Overview

The Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) is organizing its ninth annual essay competition. This competition focuses on the intersection of Intellectual Property (IP) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to encourage students to explore how innovation and creativity can help achieve these goals and contribute to a better future.

Who Can Enter

• Eligibility: The competition is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who are currently enrolled in any recognized program at a university.

Submission Details

• Deadline: All essays must be submitted by 11:59 PM IST on Monday, 30th September 2024.
• Submission Method: Essays must be submitted through a Google Form provided by the organizers. No other methods of submission (e.g., email) are allowed.
• File Formats: You need to submit your essay in two formats: .pdf and .doc/.docx.
• Filename Format: When naming your file, follow this format: [Your Name]-[Co-Author’s Name (if applicable)]-[Title of Essay].pdf. For example, if Peter Parker is submitting an essay titled “The Jurisprudence of Overlapping Patents in the Multiverse” and has no co-author, the file name should be: PeterParker-TheJurisprudenceOfOverlappingPatentsInTheMultiverse.pdf.
• Word Limit: Your essay should be no longer than 2500 words. This word count excludes the abstract, any diagrams or tables, footnotes, bibliography, and authorship declaration.

General Guidelines

• Registration Fee: There is no fee to enter the competition.
• Co-Authors: You are allowed to co-author the essay with one other person.
• Citations: Ensure that all sources are properly cited using the OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) 4th edition format. Avoid plagiarism. If it is found that AI tools were used to write the essay, it will be rejected.
• Anonymity: Your essay should not include any personal information or identifiers to keep the review process unbiased. This means your name and any other identifying details should not appear in the essay itself.
• Originality: Essays should be original works. They should not have been published elsewhere or be under consideration for publication or another competition.

Formatting Guidelines

• Font and Size:
• Use Times New Roman or Garamond.
• Main text: Font size 12.
• Footnotes: Font size 10.
• Spacing: Leave a one-line gap between paragraphs and headings.

Evaluation Criteria

Essays will be judged based on:

• Knowledge and Understanding: Demonstration of a thorough understanding of the topic.
• Use of Evidence: How well you use evidence to support your arguments.
• Quality of Argumentation: The strength and clarity of your arguments.
• Originality and Structure: How original your essay is and how well it is organized.
• Writing Style: The overall quality and readability of your writing.
• Persuasiveness: The ability of your essay to convince or stimulate thought in readers.

Prizes

• First Prize: INR 10,000
• Second Prize: INR 5,000
• Third Prize: INR 3,000
  The decisions of the judges are final, and they will not engage in further correspondence about the results.

Click here to submit the Google Form

Contact Information

• For Questions: If you have any questions, you should email cipr@nuals.ac.in.

Key Date

• Submission Deadline: Ensure your essay is submitted by 30th September 2024. There is no registration process required before submitting the essay.

By following these guidelines carefully, you can ensure that your essay meets all the competition requirements and has a better chance of being successful. Good luck!