The Centre for Intellectual Property Research and Advocacy [CIPRA] of Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad is delighted to announce the 1st Blog Writing Competition, 2025 being conducted in collaboration with SpicyIP on the theme of Literature, Journalism and IP.
ABOUT SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, HYDERABAD:
Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad, a constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune, is one of the premier law schools imparting legal education in India. The law school was established in 2014, inheriting the splendid novelty, dynamism and excellence in education of Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune. Founded on the pillars of expertise, justice and service, SLSH is committed to imparting quality legal education confirming to acclaimed international standards through competent and well-qualified teaching staff, techno-driven research culture, internationalization, centres of excellence, training and skill enhancement programs, moot courts and the like.
ABOUT SPICYIP:
Spicy IP is a premier platform dedicated to intellectual property (IP) law, focusing on developments in India and beyond. Founded in 2005 by renowned legal scholar Prof. Shamnad Basheer, it offers expert analysis of patents, copyrights, trademarks, geographical indications, and related policy issues. Known for its commitment to transparency and accountability, Spicy IP has become a trusted resource for legal professionals, academics, and students. The blog covers landmark cases, policy reforms, and global IP trends, fostering informed discussions and promoting open access to knowledge. With a collaborative approach and a reputation for rigorous content, Spicy IP continues to influence policy debates and shape the future of IP law.
ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY [CIPRA]:
The Centre for Intellectual Property Research and Advocacy (CIPRA) is an integral part of Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad, established with the objective of developing research and advocacy skills in aspiring lawyers with special emphasis on Intellectual Property Rights and promoting knowledge of this emerging field of law. Since its inception in 2016, CIPRA has been executing various activities in furtherance of its goals, which include encouraging research in every area of the subject, promoting and spreading awareness about IPR among students and public at large with various practical approaches. It actively involves students with different workshops, competitions, discussions, and debates. In the span of less than a year from its establishment, CIPRA has combined valuable work to the various communities of society and to the forum of Indian IPR, especially with regard to Geographical Indications. Currently, CIPRA has 2 flagship events – IP Unveil and IP Conclave, which integrates current trends and IP regulations with team building, creativity, and problem-solving techniques.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
The 1st Blog Writing Competition being held in collaboration with SpicyIP on the theme Literature, Journalism, and IP offers law students an exciting opportunity to explore the dynamic and ever-evolving field of Intellectual Property in relation to the literary aspects. This competition encourages students to express their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives on various IPR issues, providing a platform for both creativity and legal analysis. Participants will have the chance to explore a wide range of topics related to IP Law, allowing them to present their views and insights in this important field. Submitted entries will be evaluated on research, clarity, and the ability to convey complex legal concepts effectively. Top articles will receive exciting prizes and certificates in recognition of their work.
ELIGIBILITY:
Open to all students pursuing 3 years/5-year law courses or LLM students or research scholars from any recognised law school across India.
THEME: LITERATURE, JOURNALISM AND IP
Suggested Topics
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Balancing the interests of creators and the public in determining the extent of Copyright protection.
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Analysing the intersection of journalistic privilege and copyright law.
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The role of IP law in combating the spread of misinformation and disinformation.
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The challenges of protecting literary works in the digital age.
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Analysing the complexities of licensing deals for film and television adaptations.
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Analysing the impact of Indian copyright law on fair use in academic and critical writing.
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Examining the legality of meme usage by Indian news platforms under copyright law.
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Assessing how Indian copyright law influences creativity in regional literary works.
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Striking a balance between access to knowledge and copyright in India’s education sector.
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Protecting India’s folklore and oral traditions through copyright and IP law.
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Evaluating the doctrine of fair use for Indian social media platforms in light of global cases.
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Exploring the intersection of defamation and copyright in Indian social media journalism.
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Addressing IP challenges in cross-platform collaborations between creators.
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Investigating the balance between press freedom and copyright for Indian journalists.
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Analysing copyright challenges faced by Indian live streamers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.
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Bridging the gap between creators and enforcement in Indian copyright governance.
