Applications are now open for the 2026 WIPO IP Moot Court Competition. Now in its second edition, the competition invites law students under 35 from WIPO Member States to tackle a moot problem on industrial property law – including patents, trademarks, industrial designs and trade secrets.
Participants will advance through four stages, from video applications and written submissions to online rounds and in-person finals at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva in June 2026. The competition offers young legal minds a chance to sharpen their advocacy skills, engage with real-world IP issues and connect with the global IP community.
Tackle realistic IP cases, Sharpen your advocacy skills, See how you measure up with peers worldwide.
Requirements
- The competition is open to law students under the age of 35 who are enrolled at universities in WIPO Member States. Participating teams will be selected based on video applications, submitted by the application deadline.
- This year’s moot problem deals with industrial property law and will address areas such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and trade secrets.
- Topics may cover jurisdictional questions, scope of protection by IP rights, remedies available to the parties, and cross-border enforcement.
- Participants will test their advocacy skills by submitting written arguments and presenting both sides of a case before a panel of judges.
Competition Phases
- The competition has four phases: video applications, written submissions, online oral rounds, and in-person finals in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Eight teams will qualify for the international-stage, scheduled for June 24-26, 2026.
Video Submission Requirements
Teams are required to prepare a video of no longer than 5 minutes, responding to one of the following two questions based on the following scenario:
A pharmaceutical company and a national space agency co-develop the “Smart Space Sipper”,a squeezable medicine pouch designed for astronauts to safely take liquid medication in zero gravity. Its contoured body prevents spillage, its one-way valve stops liquid from floating loose, and its sleek, spaceship-like curves are marketed on Earth as part of a futuristic wellness brand. They now seek industrial design protection over the pouch’s shape.
Question1: What is your assessment as to whether these co-developers will be able to obtain protection for the Smart Space Sipper using design rights and what features could be protected?
OR
Question 2: If protection by design can be obtained, who should be recognized as the holder of design rights in the Smart Space Sipper—the pharmaceutical company, the national space agency, or both as joint creators, and on what legal basis?
Your video response should reflect your knowledge of industrial property law, your ability to frame legal issues with clarity, and your capacity to advance arguments with precision and persuasiveness.
Please note: The “Smart Space Sipper” scenario and questions above are not taken from this year’s fact pattern but are merely for purposes of the application.
Selection Criteria
- Selected teams will be announced on December 5, 2025, followed by written submissions which are due by January 10, 2026.
- Online rounds are scheduled to take place in February 2026.
Submission Details:
- Review the Application Guidelines for all the relevant information, before submitting your application. For any queries, contact youth@wipo.int.
Tentative Timeline (2025-2026)
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration & Application Period | October 6 – November 30, 2025 |
| Announcement of Selected Teams | December 5, 2025 |
| Moot Problem Release | December 8, 2025 |
| Request for Clarifications Deadline | December 15, 2025 |
| Response to Clarifications | December 17, 2025 |
| Submission of Written Arguments | January 10, 2026 |
| Online Rounds | February 2026 |
| Teams Advancing to Geneva announced | February 2026 |
| Quarter‑Finals (Geneva) | June 24, 2026 |
| Semi‑Finals (Geneva) | June 25, 2026 |
| Grand Finale & Awards (Geneva) | June 26, 2026 |
Method of Application
For More Information
Visit the Official Webpage
Application Deadline: November 30, 2025.
