The All-Russian Youth Competition on Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, IP&IT LAW–2026, began on October 16, 2025.
The competition, held annually under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), was originally founded by the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ and IP CLUB.
Today, IP&IT LAW is recognized as one of Russia’s leading scientific competitions.
In 2018, the competition received the Runet Prize in the special category For Contribution to the Development of Legal Thought in a Digital Society. In 2024, at the third Digital Technologies and Law International Scientific and Practical Conference, held as part of the Kazan Digital Week 2024 International Forum, it was awarded a commendation “For its contribution to the popularization and development of scientific and legal research by young people in the field of digital technologies and intellectual property.”
The competition is traditionally supported by the Intellectual Property Court, whose official publication, the Journal of the Intellectual Property Court, features the best entries recommended for publication by the jury. The Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) also provides support. This year, the best papers will additionally have the opportunity to be published in the Digital Law journal.
Among the competition’s partners presenting valuable awards and commemorative prizes to the winners are the EPAM law firm, Statut Law School, M-Logos Law Institute, the law firms ALRUD, Semenov & Pevzner, and Kosenkov & Suvorov, as well as the Garant legal reference system and the IP&IT LAW Laureates Association.
The competition’s information partners include the Russian Agency for Legal and Judicial Information (RAPSI), the National Federation of Music Industries, the Consultant Plus legal reference system, the Legal Forum of Masters, the Journal of Digital Technologies and Law, and the International Journal of Law in Changing World.
The objectives of IP&IT LAW–2026 are:
- to identify promising areas in the field of legal support for the implementation and use of digital technologies, the legal protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the digital environment, and legal support for e-businesses;
- to increase young lawyers’ interest in legal issues closely connected with the development of the digital economy, such as intellectual property and cybertechnology;
- to encourage research activity among master’s and postgraduate students and young professionals;
- to draw government and public attention to the legal aspects of cybertechnology and intellectual property.
This year, the participation rules have been significantly updated. The key change is that the competition is now open to individuals from Russia and other countries, aged 35 or younger, who hold a law degree (bachelor’s, specialist’s, master’s, or postgraduate, including those currently studying for a master’s or postgraduate degree) or a PhD in law.
Participants must submit an independently written research paper on issues in the fields of intellectual property law, information technology law, or digital law (IP/IT/Digital Law).
The IP&IT LAW–2026 competition and the selection of its winners are governed by the Regulations for the 11th All-Russian Youth Competition on Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law, under the supervision of the organizing committee. All information about the competition can be found online.
