Welcome back to another week of Bells & Whistles!
We’re kicking things off with fresh uploads on SpicyIP TV, including the Book Review Symposium on Intellectual Property Debates in South Asia: Law, Development and Practice (Bloomsbury, 2025) edited by Dr. Pratyush Nath Upreti, with Shama Mahajan, Akshat Agrawal and Prof. Ishupal Singh Kang as guest speakers (recording available on LinkedIn and YouTube). If you haven’t had a chance to watch yet, consider this your nudge and plenty more that’s waiting for you on the channel.
BELL OF THE WEEK: JUSTICE PRABHA SRIDEVAN
Some Bells don’t just ring, they illuminate. This week, I want to spotlight Justice Prabha Sridevan, one of the most influential voices in Indian IP adjudication and a judge whose clarity, empathy, and intellectual rigour continue to shape the field long after her tenure.
Justice Sridevan served as a judge of the Madras High Court and later chaired the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB), where she delivered several landmark decisions across trademarks, patents and copyright. What set her apart was not just the depth of her reasoning but the way she centred public interest within the framework of IP rights, reminding us that innovation and access must coexist, not collide.
Justice Sridevan has also been an active contributor to policy reform, from her work on the Copyright Act review to her widely read columns translating complex legal issues into thoughtful, relatable commentary.
A quiet trailblazer, a sharp legal mind and a voice of balance in a field often driven by extremes, Justice Prabha Sridevan remains a beacon for anyone working at the intersection of law, creativity and public good.
EVENTS
1. Navigating the Threshold of Trademark Use in Online Advertising | WIPO
Date: 29 January 2026 | Time: 13:00–14:00 (Geneva time) | Mode: Virtual
More info | Register here
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Law Researcher | Intellectual Property Division, High Court of Delhi
Deadline: 20 January 2026
The Intellectual Property Division (IPD) of the High Court of Delhi invites applications for the position of Law Researcher, offering a unique opportunity to work closely with Hon’ble Judges in adjudicating complex disputes involving patents, trademarks, and emerging technologies. The role involves assisting the Court with legal research and analysis in high-impact IP matters. Applications are invited from a diverse pool of candidates, including Advocates, Engineers (B.Tech/M.Tech/M.E.), Scientists (M.Sc), Doctors, Chartered Accountants, and Registered Patent or Trademark Agents. The position offers a monthly remuneration of ₹80,000, and applicants must submit their application form along with a sample of research work or writing via email to aojestablishment1[dot]dhc[at]nic[dot]in.
More info
2. Book Launch & Lecture: International IP Licensing Transactions—Is There a Need for More Global Harmonization? | Faculty of Law, University of Geneva (UNIGE)
Registration Deadline: 5 February 2026
The Faculty of Law, University of Geneva (UNIGE) hosts in-person event on International IP Licensing Transactions and global harmonization on 12 February 2026, featuring Marco M. Alemán (WIPO) and Peter Ling (LES Switzerland / Lenz & Staehelin), organised with the support of LES Switzerland on the occasion of the publication of the 2nd edition of Research Handbook on IP Licensing. Participation is free but mandatory registration by email is required at jdpi[at]unige[dot]ch (please include “book launch IP Licensing” in the email subject).
More info
3. Fully Funded PhD Programme | School of Law and Government, Dublin City University (DCU)
Application deadline: 6 February 2026 (5:00 pm GMT)
The School of Law and Government at Dublin City University invites applications for its four-year fully funded PhD programme, commencing September 2026. Outstanding candidates will receive a full fee waiver and a tax-free scholarship of €25,000 per annum for four years. All applicants, including international applicants, are automatically considered for funded studentships. Prospective applicants are encouraged to make informal contact with a relevant faculty member whose research aligns with their proposed doctoral project prior to submitting an application.
More info
4. Call for Papers: 6th Machine Lawyering Conference | Faculty of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Submission Deadline: 11 February 2026
The 6th Machine Lawyering Conference invites abstract submissions (maximum 350 words) on key themes including AI basic law legislation, digital technology and national security, and competition law in big data industries. The conference committee will recognise outstanding contributions with three Best Paper Awards (Winner, First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up) and three Honorable Mentions, each award including round-trip economy airfare to Hong Kong and a three-day hotel stay during the conference. Notifications of acceptance will be issued on 3 March 2026.
More info
5. Call for Submissions | Journal of the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), NUALS – Volume 7
Submission Deadline: 1 March 2026
The Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) invites original contributions for the 7th Volume of its Journal (ISSN 2582-4244). Submissions are welcome from academicians, legal practitioners, researchers, postgraduate and undergraduate law students. Contributions may be in the form of articles, essays, notes, commentaries, and book reviews. All submissions will undergo an exhaustive review process and selected works will be published on the official websites of the Journal, the University, and CIPR.
More info
Thanks to Lokesh, Malobika and Niharika for the leads!
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