About this opportunity
Some mooting competitions ask you to argue over an old contract clause. The 2027 WIPO Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition asks something far more current, because this edition's problem sits in the fast moving world of live streaming, where innovation, intellectual property rights and online enforcement collide. Run under the World Intellectual Property Organization, it is a simulated court in which university teams file written submissions and argue before a panel of international IP experts, and WIPO frames the underlying question bluntly: when artificial intelligence and non fungible tokens meet indigenous heritage, who owns creativity?
The competition is open to law students from universities anywhere, and Nigerian teams have already shown they belong at the very top. University of Lagos students were crowned champions of the 2026 edition, which is a useful reminder that a Geneva podium is not some distant dream for a law faculty in Lagos, Enugu or Kumasi. Up to two teams from the same university may apply, and each application is judged on its own, so a strong first team does not shut out a second one.
Selection runs through a competitive video application, and the eight teams that advance travel to WIPO headquarters for the quarter finals on 8 June 2027, the semi finals on 9 June and the Grand Finale and Awards on 10 June 2027. WIPO pays the travel, accommodation and visa costs for those eight teams, though team coaches are not funded. The window to enter is short, closing on 6 November 2026 at 23:59 Geneva time, and every stage from the release of the problem to the online rounds is set out below so a faculty can plan around exams.
What you receive
- Travel, accommodation and visa fees funded by WIPO for the eight teams that qualify for the finals
- In person finals at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland from 8 to 10 June 2027
- Hands on practice in written and oral advocacy, critical analysis, legal reasoning and professionalism
- The chance to argue a 2027 problem built around live streaming, innovation and online IP enforcement
- Contact with law students, practitioners and IP experts from around the world
- A place inside WIPO's IP and Youth Empowerment Strategy, known as IP YES, which builds practical IP skills for young people
Who can apply
- University teams of law students, with team members aged 35 and under
- Up to two teams from the same university may apply and each application is evaluated independently
- A team coach and a Dean of Students or Faculty Representative must be named in the application
- Every declaration and consent statement in the application form must be accepted for the team to be eligible
- The application period runs from 12 October to 6 November 2026 and all times are given in Geneva time
- Students from any country may apply, Nigeria and other African states included, and University of Lagos won the 2026 edition
Who should not apply
- Team coaches are not funded by WIPO for the Geneva finals
- Only eight teams advance to the international stage, so the large majority of applying teams will not travel
- Competitors must be current university law students, not practising lawyers or faculty arguing in their own right
- An application is incomplete until the video requested in the Application Guidelines is submitted
Documents to prepare
- The Declaration Form, duly signed before the online application is completed
- The completed application form, which has eight sections covering declarations and consent, school or university details, team member 1, team member 2, team coach, and Dean of Students or Faculty Representative
- Upload of the signed Declaration Form inside the application form
- The application video prepared to the specifications set out in the WIPO Application Guidelines
How to apply
- Read the Application Guidelines, Competition Rules and Frequently Asked Questions on the competition page at https://www.wipo.int/en/web/youth-engagement/moot-court-competition
- Download the Declaration Form and have it signed before you begin, since the form asks you to confirm it is in place
- Open the application form at https://surveys.wipo.int/s3/2027-WIPO-IP-Moot-Court-Competition-Application-Form and accept the declarations and consent statements
- Enter the school or university details, both team members, the team coach and the Dean of Students or Faculty Representative, then upload the signed Declaration Form
- Use Save and Continue in the toolbar to keep your progress and return later, since the form takes about 10 minutes and compiles eight sections
- Submit the application video requested in the Application Guidelines to finalise the entry, no later than 6 November 2026 at 23:59 Geneva time
Selection process
- Participating teams are selected through a competitive video application process
- Selected teams are announced on 30 November 2026
- The moot problem is released on 10 December 2026, requests for clarification close on 17 December 2026 and WIPO responds by 15 January 2027
- Written submissions are due on 1 February 2027 and the online rounds run from 1 to 12 March 2027
- The top eight teams advance to the quarter finals on 8 June 2027, the semi finals on 9 June 2027 and the Grand Finale and Awards on 10 June 2027 in Geneva
- The whole calendar is published in Geneva time
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
What does it cost to take part?
There is no entry fee, and WIPO funds travel, accommodation and visa fees for the eight teams that qualify for the Geneva finals. Team coaches are not funded, so a faculty usually carries that cost.
Can one university enter two teams?
Yes. Up to two teams from the same university may apply, and each team's application is evaluated independently, so the strength of one does not influence the outcome of the other.
What is the 2027 problem about?
This edition explores live streaming, where innovation, intellectual property rights and online enforcement intersect. WIPO poses it as a question of who owns creativity when artificial intelligence and non fungible tokens meet indigenous heritage.
Do Nigerian law schools qualify?
Yes. Teams from universities anywhere may enter, and the 2026 title went to students from the University of Lagos, which is proof that African faculties compete for the trophy rather than just appearing in the field.
What happens after a team is selected?
You receive the moot problem on 10 December 2026, file written submissions by 1 February 2027, argue the online rounds between 1 and 12 March 2027, and the eight teams that advance travel to Geneva from 8 to 10 June 2027.
Is there an age limit?
Yes, team members must be law students aged 35 and under.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
