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 Nexavar Compulsory Licence
Some bells remind us that intellectual property is not just about protecting innovation, it is also about ensuring that innovation reaches the people who need it most.
This week’s bell revisits the Nexavar compulsory licence, one of the most significant milestones in the history of Indian patent law and the first compulsory licence granted under Section 84 of the Patents Act, 1970.
The case centred on Nexavar (sorafenib tosylate), a life-saving drug developed by Bayer for the treatment of advanced kidney and liver cancer. At the time, the cost of treatment placed the medicine far beyond the reach of most patients in India. In 2012, the Indian Patent Office granted a compulsory licence to Natco Pharma, permitting it to manufacture and sell a generic version of the drug after finding that the reasonable requirements of the public had not been met, the drug was not available at a reasonably affordable price and the patented invention was not being worked in India to the extent contemplated under the Patents Act.
Importantly, the compulsory licence did not revoke Bayer’s patent or invalidate its rights over the invention. Instead, it allowed a third party to use the patented invention under specific statutory conditions, including the payment of royalties to Bayer and compliance with the terms prescribed by the Controller. The decision demonstrated that compulsory licensing is not an exception to the patent system, but a safeguard built into it to balance exclusive patent rights with broader public interest in appropriate circumstances.
More than a decade later, the Nexavar compulsory licence continues to occupy a central place in conversations on patents and public health. It remains the only compulsory licence granted in India under Section 84, making it a landmark that continues to shape discussions on pharmaceutical patents, access to medicines and the role of intellectual property in advancing public welfare.
The Nexavar decision reminds us that some of the most enduring debates in intellectual property are not about whether innovation should be protected, but about how legal systems can ensure that the benefits of innovation are shared more equitably.
Some bells don’t just shape patent law, they remind us that intellectual property exists to encourage innovation while ultimately serving society.
EVENTS
1. Webinar and Ask the Expert Series 2026: Program of Experts – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Knowledge Economy | WIPO
28 August 2026 | Virtual Time: 14:00–16:00 (Geneva Time)
Organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization, this session will feature Álvaro González, Head of User Experience and Business Intelligence Department at National Institute of Industrial Property, who will deliver a presentation titled “Creating Agents to Support the Patent Search.”
More info | Join here
2. The Future of the Copyright Act Symposium | The George Washington Center for Law and Technology
2 – 3 October 2026 | Hybrid
The George Washington Center for Law and Technology: The Bernard Center is hosting The Future of the Copyright Act Symposium as the Copyright Act of 1976 approaches its 50th anniversary. Bringing together leading copyright scholars, the two-day symposium will examine what the next 50 years of copyright law should look like, including whether the Act can continue to evolve through targeted reforms or whether it should be reconsidered in light of today’s technological and cultural landscape. The symposium will be held in a hybrid format at the GW Law Faculty Conference Center and online. In-person attendance is by invitation or special permission only, while anyone may register to attend via livestream.
More info
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Research Position | Department of Foreign and International Social Law, Max Planck Institute
Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy is inviting applications for a temporary research position in its Department of Foreign and International Social Law. The role involves work in the fields of foreign and international social law, European law, and other areas of public law. Applicants should have a completed law degree (or written results of the First State Examination in Law), good Microsoft Office skills, particularly Microsoft Word, foreign language skills (especially English), and an interest in social law. Prior knowledge of social law is not required.
More info
2. WIPO Fellowship Program 2027
Application Deadline: 4 August 2026
World Intellectual Property Organization is inviting applications for the WIPO Fellowship Program 2027, a fully funded fellowship in Switzerland. The programme offers young professionals and graduates the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at WIPO in Geneva through fellowships lasting 12–36 months. Depending on the fellowship category, applicants may be required to meet additional eligibility criteria, including minimum professional experience, advanced degrees (Master’s or PhD), or specific competencies.
More info
3. Sydney Law School Visiting Fellowships 2027
Application Deadline: 28 September 2026 | 11:59 PM (AEST)
Sydney Law School is inviting applications for its 2027 Visiting Fellowships scheme, open to international researchers who wish to contribute to the School’s research environment. The scheme includes the George Flannery Visiting Fellowship for early to mid-career researchers, the Sir Percy Spender Visiting Fellowship for professors with an established international standing, and the Elizabeth Evatt Distinguished Fellowship, selected by invitation from the pool of Sir Percy Spender Fellowship applicants. The fellowships provide a contribution towards the cost of visiting Sydney Law School for visits between March and November 2027. Applicants must contact a potential academic host by 11 September 2026, and applications close on 28 September 2026 at 11:59 PM (AEST).
More info
Thanks to Lokesh for the leads!
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.
