Welcome back to another week of Bells & Whistles. As always, we’ve rounded up a mix of developments, opportunities, and thoughtful reads from across the IP world along with a Bell of the Week that’s well worth revisiting.
Bell of the Week: Fair Dealing
Some bells do not just chime, they make space.
This week’s bell is for Fair Dealing, a provision within the Copyright Act that enables much of how we read, write, teach and engage with creative works.
Unlike its more expansive counterpart in the United States, where fair use has largely been shaped through judicial interpretation, fair dealing in India is written into the statute itself. It sets out specific purposes such as research, private use, criticism, review, reporting of current events and in doing so, defines the contours of what is permitted.
At first glance, this might seem limiting. A closed list, a predefined set of uses. But perhaps there is something else at work here.
Fair dealing reflects an understanding that access is not an afterthought, but a built-in part of the copyright system. That the law does not only protect creation, but also anticipates use. It acknowledges that knowledge must circulate, in classrooms, in commentary, in everyday engagement, if it is to have meaning at all.
Of course, like all such provisions, it sits within boundaries. Its interpretation continues to evolve, shaped by courts and contexts. But its presence in the statute itself is a reminder that the space for use was never entirely left to discretion, it was always, at least in part, recognised from the outset.
Some bells do not just chime, they remind us that within systems of control, there are also carefully carved spaces for access.
EVENTS
1. Workshop: “Patent Opposition in the Pharmaceutical Field” | IUCIPRS, CUSAT
Application Deadline: 31 March 2026
The Inter-University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS), CUSAT, in collaboration with the Third World Network, is organising the 7th edition of its workshop titled “Patent Opposition in the Pharmaceutical Field.” This in-person programme will be held at IUCIPRS, CUSAT, Kochi from 28 May to 1 June 2026 and will focus on key issues surrounding patent opposition in the pharmaceutical sector.
More info
2. Orange Minds – IPR Lecture Series | CIPAM, DPIIT
16 March 2026 to 10 April 2026
CIPAM has launched “Orange Minds,” a lecture series aimed at strengthening awareness and understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) among students and young innovators. The sessions will cover diverse themes and feature eminent experts. Interested participants are requested to select and register for the sessions they wish to attend.
More info | Register here
OPPORTUNITIES
SpicyIP Summer School 2026: Rethinking IP – Foundations, Faults, and Futures
20–28 June 2026 | Whitefield, Bengaluru | Residential Programme
The SpicyIP Summer School returns with a 9-day residential programme designed to cultivate critical pluralism in intellectual property law and policy, inspired by the legacy of Shamnad Basheer. Limited to 25 participants, the programme brings together scholars, practitioners, and students for intensive discussions and collaborative learning. This year’s theme, “Rethinking IP: Foundations, Faults, and Futures,” focuses on three interlinked terrains of engagement that shape every session, encouraging participants to critically examine the conceptual foundations, systemic shortcomings, and future directions of IP law and policy. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
More info
1. LL.M. Programme | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Faculty of Law)Application Deadline: 31 March 2026
The Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Faculty of Law offers an LL.M. (Master of Laws) programme designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of German and European law within a global perspective. The programme is intended for graduates with a strong background in foreign law and at least one year of professional experience, equipping participants with advanced legal knowledge and skills aligned with their academic and professional goals.
More info
2. Visiting Researchers Programme | Maastricht Centre for European Law (MCEL)
Application Deadline: 31 March 2026 | Research Visits: 1 September 2026 – 31 January 2027
The Maastricht Centre for European Law invites applications for its Visiting Researchers Programme. Selected scholars will undertake a research stay of one to five months at Maastricht University, working closely with an MCEL advisor while participating in seminars, workshops, and other academic activities. Visiting researchers will also have access to the university’s library resources, online databases, and flexible workspace, while joining a vibrant international research community.
More info
3. PhD Opportunity: Law and Business (Innovation Law / Intellectual Property Law) | LUISS Guido Carli University
Deadline: 17 April 2026, 16:00 (CEST)
LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome, has announced a fully funded PhD position under the PhD Programme in Law and Business (XLII cycle, a.y. 2026/2027), with a focus on Innovation Law and Intellectual Property Law. The programme offers candidates the opportunity to engage with the vibrant research ecosystem of the ILEO – Innovation Law and Ethics Observatory, supporting interdisciplinary work at the intersection of law, technology, and business.
More info
4. Scholarship Opportunity: International LLM in Intellectual Property Law | University of Liverpool
Deadline: 3 July 2026, 5:00 PM
Through MusicFutures, the University of Liverpool is offering 5 scholarships for the International LLM in Intellectual Property Law at the School of Law and Social Justice. The scholarships are aimed at students interested in the intersection of art, law, and the creative industries, and provide an opportunity to study these themes in a city deeply shaped by the history of popular music. The course is scheduled to begin on 21 September 2026 (Induction Week).
More info
5. Fully Funded PhD Scholarships (3) | Trinity College Dublin School of Law
Trinity College Dublin School of Law is offering three fully funded PhD scholarships for outstanding applicants joining its doctoral programme in the next academic year. Each scholarship provides four years of tuition fee remission along with a €25,000 annual stipend, supporting candidates undertaking advanced doctoral research in law.
More info
All non-sponsored listings featured here are events or opportunities free or nominally charged and ones we think our readers may be interested in. Sponsored listings will be marked as such. Unless specifically mentioned, SpicyIP has no affiliation to anything listed here. Know of an event worth sharing? Write to us at contact[at]spicyip[dot]com.
