NLIU Bhopal's Cell For Studies In Intellectual Property Rights Invites Entries For 1st IP Blog Writing Competition, 2026
The Cell for Studies in Intellectual Property Rights (CSIPR), NLIU Bhopal, has announced the 1st NLIU–Saikrishna & Associates IP Blog Writing Competition, 2026, organised in collaboration with Saikrishna & Associates. Through this initiative, the Cell aims to encourage critical engagement with contemporary developments in Intellectual Property Law, promote original legal research and provide aspiring legal scholars with a platform to express their perspectives on emerging issues in the field.
About NLIU
The National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, established in 1997, is one of India's premier institutions for legal education and research. Recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Bar Council of India (BCI), NLIU has consistently contributed to the development of legal education through its interdisciplinary and innovative approach.
The University encourages academic rigour and research by connecting traditional legal principles with contemporary challenges. In an era of rapid innovation and digital transformation, NLIU has placed Intellectual Property at the centre of its research agenda, providing students and researchers with opportunities to engage with evolving legal frameworks and the policy questions arising from technological developments.
About CSIPR
The Cell for Studies in Intellectual Property Rights (CSIPR) is a dedicated student body of NLIU, Bhopal, established to promote and develop knowledge in the field of Intellectual Property Rights. Working under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Ghayur Alam, Faculty In-Charge, CSIPR, the Cell undertakes various academic initiatives to encourage research and facilitate discourse on contemporary developments in Intellectual Property Law.
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. The Cell also organises national-level academic events in collaboration with leading intellectual property law firms, including the NLIU–Anand & Anand Trademark Opposition Competition and the NLIU–R.K. Dewan Conference on Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Property Law.
About Saikrishna & Associates
Founded in 2001 by Saikrishna Rajagopal, Saikrishna & Associates is a Tier-1 full-service law firm with offices in Noida and New Delhi. The firm specialises in Intellectual Property, Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT), Corporate Law and Competition Law. As the Title Partner, the firm will evaluate the final round and offer internship opportunities to the winning authors, subject to its availability and terms.
About the Competition
The Cell for Studies in Intellectual Property Rights (CSIPR), National Law Institute University, Bhopal, in collaboration with Saikrishna & Associates, is pleased to announce the 1st NLIU–Saikrishna & Associates IP Blog Writing Competition, 2026.
Intellectual Property Law is undergoing significant transformation in response to technological advancements and evolving commercial and regulatory landscapes. Developments concerning generative AI and authorship, digital platforms and brand protection, access to medicines, traditional knowledge and global IP governance continue to raise important legal and policy questions.
The competition seeks to encourage participants to engage with these developments through well-researched, analytical and accessible writing. Participants are expected to move beyond merely describing the existing legal position and instead develop a clear, reasoned perspective on a contemporary issue within the broader domain of Intellectual Property Law.
Theme
Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Property Law
The indicative sub-themes include:
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; and
Global IP Governance and Emerging Challenges.
Participants may also write on any other contemporary issue within the broader scope of Intellectual Property Law, provided it is clearly connected to the theme.
Eligibility
The competition is open to students currently enrolled in undergraduate (three-year and five-year LL.B.) and postgraduate (LL.M.) law programmes at any recognised university or college in India. Research scholars and students of allied disciplines are also eligible to participate.
Submissions may be made individually or in co-authorship, with a maximum of two authors per entry. Co-authors may belong to different institutions, and multiple submissions by an author are permitted. Students of NLIU Bhopal are also eligible to participate.
Submission Guidelines
Nature of the Blog: Submissions must be analytical rather than descriptive. Authors are expected to take a clear position on the issue and arrive at a definite conclusion supported by legal authorities and reasoning.
Word Limit: 1,200–2,000 words, exclusive of endnotes. Entries exceeding the prescribed limit by more than 10% may be penalised or disqualified.
Title: Each entry must carry a concise title reflecting its central argument. An optional subtitle is permitted.
Language: Submissions must be in English, using clear and accessible language. Technical concepts should be explained in a manner comprehensible to non-specialist readers.
File Format: Submissions must be uploaded in both MS Word (.docx) and PDF formats. The file must be named “[Title of the Blog]”.
Anonymity: The manuscript, file name and document properties must not contain the name, institution or any other identifying information of the author(s).
Formatting and Citation
Main Text: Times New Roman, size 12, 1.5 line spacing and justified alignment.
Endnotes: Times New Roman, size 10, single line spacing.
Margins: 1 inch on all sides.
Title: Bold, size 14, centred and in Title Case.
Citation: Sources should, as far as possible, be hyperlinked within the text, in keeping with the conventions of blog writing. Where reliable online sources are unavailable, endnotes may be used. All endnotes must uniformly follow the Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA), 4th Edition. Substantive or explanatory endnotes are not permitted.
Plagiarism and AI Policy
All submissions will be subjected to plagiarism checks using Drillbit/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.
The use of 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 and Recognition
The competition offers the following awards:
Winner: ₹10,000, an internship opportunity at Saikrishna & Associates and a Certificate of Merit.
First Runner-Up: ₹5,000, an internship opportunity and a Certificate of Merit.
Second Runner-Up: ₹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 firm's availability and applicable terms.
Registration and Important Dates
Registration is to be completed through the Google Form provided below. The prescribed registration fee is ₹400 for single authorship and ₹600 per entry for co-authorship. The submission form will be shared with registered authors through email.
The important dates are as follows:
5 November 2026: Release of brochure and commencement of registration.
22 November 2026: Last date for registration.
29 November 2026: Last date for submission.
14 December 2026: Declaration of results.
14 January 2027: Publication of top entries.
All deadlines are at 11:59 PM IST on the respective dates.