters research interest and scholarly engagement in the field of Intellectual Property Rights and Artificial Intelligence.
Eligibility
The competition is open to:
• Law students (UG)
• PhD candidates
• LL.M candidates
(Participants outside these categories may also be eligible)
Theme
Participants are encouraged to write on themes related to Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual Property Rights, or the intersection of AI and IPR.
Submission Categories
AI-Focused
• Artificial Intelligence — the end of human creativity or its greatest partner?
• The environmental cost of training large AI models
• Autonomous weapons and global security risks
• Should AI development be slowed?
IPR
• Deepfakes and personality rights
• One world, many laws: should IP be globally harmonised?
• Meme culture vs copyright law: infringement or cultural evolution?
• Is intellectual property a natural right or a state-created monopoly?
AI + IPR
• Data is the new oil — but who owns it?
• When machines create art, what happens to the artists?
• Training Artificial Intelligence on copyrighted data — fair use or mass infringement?
Prizes
1st Place: ₹7,000 (incl. GST)
2nd Place: ₹5,000 (incl. GST)
3rd Place: ₹3,000 (incl. GST)
All winners will also receive certificates of merit. All prizes are inclusive of GST.
Formatting Guidelines
• Word limit: 2,000 to 3,000 words
• Paper size: A4 format
• File format: MS Word (.docx)
• Font: Times New Roman
• Font size: 12pt (body), 14pt (headings)
• No borders to be applied
• Citations: Latest Bluebook Citation Format
• Use footnotes (not endnotes)
• Do not hyperlink references
• Cite primary sources (judgments/statutes); not blog/news articles
Selection Guidelines
Essays will be evaluated out of a grand total of 80 marks across the following heads:
Grammar, Writing Style and Language (20 marks);
Originality of Idea (20 marks);
Accurate Citation (10 marks);
Depth of Knowledge (20 marks); and
Organisation and Structure (10 marks).
Note: Publication of the essay is subject to editorial review. The organisers reserve exclusive publication rights. Authors should wait 4 weeks after submission before enquiring about the status of their submission.
Submission Guidelines
• Essays must be original works containing a new argument or perspective.
• All borrowed material must be duly referenced and cited in the Bluebook format.
• The submission must be in MS Word (.docx) format and comply with all formatting requirements.
• Submissions are to be made via the Google Form link provided by the organisers before the deadline.
• The organisers reserve exclusive rights to the publication of submitted essays.
Registration and Submission Deadline (Important Dates)
Submission Deadline: 25 May 2026, 11:59 PM IST
Announcement of Winners: 7 June 2026
Registration Fees
₹250 (inclusive of GST), applicable to students, PhD candidates, and LL.M candidates.
Registration Process
Participants must register by filling in the Google Form and completing the requisite payment via the payment portal. Both steps must be completed before the submission deadline of 25 May 2026.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/UhueNKrFm9eKbEKu8
Payment Link: https://erphpnlu.in/anon_evForm.htm?ev=71
Submission Procedure
Essays are to be submitted through the Google Form link on or before 25 May 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.
The submission must comply with all formatting and citation requirements.
The file must be uploaded in MS Word (.docx) format.
Contact Information
Convener: Devanshi Sharma — 9418900199
Co-Convener: Darika Lyngdoh — 8787839923
Co-Convener: Vedant Bembi — 6283718843
Secretary: Garima Mankotia — 8219547625
Official Link (if any)
Registration & Submission Form: https://forms.gle/UhueNKrFm9eKbEKu8
Payment Portal: https://erphpnlu.in/anon_evForm.htm?ev=71
Brochure : https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/2026/04/25/essay-writing-brochure-669898.pdf