The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) hosted its first-ever IP Moot Court Competition, bringing together law students from around the world to tackle some of today’s most complex intellectual property (IP) challenges. This flagship initiative, anchored in WIPO’s commitment to youth empowerment under the IP and Youth Empowerment Strategy (IP-YES!) offers students a unique platform to deepen their knowledge of IP law, sharpen their advocacy skills, and connect with global IP leaders.
A Moot with Purpose: Bridging IP Law and Real-World Challenges
Moot court competitions are an important training ground for future legal professionals, giving students the chance to experience the art of persuasive argument, strategic thinking and legal drafting, all within a realistic courtroom setting.
The Competition presented participants with a timely and complex hypothetical case involving issues at the intersection of copyright law, artificial intelligence, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the protection of traditional cultural expressions.
Starting with written submissions, then moving into virtual oral arguments and then the final oral round held at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva, students demonstrated their command of international IP frameworks and their application to contemporary global challenges.
The top 12 teams that advanced to the final oral round in Geneva were:
- National Autonomous University - Mexico
- National Law University Delhi - India
- Stockholm University - Sweden
- Université de Strasbourg - CEIPI - France
- University College London - United Kingdom
- University of Cape Town - South Africa
- University of Ibadan - Nigeria
- University of Kent - United Kingdom
- University of Mumbai - India
- University of Ottawa - Canada
- University of Sao Paulo - Brazil
- University of Tehran - Iran
And the Winning Team Is…
After an exciting grand final, attended by members of the diplomatic community, the general public, and presided over by WIPO senior leadership, the National Law University, Delhi, represented by Ms. Preeti and Mr. Rishaan Gupta, emerged as the winning team.
The University of Mumbai, represented by Ms. Sanskriti Sharma and Ms. Arya Gautam finished strong as the runner-up.
Mr. Parsa Mohammadiha from the University of Tehran took the honors for Best Oralist, while the award for Best Memorials went to the National Law University, Delhi. Other individual accolades recognized best oralists and Runner up memorials from the University of Ottawa and the University of São Paulo.
WIPO Director General Daren Tang delivered a keynote address emphasizing that IP skills are part of the “currency of the future,” as more economies worldwide turn to innovation, creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship for growth. He highlighted the competition’s role in empowering young lawyers to engage with real-world IP challenges and contribute to a more inclusive, innovative future. He also presented the awards, including certificates, medals, and the champion trophy, which will be housed at WIPO and engraved each year with the name of the winning university.
Prizes That Build Careers
Beyond the thrill of competition, students walked away with prizes designed to propel their legal careers forward.
Among these is scholarship access to the WIPO Academy’s advanced eLearning courses to help students deepen their knowledge and fast-track their journey in the field of IP; as well as a tailored mentorship experience, generously contributed by the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), which will match seven of the prize-winning students with experienced practitioners from AIPPI’s global network. These students will also gain access to targeted learning opportunities curated by AIPPI for its youth cohort throughout the year. This contribution reflects AIPPI’s commitment to nurturing future IP professionals and strengthening the pipeline of legal talent globally.
Voices of the Participants
Feedback from students echoed the value of the competition:
It was an incredible experience. The hypothetical facts and legal framework were highly detailed, and I felt very confident in understanding the questions posed. The opportunity to network with the judges and organizers helped overcome imposter syndrome!
Sidra Ahmed, University of Kent
An incredible opportunity - we look forward to future editions!
Marco Vazquez, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Stay tuned for future editions of the WIPO IP Moot Court Competition, as part of WIPO’s work to empower young people to engage meaningfully with the IP system and advance WIPO’s mission to bring IP to everyone, everywhere.