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: The UDRP
Some bells do not just chime, they emerge with entirely new spaces.
This week’s bell is for the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, a mechanism that reshaped how trademark disputes are handled in the digital world.
As the internet expanded, domain names quickly became more than technical addresses. They became brands, identities, storefronts, and points of trust. But with this shift came a new set of problems: bad-faith registrations, cybersquatting, and disputes that crossed borders far more easily than traditional legal systems could handle.
The UDRP introduced a different model. Instead of lengthy litigation across jurisdictions, it created a relatively accessible and standardised mechanism for resolving domain name disputes online. In doing so, it fundamentally changed how trademarks operated on the internet.
What makes this particularly interesting is that it reflects a broader transformation within intellectual property itself. Rights that were once tied closely to physical markets suddenly had to function within a borderless digital space, where identity could be copied, redirected, or appropriated in seconds.
Perhaps that is what makes this bell linger. It reminds us that legal systems do not evolve in isolation, they evolve alongside the technologies and spaces people increasingly inhabit.
Some bells do not just chime, they adapt to entirely new worlds.
EVENTS
1. Seminar: “Advanced Webinar: Artificial Intelligence & Intellectual Property” | European Patent Office
12 May 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM (CEST) | Online
This advanced webinar offers a comprehensive overview of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and their intersection with intellectual property law. Designed for participants seeking deeper insights into the protection of AI-driven innovation, the session will examine key international developments in patent law, inventorship, data protection, and trade secrets. Topics include recent European Patent Office decisions on AI inventions, comparative perspectives from Europe, the United States, and China, the protection of data and data structures, and the tension between explainable AI, open data requirements, and IP protection strategies.
More info | Register here
2. Seminar: “Deepfakes, Copyright and AI Training in Comparative and Private International Law” | Luiss School of Law
13 May 2026 | 2:00 PM | Hybrid (Rome & Online)
The Luiss School of Law is hosting a seminar on “Deepfakes, Copyright and AI Training in Comparative and Private International Law,” examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal boundaries of creativity, identity, and copyright protection. Organised by the Master in Diritti d’autore e tecnologie delle industrie creative in collaboration with ALAI Italia, the event will bring together international experts to discuss emerging US and EU legal frameworksrelating to AI-generated content, deepfakes, and cross-border legal issues.
More info | Online meeting link
3. Webinar: “Injunctions — Perspectives from the Judiciary of Brazil” | OxFora
13 May 2026 | 3:00 PM (UK) / 4:00 PM (CET)
This talk will examine the role of injunctions in Brazilian patent litigation, focusing on the circumstances in which Brazilian courts grant injunctive relief, the practical enforcement of such orders, and the balance courts seek to maintain between exclusivity, market access, and proportionality in innovation-related disputes. The session will also explore the emerging treatment of the FRAND defence in Brazil, particularly in cases involving standard-essential patents, including questions relating to licensing conduct, good faith negotiations, competition concerns, and the limits of injunctive relief where FRAND commitments are invoked.
More info | Register here
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Call for Applications: SPARC – SpicyIP Academy Research Clinic
Application Deadline: 31 May 2026 (Midnight IST)
The SpicyIP Academy has launched SPARC (SpicyIP Academy Research Clinic), a new initiative aimed at supporting researchers working on the Indian intellectual property landscape through structured feedback and mentorship. The programme will select 10 researchers for its pilot cohort and will run across five fortnightly sessions, fostering a more connected and rigorous IP research community.
More info
2. Global South Fellowship Programme | University of Birmingham
Application Deadline: 29 May 2026
University of Birmingham has launched the Global South Fellowship Programme, offering a three-month, fully funded research opportunity for early-career scholars from the Global South. The programme provides selected fellows with financial support, including a monthly stipend, to undertake a short-term research visit aimed at developing research projects, strengthening institutional collaborations, and fostering engagement with diverse academic environments. The initiative reflects growing recognition of the importance of inclusive and equitable global partnerships in addressing major challenges across fields such as education and global health. Applicants must have completed a doctorate to be eligible.
More info
3. Lectureships (Teaching and Scholarship) in Digital Media and Culture | The University of Manchester
Application Deadline: 03 June 2026
The School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at The University of Manchester has invited applications for three full-time Lectureships (Teaching and Scholarship) in Digital Media and Culture. These fixed-term positions are for a duration of two years and are scheduled to commence on 1 August 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The roles are aimed at suitably qualified candidates with expertise in digital media, culture, and related interdisciplinary fields.
More info
4. Call for Submissions: Indian Journal of Intellectual Property Law Vol. 16 | NALSAR University of Law
Submission Deadline: 1 August 2026
The Indian Journal of Intellectual Property Law is inviting submissions for its 16th Volume, tentatively scheduled for publication by the end of 2026. The Journal welcomes contributions in the form of essays, articles, notes, and comments from undergraduate and postgraduate students, practitioners, faculty members, and academicians. Submissions may engage with contemporary issues across the field of intellectual property law and allied areas.
More info
Thanks to Ambika for heads up on the OxFora SEP injunction webinar!
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.