Note: The themes mentioned above are merely suggestive. Participants are welcome to choose and submit entries on other topics, provided they align with the given submission guidelines.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
General:
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The Manuscripts shall be in the English Language.
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Co-authorship is limited to a maximum of two authors.
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Submissions shall not be less than 1000 words and shall not exceed 1500 words (exclusive of endnotes). The endnotes shall not exceed 250 words.
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The author(s) shall not reveal their name or the name of their institution anywhere in the manuscript. The author(s) are required to maintain strict anonymity of their identity in the manuscript.
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The manuscript shall be original, unpublished, and an outcome of the author’s own efforts. It must simultaneously not be submitted elsewhere for publication.
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The Article must include sub-headings to navigate through the post easily and quickly.
Guidelines as formulated by SpicyIP:
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The manuscript submitted must be relevant to the Indian IP landscape, even if it’s not directly about an Indian development.
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The submitted blog piece must have a public interest and/or transparency-related angle to it, and to the extent applicable, this must be demonstrated, described or analysed in the submitted entry.
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The submitted blog piece must be analytical and not merely descriptive
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The analysis of the issue(s) discussed must be objective and free from any personal, monetary, or other secondary interests. In case of any conflict of interest, participants must make a disclosure to that effect while submitting the blog piece via google form. Even if participants are not currently representing or advising a client on the particular issue being written about, but have done so in the past or typically advise clients on related issues, such information must also be disclosed in the post.
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The ownership of copyright in the posts shall remain with the participants. However, by submitting their posts for consideration for publication, participants grant SpicyIP the license to publish them anywhere in the world, in any medium, for the full term of copyright. Participants also agree to the public re-use of their published posts under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Public License. All other rights related to the posts and the website vest with SpicyIP. Except as mentioned here, the posts and any usage of the website will be governed by SpicyIP’s Terms & Conditions.
Formatting and Citations:
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Submissions shall be typewritten in Times New Roman, font size 12 with line spacing 1.5 and justified alignment.
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The text alignment should be justified. Referencing and citations must be put up in the form of in-text hyperlinks for Internet sources. In the event that a cited material does not have an online copy or reference, only endnotes must be used. Endnotes shall not exceed 200 words.
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Endnotes for offline sources shall adhere to the 21st Edition of Bluebook.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
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Articles shall be evaluated based on originality, depth of research, relevance to the theme and clarity of ideas.
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The use of AI is strictly prohibited.
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Submissions must maintain originality and adhere to a plagiarism limit of 10%. Any submission exceeding this limit will be rejected.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
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The author(s) shall submit the manuscript via Google Form here.
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The file needs to be only in the .doc or .docx and must be named as the “Title of the Blog.” The title must not exceed 10 words and must encapsulate the essence of the blog. E.g — “AI and Authorship: Redefining Copyright in the Digital Era”
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All queries shall be sent to cipra@slsh.edu.in or to the concerned persons as mentioned below.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
The last date for the submission is 19th February 11:59 P.M.
PERKS OF THE COMPETITION:
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The top 2 articles may be published on the website of SpicyIP and will be awarded with an e-certificate of merit.
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The Winner and Runner Up will be awarded a cash prize of ₹1,500 and ₹1,000, respectively.
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All participants shall be awarded with an e-certificate of participation.
Note – The SpicyIP Team reserves the right to request any alteration to match the editorial standards in the submitted entry before publishing it on their website. The entry shall be published on the SpicyIP website only once the suggested alteration meets the editorial standards.
For any further queries, contact:
Dr. Aakriti Shukla (Faculty In-charge): aakriti.shukla@slsh.edu.in
Ms. Shruthi Subramanian (Co — Convenor): +91 7619606229 | 22010323086@student.slsh.edu.in
Ms. Aishwarya S (Co — Convenor): +91 8281229920 | 22010323061@student.slsh.edu.in
Team CIPRA
Email: cipra@slsh.edu.in
Website: https://www.slsh.edu.in/cipra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamcipra/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/centre-for-intellectual-property-research-and-advocacy/
