Welcome back to another week of Bells & Whistles!
In case you have missed out on the new development on SpicyIP TV (our YouTube channel) – here’s the teaser! It is a new place on the channel by the name “Lets IPsa Loquitur” for experts and bloggers to converse. Stay tuned for the release of the 1st episode on the buzz around personality rights.
BELL OF THE WEEK – Remembering Rahul Cherian
Some Bells don’t just chime — they continue to resonate quietly, long after they’re gone. This week, I want to spotlight Rahul Cherian, a lawyer and disability rights advocate whose work left a lasting mark on India’s copyright landscape.
In the words of Prof Basheer, “Rahul” was a “pioneering crusader for disability rights”. His efforts helped bring in Section 52(1)(zb) of the Indian Copyright Act — the crucial exception that lets people with disabilities access works in formats they can actually use. He also pushed for this cause on the global stage, campaigning for what would eventually go on to become the Marrakesh Treaty, which ensures access to published works for those who are visually impaired or print disabled.
Rahul passed away just before the Marrakesh Treaty was adopted, but his legacy continues every time someone reads, listens, or learns through an accessible format. You can read more about him on the blog here.
EVENTS
1. Patent Litigation and Affordable Drug Access: Policy Forum
4 November 2025 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EDT | Washington, D.C. (In-person & Online)
Hosted by the Texas A&M Foundation, School of Law, and Institute for Healthcare Access, this strategic policy forum will examine how patent litigation shapes access to affordable medicines. The event will feature expert discussions on balancing innovation incentives with public health needs. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
More info
2. AI for Human Potential: Insights from the UNDP Human Development Report
4 November 2025 | 14:30 – 16:00 GMT | London & Online
Rather than debating who will win the AI race or how fast machines might replace us, this discussion—co-hosted by the Human Development Report Office (UNDP)—will explore how AI can expand human possibilities. The event will unpack insights from A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI, the latest Human Development Report. Speakers include Divij Joshi (ODI Global), Rose M. Mutiso (African Tech Futures Lab), Pedro Conceição (UNDP), and Alessandra Lustrati (UK FCDO).
Register here
3. 100 Years of Design Protection – A Symposium on the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs
6 November 2025 | 09:00 – 17:00 (The Hague time) | Hybrid (The Hague, Netherlands)
This symposium marks the centenary of the Hague Agreement and explores the evolution and future of international design protection. The event will feature discussions on global trends, legal developments, and the role of design in innovation and economic growth.
Register here
4. ATRIP Mid-Year Webinar 2026 – Global Developments in Technology Transfer
16 January 2026 | 15:00–16:30 CET | Online
The ATRIP Mid-Year Webinar returns in 2026 with a global dialogue on “Global Developments in Technology Transfer.” Chaired by Prof. Jeremy de Beer (ATRIP Executive Committee Member), the session will feature renowned speakers — Prof. Jorge Contreras, Prof. Timo Minssen, Prof. Justyna Ożegalska-Trybalska, Prof. Masabumi Suzuki, and Prof. Dr. McLean Sibanda — for a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of technology transfer and IP. The webinar is open to all, including non-members, and will also share updates about the 2026 ATRIP Annual Congress in São Paulo, Brazil.
Register here
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Program Officer – PCT International Cooperation Division (WIPO)
Deadline: 8 November 2025 | 4:29 AM Geneva time | Geneva, Switzerland
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is seeking a Program Officer for its PCT International Cooperation Division. The role involves collaborating with IP offices worldwide, leading substantive patent examination training and eLearning initiatives, and supporting international cooperation to strengthen global IP systems.
More info
2. Lecturer in Law – FinTech, IP & Data Protection, or Regulation, Compliance & Ethics (The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London)
Deadline: 05 November 2025 | London, UK
The Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s College London invites applications for two Lecturer positions in Law, with specializations in FinTech, Intellectual Property & Data Protection, or Regulation, Compliance & Ethics.Interviews are scheduled to be held on campus in mid-December.
More info
3. Berkman Klein Center Fellowship 2026 – Call for Applications
Deadline: 5 December 2025 (11:59 PM ET) | Cambridge, MA (Hybrid options available)
The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University invites applications for its 2026 Fellowship. Scholars, technologists, practitioners, and policymakers are encouraged to propose independent projects advancing BKC’s interdisciplinary AI research agenda. Areas of focus include agentic AI, interpretability of language models, benchmarking AI systems beyond “intelligence,” AI and the human experience, and bridging the “AI triad” of accelerationist, safetyist, and skeptic perspectives.
More info
4. Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship 2026 – Equity & Excellence in Doctoral Education
Deadline: 1 April 2026 (17:00 UK time) | Start Date: 1 October 2026 | University of Leeds
The University of Leeds invites applications from researchers from minoritised ethnic backgrounds for up to five fully funded PhD scholarships under the Leeds Opportunity Research Scholarship (LORS) 2026. The initiative aims to promote equity and inclusion in doctoral education by supporting exceptional candidates across disciplines.
More info
Thanks to Niharika and Daanish for the leads and Lokesh and Swaraj for introducing me to the work of Rahul Cherian!
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