3rd National Intellectual Property Article Writing Competition 2026 by RGNUL and S.S. Rana & Co [Cash Prizes Rs 31K]: Register by Sep 12

About Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), is a public law school in Patiala, Punjab, India. It is one of the 27 National Law University located in India. The university was established under Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006, enacted by the Punjab Legislative Assembly as a university dedicated to the field of Legal Education. RGNUL is affiliated to UGC and approved by the Bar Council of India. It is one of the autonomous law schools in India.

About the Event

The competition is organised by the Centre for Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (CIIPR), Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, in collaboration with S.S. Rana & Co., a full-service law firm specialising in Intellectual Property and Corporate Law. Established in 1989, the firm maintains its corporate office in New Delhi, with associate offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kolkata.

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The Centre for Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights is pleased to present the Third Edition of the National Intellectual Property Article Writing Competition, 2026. Building upon the success of its preceding two editions, each of which received in excess of 150 submissions from students and young researchers nationwide, this edition seeks to foster critical research, original thought, and substantive engagement with emerging issues in Intellectual Property Rights. Participants stand to gain opportunities for publication, recognition, cash prizes, and internships.

Eligibility

• The competition is open exclusively to undergraduate students.
• Cross-institutional collaboration is permitted.
• Each submission may comprise a maximum of two authors.
• Each author or team is permitted only one submission; multiple submissions shall result in the disqualification of all entries concerned.

Theme

Submissions may address any topic falling within the broader ambit of Intellectual Property Rights. The following themes are indicative and non-exhaustive:

• Patent Exhaustion and the Limits of Post-Sale Control Over Repair and Emerging Areas
• Copyright, Computational Learning and the Limits of Permissible Use in Training Large Language Models
• Trademark Protection of Product Appearance After the Expiry of Design Rights
• Geographical Indications, Tribal Displacement and the Continuity of Community-Based Product Identity
• Trans-border Reputation and the Territorial Limits of Trademark Protection in the Global Digital Marketplace

Submission Categories

The competition does not prescribe distinct submission categories; entries may be made either individually or in co-authorship, subject to a maximum of two authors per submission.

Prizes

The top three entries shall be conferred the following cash prizes:

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• First Prize: ₹15,000
• Second Prize: ₹10,000
• Third Prize: ₹6,000

In addition to the aforementioned cash prizes, the authors of the top two entries shall be extended an internship opportunity at S.S. Rana & Co. It may be noted that such internship opportunities shall be offered exclusively to students in the 4th and 5th year of the B.A. LL.B. programme and students in the 3rd year of the 3-year LL.B. programme.

Furthermore, the top ten ranked articles, as determined by the Review Panel, shall be published in the official CIIPR Journal/Book and featured on the CIIPR website. All participants shall additionally be issued a Certificate of Participation in recognition of their contribution to the competition.

Formatting Guidelines

• Word limit: 2,500-3,000 words, inclusive of the abstract and exclusive of footnotes
• Abstract: 200-250 words
• Language: English, exclusively
• Citation style: OSCOLA, 4th Edition
• Main body: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing, justified alignment
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10-point font, single line spacing, justified alignment
• Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
• Submission format: .doc/.docx
• File naming: Strictly in accordance with the assigned Team Code, to be communicated to registered participants
• Anonymity: The manuscript must not disclose the name(s), institution(s), contact details, or any other identifying particulars of the author(s)

Selection Guidelines

Submissions shall be subjected to a two-stage double-blind review process:

Stage I – Technical Review: All submissions shall undergo a technical screening to assess compliance with the prescribed word limit, formatting requirements, citation style, similarity threshold (not exceeding 15%), anonymity requirements, and other submission guidelines. Submissions failing to meet these mandatory requirements may be rejected at this stage.

Stage II – Content-Based Review: Submissions qualifying the technical review shall proceed to a content-based double-blind peer review, wherein the identities of both authors and reviewers shall remain undisclosed. Manuscripts shall be evaluated on the quality of research, depth of analysis, originality, legal reasoning, clarity, coherence, and overall contribution to IPR discourse.

Shortlisted participants shall be required to present their articles virtually before a panel of assessors, with evaluation based on subject comprehension, quality of analysis, articulation of arguments, presentation skills, and responses to questions posed. The decisions of the Review Panel and Panel of Judges shall be final and binding.

Submission Guidelines

• The manuscript must constitute the original and unpublished work of the author(s), and must not have been previously published or simultaneously submitted to any other competition, journal, or publication.
• The use of Artificial Intelligence tools for generating, drafting, rewriting, paraphrasing, or substantially modifying the manuscript is strictly prohibited; any violation shall result in disqualification.
• The similarity index must not exceed 15%, failing which the submission shall be liable to rejection.
• No information indicating the identity of the author(s) may appear anywhere in the manuscript.
• Author(s) shall refrain from submitting the manuscript elsewhere during the pendency of the review and evaluation process.
• Late or incomplete submissions shall not be entertained under any circumstances.

Important Dates

• Registration Opens: 26 August 2026
• Registration Deadline: 12 September 2026
• Submission Deadline: 22 September 2026
• Virtual Paper Presentation: 24 October 2026

Registration Fees

• Single Author: ₹400 + GST
• Co-authorship: ₹600 + GST
• RGNUL Student with Co-author from a Different Institute: ₹700 + GST
• RGNUL Students (Single or Co-authorship): ₹300 + GST

Registration Process

Prospective participants are advised to review the payment guide prior to remitting payment. Registration shall be confirmed only upon completion of payment through the designated Payment Portal, following which participants must complete the Google Registration Form and upload proof of payment.

Submission Procedure

The final manuscript, formatted in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and named strictly per the assigned Team Code, must be submitted in .doc/.docx format through the designated Final Submission Form on or before the submission deadline of 22 September 2026.

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Contact Information

For any clarifications or queries pertaining to the Competition’s rules and regulations, participants may write to [email protected] or contact the following Event Coordinators:

• Dev Arora: +91 9560659468
• Anshika Gupta: +91 7805959409
• Jahanvi Tomar: +91 9302734251

Official Links

• Registration is here.
• Payment Portal is here.
• OSCOLA 4th Edition is here.
• Payment Guide is here.
• Final Submission Form is here.