Call for Papers: National Conference on Emerging Trends in Trademark Protection in India: Legal Enforcement and Challenges, DBRANLU Sonepat [Hybrid, 31 October 2026]

The IPR Facilitation and Research Centre of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonepat, in collaboration with K&S Partners, is organising a National Conference on "Emerging Trends in Trade Mark Protection in India: Legal Enforcement and Challenges" on 31 October 2026 in hybrid mode. The Conference offers an academic platform for academicians, practitioners, industry persons and students to examine the evolving landscape of trademark law in India, including online infringement, domain-name disputes, keyword advertising, social-media impersonation, counterfeit goods and misuse of trademarks in AI-generated content.

DBRANLU was established by the State Government of Haryana in 2019. The IPR Facilitation and Research Centre is the University's academic and research platform for intellectual property law. Dr. Amit Guleria is the Organising Secretary and Co-Director of the Centre.

• Trademark Infringement in the Digital Marketplace
• Domain Names, Cybersquatting, and Online Brand Identity
• Well-Known Marks and Cross-Border Reputation
• Non-Traditional Trademarks: Scope and Registrability
• AI, Deepfakes and the Intersection of Trademark and Personality Rights
• Judicial Trends in Passing Off and Injunctive Relief
• Trademark Enforcement Mechanisms: Criminal, Civil, and Administrative Remedies
• Globalisation and the Future of Indian Trademark Law
• Olfactory Marks: Scope and Registrability
• Collective Marks: Legal Framework and Contemporary Issues
• Slogan Marks: Protectability and the Limits of Distinctiveness
• Certification Marks and Quality Assurance in Trade
• Sound Marks and the Recognition of Auditory Brand Identity

The sub-themes are indicative, not exhaustive. Papers on other relevant topics and interdisciplinary papers engaging with more than one sub-theme are welcome.

Academicians, practitioners, industry persons, Ph.D. scholars and UG/PG students. Papers may have up to two authors. Where a paper has two authors, both must register individually under the Co-author / Double fee, and both are eligible for a certificate of presentation.

• Abstracts must be original and unpublished, submitted in .docx format through the abstract submission form by 21 October 2026.
• Abstracts are reviewed by the Editorial Committee for relevance, originality, clarity and quality of research; the committee's decision is final.
• All registered participants must present their papers, based on their abstracts, at the Conference on 31 October 2026.
• Full paper: 6,000 to 7,500 words excluding footnotes, due by 26 January 2027.
• Plagiarism up to 10%; AI-generated content up to 5%, subject to an AI-detection check.
• Formatting: Times New Roman, 12 pt main text, 14 pt headings, 1.5 line and paragraph spacing; footnotes 10 pt with single spacing.
• Citation: The Bluebook, 22nd edition.
• Papers that do not meet the word limit, plagiarism threshold, formatting or citation requirements may be rejected or returned for revision.

The fee is payable only after the abstract is accepted. Acceptance is communicated to the email address given at the time of submission, and registration opens only after the acceptance email. Authors who do not register within the stipulated time after acceptance may lose their slot.

• DBRANLU students: Rs 200 (single author), Rs 300 (co-author / double)
• Students from other institutions: Rs 600 (single author), Rs 800 (co-author / double)
• Academicians and industry persons: Rs 1,000 (single author), Rs 1,200 (co-author / double)
• IPRFRC team and volunteers: Rs 150 (single author), Rs 200 (co-author / double)

The fee generally covers access to all technical sessions, a conference kit, working lunch and refreshments for offline participants, and a soft copy of the proceedings for presenters whose papers are selected for publication. Bank details for payment are in the official brochure.

Selected papers will be published in the Conference proceedings, with no additional charges for publication. All participants will receive an e-certificate of participation, and award winners will also receive an e-certificate of merit.

The first-placed UG/PG Best Presenter will receive an internship at K&S Partners, to be undertaken in March/April. The organisers state that the awards are tentative and subject to change by the Organising Committee.

Submit your abstract (.docx) through the official abstract submission form by 21 October 2026. Selected authors will receive an acceptance email (from 24 October 2026) on the email ID given at the time of submission, and must then complete registration and pay the fee by 26 October 2026. Selected participants must submit the full paper by 26 January 2027. All communications are sent only through the official mail ID and the contact numbers listed below.