2027 WIPO IP Moot Court Competition [Finals in Geneva, June 8-10, 2027; Apply by November 6, 2026]

The WIPO IP Moot Court Competition is organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as part of its Intellectual Property and Youth Empowerment Strategy (IP-YES!). The 2027 competition is the third edition. Participants address IP law issues arising in a hypothetical case through written submissions and oral arguments before a panel of judges.

This edition's moot problem will explore the world of live streaming, where innovation, intellectual property rights and online enforcement intersect. The competition is conducted entirely in English.

• Selection: teams are selected through a competitive video application process.
• Memorials: each selected team submits two memorials, one for the Applicant and one for the Respondent (Microsoft Word format, maximum 3,000 words each including headings and footnotes, Times New Roman 12-pt with footnotes in 11-pt or larger, at least 1.5 line spacing and 2.5 cm margins).
• Virtual oral rounds: held via Zoom; every team argues at least twice, once for each side, with 30 minutes of speaking time per team.
• Final in-person oral rounds: the top eight teams on combined memorial and virtual round scores compete at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, over three days (quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final), with 40 minutes of speaking time per team.

• Open to students who, at the time of application, are 35 years or under, are enrolled full-time or part-time in a law program (a course leading to a legal degree), and have not previously completed their law degree nor been admitted to practice in any jurisdiction.
• Students who have completed their coursework but have not yet graduated or been admitted to practice are eligible. PhD students are eligible if they meet these criteria (FAQ).
• Past winners of the WIPO IP Moot Court Competition are not eligible.
• Teams must be authorized by their university, as documented in the declaration form signed by the Dean of Students or Faculty Representative.

• Each team consists of two students and may also include one coach.
• Both team members and the coach must be from the same university; hybrid teams are not eligible. The coach may be another student or a faculty member of the same university and may provide general guidance only.
• Teams per university: the Official Rules say up to two teams from the same university may apply, and that, exceptionally for 2027, more than two applications from the same university will be accepted, with up to two teams from the same university selected for the written round. The FAQ states that up to two teams from the same university may apply.

There is no registration fee (FAQ). WIPO will provide funding for the eight teams that qualify for the final rounds in Geneva, covering travel, accommodation and visa fees. Team coaches are not funded by WIPO. Participants bear any other visa-related costs, and WIPO provides official support letters for the visa application.

• Read the Application Guidelines, Official Rules, FAQs and Declaration Form on the WIPO competition page.
• Get the Declaration Form signed by both team members, the coach (if any) and the Dean of Students or Faculty Representative.
• Complete the online application form (8 sections, about 10 minutes) and upload the signed Declaration Form.
• Record a video argument of no more than 5 minutes, with both team members participating, answering one of the two assessment questions on the scenario in the Application Guidelines (IP protection for a scented line of agendas). Format MP4 or MOV, maximum 400 MB, played at normal speed, named [University Name, Country, Speakers Last Names]. Upload it via the WIPO Tresorit link.
• Deadline: November 6, 2026, 23:59 Geneva time (CET), which is 4:29 am IST on November 7, 2026. Only complete applications are considered.

• Clarity and structure of argument (20%)
• Understanding of legal issues (30%)
• Persuasiveness (20%)
• Use of legal frameworks and authorities (20%)
• Professionalism and presentation (10%)

The timeline published by WIPO is tentative and all times are in Geneva time (GMT+1). The Steering Committee may amend the timeline for operational reasons. The moot problem is shared by email with the selected teams after the announcement of selected teams.