Welcome back to another week of Bells & Whistles.
As always, we’ve rounded up a mix of developments, opportunities, and thoughtful reads from across the IP world along with a Bell of the Week that’s well worth revisiting.
Bell of the Week: Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012
Some bells don’t just chime, they rewrite the terms of who gets to be heard.
This week, we’re ringing the bell for the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Often spoken about in doctrinal terms, the 2012 amendment marked an important shift by recognising the continuing right of authors, particularly lyricists and composers, to receive royalties even after assigning their rights. It was, in many ways, an attempt to correct an industry that had long normalised one-time buyouts and invisibilized creative labour.
But recognition on paper does not always translate into recognition in practice.
Songs are still more often remembered by the actors they are picturised on rather than the singers, lyricists, or composers who created them. Credits blur. Authorship fades into the background. And in today’s moment, where the industry is deeply invested in revisiting and remixing older songs, it raises an uneasy question. Who is really benefiting from these revivals?
The law may have carved out a space for authors to claim a share in their work, but cultural practices continue to shape who is seen, who is remembered, and who is rewarded.
Perhaps that is what makes this bell linger. It reminds us that while the law can recognise rights, it cannot, on its own, rewire how we value creativity.
Some bells don’t just chime, they echo in the gaps between law and lived reality.
EVENTS
1. ICON•S Writing School 2026
The International Society of Public Law (ICON-S) Writing School returns with a free, intensive online programme scheduled from 9 – 19 March 2026. Designed to support scholars in academic publishing, the programme includes expert-led sessions on structuring arguments, refining writing, and navigating peer review. All sessions are conducted online with UTC-standardised timings to ensure global accessibility. While the preliminary programme has been released, participants are advised to confirm session timings via ICON•S social media closer to the dates.
More info | Register here
2. British Academy International Fellowships 2026
The British Academy International Fellowships 2026 call is now open, inviting early-career international scholars working in areas such as intellectual property, technology, and governance. The programme supports 24 months of postdoctoral research at a UK host institution, with the aim of fostering a globally connected and mobile research workforce. The application deadline is 11 March 2026 at 17:00 GMT.
More info
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Academic Positions (Lecturer Level) – Liverpool Law School
Application Deadline: 26 February 2026 (23:30)
Liverpool Law School is seeking to appoint up to eight permanent academics at Lecturer level. The School particularly welcomes applicants who can contribute to the student experience in Property Law (Equity & Trusts; Land Law), Criminal Law (including Criminal Evidence), Law & Technology, and Commercial/Corporate Law (such as corporate governance, arbitration, and banking law). Interviews are expected to take place in the week commencing 30 March 2026.
More info
2. PhD Position: Law – Stockholm University (Sweden)
Application Deadline: 1 March 2026
The Department of Law at Stockholm University is offering one fully funded PhD position starting in Fall 2026. The position runs for up to four years and is based in Stockholm, providing full funding for the duration of the doctoral studies and the opportunity to pursue advanced research in law within a leading academic environment.
More info
3. CreativeAI Studentships (2026–2029) | University of Manchester
Deadline: 30 March 2026
The University of Manchester is offering fully funded CreativeAI studentships (2026–2029), exploring the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and creativity. These interdisciplinary projects span fields including law, computer science, social anthropology, and the arts, and engage with questions of authorship, agency, inequality, and imagination in the context of AI. The studentships are structured around three strands: AI for creativity, creativity for AI, and the creativity of AI and are hosted by the Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media. Successful candidates will receive full tuition coverage, an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (previously £20,780 per year), and a Research Training and Support Grant of £3,000 over 3.5 years, along with access to specialised training and cohort-based research activities.
More info
4. Applications: Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship (2026) – Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation
Deadline: 31 March 2026 | 12:00 PM (IST)
Applications are now open for the 2026 Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship. Since 1976, the scholarship has supported over 500 Indian students to pursue full-time Master’s, MPhil, or Doctoral programmes at top institutions in the USA, UK, and Europe. Awards of up to USD 120,000 cover tuition, living expenses, healthcare, and one-way airfare.
More info
5. Postdoctoral Fellowship: Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program – Western University (Canada)
Deadlines: 7 April 2026 (ROLA proposal) | 14 April 2026, 3:00 PM EDT (Full application)
Western Research and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Western University invite applications for the Western Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Administered jointly by the two units, the programme offers a minimum stipend of $70,000 per year (subject to any association agreement changes), recoverable benefits, and a $5,000 annual research allowance for up to two years, supporting early-career researchers across disciplines.
More info
Thanks to Malobika and Niharika for the leads!
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