1st NLIU – Anand & Anand Trademark Opposition Competition
1st NLIU – Anand & Anand Trademark Opposition Competition
The 1st NLIU–Anand & Anand Trademark Opposition Competition is a practice-based intellectual property dispute simulation dedicated exclusively to trademark opposition proceedings. It is hosted by the National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, in collaboration with the Cell for Studies in Intellectual Property Rights (CSIPR). The competition aims to replicate real-world trademark opposition mechanisms by requiring participants to engage in written and oral advocacy.
Eligibility and Team Structure
The competition is open to students enrolled in five-year and three-year LLB programmes, as well as LLM students. Each participating team must comprise exactly two members. Inter-college teams are permitted, there is no institutional cap on the number of teams, and no individual may participate in more than one team.
Competition Format
The event is structured into two phases. Phase I consists of a written submission round where participants must prepare a Notice of Opposition and a Counter-Statement. Based on the cumulative scores of both submissions, the top twenty teams will qualify for Phase II, which consists of offline oral rounds conducted at NLIU Bhopal.
Phase I Written Submissions
The required written components are a Notice of Opposition and a Counter-Statement, each subject to a maximum limit of fifteen pages, excluding the cover page, index, and annexures for the Counter-Statement. Submissions must follow the OSCOLA 4th edition citation format and must be anonymised, containing no identifying references. Submissions are marked out of 100 based on knowledge and application of trademark law, issue identification, clarity and structure of arguments, originality and legal reasoning, and presentation quality. Penalties will be imposed for late submissions, and any delay exceeding thirty minutes results in disqualification. Plagiarism beyond twenty-five percent results in disqualification, while similarity up to fifteen percent is permitted without penalty.
Phase II Oral Rounds
The top twenty teams will participate in preliminary oral rounds judged by experts from the partnering law firm. Roles of Applicant and Respondent will be assigned through a draw of lots. Each speaker is allotted a maximum of ten minutes, with two minutes permitted for rebuttals or sur-rebuttals per side. The top eight teams advance to the Quarter-finals, the top four to the Semi-finals, and ultimately two teams to the Final round. The oral rounds follow a knockout format. Evaluation criteria include knowledge of law, application of legal principles to facts, courtroom manner and responsiveness, clarity of structure, and persuasiveness. Strict time compliance is mandatory, and electronic devices or internet usage are prohibited unless specifically authorised.
Important Dates
Phase I Registration Deadline: 15 December 2025
Notice of Opposition Submission: 20 December 2025
Counter-Statement Submission: 30 December 2025
Declaration of Top 20 Teams: 5 January 2026
Phase II Registration Deadline: 10 January 2026
Inauguration, Preliminary Rounds and Quarter-finals: 24 January 2026
Semi-finals, Finals and Valedictory Ceremony: 25 January 2026
Registration Fees
A registration fee of Rs. 1,000 inclusive of GST is applicable to all teams for Phase I. Teams qualifying for the oral rounds must additionally pay Rs. 4,500 inclusive of GST, which covers accommodation and food for the duration of the competition.
Awards
Winning Team: Rs. 22,000 with internship opportunities
Runner-Up Team: Rs. 15,000 with internship opportunities
Best Notice of Opposition: Rs. 7,000
Best Counter-Statement: Rs. 7,000
Best Speaker (Preliminary Rounds): Rs. 7,000 with internship opportunities
Communication Details
All official clarifications and correspondence must be addressed to tmocsipr@gmail.com.
