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: EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries)
Some bells don’t just ring in libraries, they resonate in legislatures.
When we think about copyright reform, we often think of governments, courts and international treaties. Rarely do we think of the organisations working behind the scenes to help countries write better copyright laws. This week’s bell goes to EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries), a global non-profit that has spent over two decades helping ensure that copyright serves not only creators, but also learners, researchers, libraries and the wider public specifically in “developing and transition economy countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America“.
EIFL impact extends far beyond advocacy. Through its Copyright and Libraries Programme, EIFL has worked alongside librarians, governments and policymakers across the world to modernise copyright laws and promote balanced legal frameworks that strengthen access to knowledge. Its Draft Law on Copyright has served as a model legislative resource for countries reviewing their copyright laws, while its advocacy has contributed to the adoption of stronger copyright exceptions and limitations for libraries and educational institutions in several jurisdictions. Nigeria’s Copyright Act, 2022, for instance, incorporated provisions inspired by EIFL’s model law, illustrating how thoughtful policy work can translate into meaningful legislative reform.
EIFL has also played a significant role in advancing the Marrakesh Treaty, supporting countries in ratifying and implementing the Treaty through legal guidance, capacity-building and practical resources for libraries. By the end of 2025, its advocacy had contributed to 27 current and former partner countries joining the Treaty, helping expand access to books and educational materials for millions of people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled.
Beyond copyright reform, EIFL’s work continues through its Open Access Programme, where it supports institutions in developing open access policies, repositories and journals, while equipping researchers and librarians with the tools needed to make scholarship more widely accessible. Its practical guides on copyright, licensing, open access and the Marrakesh Treaty have become trusted resources for librarians navigating an increasingly complex legal landscape.
What makes EIFL’s work particularly compelling is its collaborative approach. Rather than simply commenting on copyright law, it works with those responsible for implementing it, helping shape legal frameworks, strengthen library services and widen access to knowledge in ways that are both practical and enduring.
Some bells don’t just protect access to knowledge, they help reshape the laws that make access possible.
EVENTS
1. Webinar: AI Customization for IP Practice – Connecting Tools, Data and Workflows with MCP | IPWatchdog
6 August 2026 | 12:00 PM (ET)
Organised by IPWatchdog, this webinar will examine how MCP-enabled tools can connect AI with patent databases, document management platforms, prosecution histories, prior art resources, and other critical systems. The session will discuss practical use cases, integration opportunities, implementation considerations, and the potential for connected AI workflows to reduce administrative burdens, improve consistency and productivity, and enable practitioners to focus on substantive legal and strategic work. Attendees will also gain a practical understanding of MCP, its relevance to IP practice, and how customizable AI ecosystems could transform the way patent attorneys, IP professionals, and organisations manage their work.
More info | Register here
2. AIPPI IP and GRTK Committee Webinar | Approaching TK through the Lens of New Technologies: AI and Data Sovereignty
20 August 2026 | 3:30 PM (IST)
This webinar will explore how artificial intelligence, data sovereignty, and intellectual property are reshaping the protection of Indigenous traditional knowledge through legal, policy, and community perspectives. The session will bring together leading experts to discuss the evolving relationship between traditional knowledge, AI, and data sovereignty.
More info | Register here
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Internship | Global Challenges Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Application Deadline: 4 August 2026 | Geneva
The World Intellectual Property Organization is inviting applications for a 6-month internship (with possible renewal) in its Global Challenges Division (GCD), based in Geneva, Switzerland, commencing 1 October 2026. Applicants should hold an advanced university degree in development studies, international relations, law, public health, health policy, geography, political science, or a related discipline. The internship requires knowledge of or experience with global challenges such as international trade and global health issues, an interest in innovation, technology, and social and economic development, experience in international partnership building, and strong research, drafting, and communication skills. Category II interns receive a monthly stipend of CHF 2,170. Applications must include a curriculum vitae and motivation letter in their submission.
More info
2. Research Scholarships | Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law
Application Deadline: 15 August 2026
Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law is inviting applications for its Research Scholarship Programme for legal scholars whose primary place of residence is outside Germany. Funded by the Max Planck Society, the scholarships are offered for 1 to 3 months and are open to foreign doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, early-career researchers with an independent research profile, and senior academics, including professors and institute directors. Applicants whose research relates to intellectual property, procedural law, social law, or public international law must explain why this Institute is the appropriate place for their research. There are no plans for a second application round for 2027.
More info
3. Call for Applications: Elective Courses | National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
Application Deadline (Second Trimester): 20 August 2026
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, invites applications from interested persons to offer Elective Courses during the Second Trimester (2 November 2026 – 19 January 2027) of the 2026–27 Academic Year. Elective Courses may be offered as Taught Courses, Research Courses, or Practice/Clinical Courses, and are available as 4-credit (40 classroom hours) or 2-credit (20 classroom hours) courses.
More info
4. Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026/2027 | European University Institute
Application Deadline: 16 October 2026 | 14:00 (CEST)
European University Institute is inviting applications for the Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026/2027. Open to researchers of all nationalities who are within five years of completing their PhD, the programme supports early-career scholars in the humanities and social sciences, including law. The fellowships are hosted in Florence, Italy, have a duration of 1–2 years (with possible extension in exceptional cases), and commence on 1 September 2026.
More info
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