Winners of the 2025 WIPO ADR Young Article Competition Announced

The WIPO ADR Young Article Competition 2025 came at a formative point in my academic journey. I was still questioning myself a lot, like how I think, what I'm good at, and whether my voice really belongs in these conversations. Writing about IP disputes in AI model training was neither neat nor comfortable. There were no clear paths to follow, and that forced me to sit with uncertainty. However, working through those moments helped me develop greater confidence in my voice and in my ability to engage meaningfully with emerging legal challenges.

What truly set this experience apart was the exposure it gave me beyond the boundaries of my college life. The opportunity to interact with peers and practitioners from across jurisdictions allowed me to see the intellectual property field as a living, collaborative ecosystem, rather than something limited to classrooms or footnotes. I realised how narrow my world had been when it was confined to college, and how much bigger it could be when ideas are shared, challenged, and taken seriously.

This competition reinforced my conviction that young voices have a vital role to play in shaping fair and forward-looking dispute resolution frameworks for an increasingly AI-driven world. I am deeply grateful to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre for creating a space that empowers young professionals to think boldly, connect meaningfully, and contribute to the future of intellectual property, not just as observers of change, but as participants in shaping it.

Seun Lari-Williams

Participating in the WIPO ADR Young Article Competition was more than an academic exercise; it was a revelation. I remembered my classmate in the University, his design in dispute regarding ownership, facing a legal labyrinth that threatened to crush his spirit. Traditional litigation was a distant, costly exercise. This is where ADR shines, transforming confrontation into conversation, and preserving relationships while protecting creations. Ranking in Tier 1 solidified my conviction that Alternative (read Appropriate) Dispute Resolution mechanisms are the essential tools for a just and innovative economy. Intellectual property is the oil of the 21st century, where innovation is the engine, and ADR is the sustainable lubricant that allows this engine to run smoothly, preventing friction and waste. This competition is a vital forge for young leaders to learn, participate, and ultimately lead in designing this efficient system. We are not just future stakeholders; we are the necessary architects of a framework where creativity and resolution drive sustainable development.

Mark Oroko 

The WIPO ADR Young Article Competition 2025 came at a formative point in my academic journey. I was still questioning myself a lot, like how I think, what I'm good at, and whether my voice really belongs in these conversations. Writing about IP disputes in AI model training was neither neat nor comfortable. There were no clear paths to follow, and that forced me to sit with uncertainty. However, working through those moments helped me develop greater confidence in my voice and in my ability to engage meaningfully with emerging legal challenges.

What truly set this experience apart was the exposure it gave me beyond the boundaries of my college life. The opportunity to interact with peers and practitioners from across jurisdictions allowed me to see the intellectual property field as a living, collaborative ecosystem, rather than something limited to classrooms or footnotes. I realised how narrow my world had been when it was confined to college, and how much bigger it could be when ideas are shared, challenged, and taken seriously.

This competition reinforced my conviction that young voices have a vital role to play in shaping fair and forward-looking dispute resolution frameworks for an increasingly AI-driven world. I am deeply grateful to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre for creating a space that empowers young professionals to think boldly, connect meaningfully, and contribute to the future of intellectual property, not just as observers of change, but as participants in shaping it.

Anushka Singh