About the Panel Discussion
The School of Law, Mahindra University along with Knowledge Partners LawNK Partners is delighted to announce the celebration of World IP Day on 26th April 2026. The theme for the day, as announced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”
This theme highlights how intellectual property lies at the heart of a rapidly evolving sports ecosystem shaped by technology and innovation. Today, innovation in sports extends far beyond physical performance to include AI-driven analytics, smart wearables, immersive fan engagement, esports, and digital broadcasting.
Intellectual property frameworks play a critical role in protecting these advancements ranging from patented technologies and design innovations to trademarks, copyrights, and personality rights linked to athletes and sporting events. At the same time, the growing reliance on data and algorithmic systems raises complex questions around ownership, access, and fair monetization.
As the boundaries between sports, technology, and entertainment continue to blur, the panel will reflect on how IP law can adapt to foster innovation while ensuring inclusivity, ethical use and long-term sustainability of the sports industry.
Theme for World IP Day 2026
During a high-stakes cricket match in the IPL, a star batter’s every move was tracked in real time by wearable sensors and AI algorithms that predicted his fatigue levels and injury risk with uncanny accuracy. What seemed like a breakthrough in performance science quickly sparked controversy-Who owned the data generated from the athlete’s body?
The team, the tech company that developed the analytics tool,or the player himself? This real-world dilemma captures the essence of modern sports innovation, where artificial intelligence is transforming the game far beyond the scoreboard.
In alignment with WIPO’s official 2026 theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”, Mahindra University (MU) has curated a dynamic panel discussion titled “Beyond the Scoreboard: IP and the Future of Sports Innovation”. The session explores how intellectual property is reshaping the entire sports ecosystem in an era increasingly driven by artificial intelligence.
From AI-powered performance analytics and injury prediction tools to immersive fan engagement technologies, virtual broadcasting, and digital twins of athletes, innovation in sports is no longer confined to the field of play. These advancements raise critical questions around ownership of athlete-generated data, rights in algorithmic outputs, authorship of AI-created content, and the commercialisation of an athlete’s digital identity and likeness.
As leagues, technology companies, athletes, and broadcasters collaborate more closely, intellectual property emerges as a vital strategic tool not only to protect and monetise these breakthroughs but also to regulate their ethical deployment.
The discussion will examine how existing legal frameworks can evolve rapidly enough to match technological change, while promoting fair competition, responsible data use, athlete rights, and the sustainable growth of the global sports industry.
The panel promises to bring together leading voices from academia and industry to unpack these intersections. It highlights the delicate balance between encouraging innovation through strong IP protection and preventing monopolistic practices or exploitation in an AI-driven sports landscape.
By addressing these forward-looking issues, the event aims to equip stakeholders with insights that ensure technology enhances rather than undermines the spirit of sport.
Panellists for the Session
The panel will consist of the following three experts:
Professor V.K. Unni is a Professor of Public Policy and Management at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, with a Ph.D. in Intellectual Property Law from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He has extensive experience in teaching and research in intellectual property, technology law, and regulatory frameworks, and has previously taught at NALSAR.
His work has been widely cited by global institutions such as the European Commission and the International Telecommunication Union. He has held prestigious fellowships, including the Thomas Edison Innovation Fellowship at George Mason University and the Max Planck India Fellowship, and has been a visiting scholar at the University of California, Davis.
A sought-after speaker, Prof. Unni regularly engages with leading global institutions like the Max Planck Institute and UNCTAD, and contributes to international journals as an editor and reviewer. His work focuses on the intersection of intellectual property, innovation policy, and business regulation.
Mr. Abhinav Shrivastava is a Partner at LawNK, a boutique law firm in Bengaluru, specialising in sports, media, technology, and intellectual property law.
He is a transaction and advisory lawyer with expertise in sports law (including athlete contracts, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights), privacy and data protection, and emerging issues at the intersection of technology and IP, such as GenAI and copyright.
A graduate of NALSAR University of Law and King’s College London, he has received recognition for his work in data protection. He frequently teaches, speaks at conferences, and provides commentary on developments in gaming, media, and technology law.
His practice involves advising leading athletes, startups, and multinational clients, combining practical structuring with strong regulatory insights.
Professor Lovely Dasgupta is an academic with over sixteen years of teaching and research experience, and an alumna of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), where she completed her LL.M., M.Phil., and Ph.D.
She teaches Contract and Commercial Laws at the undergraduate level and Competition Law at the postgraduate level, and is among the first Indian academics to introduce a formal course on Sports Law. Her research primarily focuses on Sports Law and Competition Law, and she has authored four books in these areas.
She has also contributed significantly to scholarship on legal education, with her work being widely cited by leading scholars. Currently, she heads the Centre for Sports Law and Policy at NUJS and is the only Indian member of the International Network of Doping Research at Aarhus University, Denmark.
Who can Participate?
The event is open to all students, scholars and faculty members. Kindly register your details through the Google Form provided below.
The event information will be shared with you only upon successful registration.
Deadline
The deadline for registration is 24.04.2026, 23:59 PM.
How to Register?
Interested participants can register using the link provided at the end of this post.
NOTE: ONLY REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTEND THE EVENT WILL BE PROVIDED E-CERTIFICATES.
Event Details
- Date: 26.04.2026
- Time: 4:00PM onwards
- Venue: Online; Zoom
Contact
- Latika Choudhary, PhD.; Assistant Professor of Law, School of Law, Mahindra University, Hyderabad
- Email: latika.choudhary@mahindrauniversity.edu.in
- Contact Number: +918979009887
Click here to register.
