Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced that students selected for the upcoming International Moot Court Competition on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) will be sponsored by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (CGPDTM). Speaking at the Vidhi Pragati: National IP Moot Court Competition, 2025 in New Delhi, he highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering legal talent in intellectual property law.
The competition is organized by DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Competition (CIIPC) and IPR Chair, National Law University Delhi. It aims to enhance advocacy skills and deepen participants’ understanding of IP laws, enforcement, and case law.
Goyal stressed the need for a strong regulatory framework to prevent unethical AI usage while ensuring effective technological deployment. He emphasized that AI is only as ethical as its user, noting that while it enhances efficiency, it cannot replace human intellect. He warned that AI and copyright law are at a crossroads, where ethical AI usage can support copyright protection, while misuse may jeopardize innovation and authorship rights.
Highlighting Union Budget 2025’s focus on innovation, Goyal outlined initiatives such as 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), Rs 20,000 crore for the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Fund, and Rs 10,000 crore for the Fund of Funds for startups. He also introduced One Nation One Subscription, ensuring nationwide access to scholarly research journals, and a Rs 500 crore AI for Education fund to encourage collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector.
Justice Prathiba M. Singh, Judge, Delhi High Court, and Himani Pande, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, attended as guests of honor. Goyal recommended making IPR a mandatory subject in law colleges to strengthen legal understanding and encourage students to become leaders in law and policymaking.
The Vidhi Pragati Moot Court Competition 2025 focuses on “Artificial Intelligence and Copyright”, addressing key challenges in AI-generated content, originality, and copyright protection. Participants will engage in critical legal debates on the implications of AI in intellectual property law.
Scheduled for February 7–9, 2025, the competition will feature 26 law schools from across India, with a prize pool of Rs 3.25 lakh. The event aims to promote mooting excellence, legal scholarship, and discourse on emerging IP challenges.
