National Seminar by NUALS, Kochi

About NUALS

The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), located in Kochi, Kerala, is a distinguished institution for legal education in India. NUALS boasts a state-of-the-art campus equipped with modern infrastructure designed to facilitate a dynamic and enriching learning experience.

Established in 2005 by the Kerala State Legislature, NUALS has rapidly gained recognition for its innovative curriculum that seamlessly integrates traditional legal doctrines with contemporary global challenges.

Committed to the advancement and dissemination of legal knowledge, NUALS remains steadfast in its mission to produce exceptional legal professionals who will contribute meaningfully to the nation. Through its unwavering dedication to excellence, the university has firmly established itself as a leading centre for legal studies in India.

About CIPR

The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi established the ‘Centre for Intellectual Property Rights’ (CIPR) to promote Intellectual Property awareness among students, and to encourage research in the emerging arena of Intellectual property.

The Centre fosters R&D activities that blend with its central mission of intellectual pursuit as well as link related inter-disciplinary involvement to develop an intellectual law-database which would benefit the nation at large. The main objective of the Centre is to evolve into a flagship institution of intellectual property law studies in India.

The twin primary goals would be to enhance research and expertise pro-actively in novel and emerging fields of intellectual property law, as well as become a source of information and expertise on the subject to stakeholders such as inventors, research institutions, universities, various innovative industries etc.

About the Seminar

Today, the intersection of music, therapy, and mental health represents a potent bio-cognitive frontier where rhythmic and melodic interventions serve as non-invasive tools for neurological and emotional regulation.

As music therapy gains recognition as a formal clinical intervention, the law plays a critical role in establishing standards of care and scope of practice to ensure that therapeutic musical applications are administered by accredited professionals, thereby protecting patient rights and ensuring clinical efficacy.

Furthermore, the legal landscape must navigate the complexities of Public Performance Rights and Mechanical Licensing when copyrighted works are used in therapeutic settings, balancing the Fair dealing and other exemptions with the need to compensate creators.

Themes and Sub-Themes

• Theme 1: Sonic Civilisations – Legal Histories of Indian Musical Traditions
  • Emergence of Hindu classical music, Carnatic music, and the Vedic chant tradition
  • Gharana vs. Sampradaya systems: lineage, ownership, and transmission
  • Music as Traditional Cultural Expression (TCE) under IP law (WIPO frameworks)
  • Community rights vs. individual authorship
  • Raga as a Living Framework
  • Tala and Temporal Order – Rhythmic cycles as intellectual property or shared grammar?
  • “The Sonic Ancestry” – Carnatic music, devotional origins, structured compositional forms, and the raga–tala system
• Theme 2: Raga, Rhythm, and the Brain – Law Meets Neuroscience
  • Raga–emotion relationship
  • Regulation of “therapeutic claims” under consumer protection law & misleading advertisement standards
  • Neuroscientific validation of music therapy – applicability of clinical standards and liability
  • Music as productivity enhancer in workplaces – labour law dimensions, employer liability, and occupational health norms
  • Commercialisation of “raga therapy” – medical vs. wellness distinction
  • Regulation under health ministry guidelines
  • “Ragas as productivity enhancer” – ancient music heritage bridged to modern neuroscience
• Theme 3: The Creator’s Shield – Copyright, Culture, and Control
  • Authorship in classical compositions; originality doctrine under Copyright Act, 1957
  • Performers’ rights (musicians, vocalists) – Section 38 & neighbouring rights framework
  • Royalty and moral rights enforcement
  • Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) – Comparative global frameworks (WIPO, UNESCO)
  • Derivative works & adaptations – Where does inspiration end and infringement begin?
  • Substantial similarity tests in music
  • The role of law in creating and limiting access to musical works
• Theme 4: Digital Soundscapes – Access, Fair Use, and Therapeutic Justice
  • Use of music in therapy apps and meditation platforms
  • Licensing requirements vs. copyright exceptions – Section 52 of Copyright Act, 1957
  • Whether “therapy” can fit within existing copyright exceptions
  • Algorithmic access (Spotify, YouTube, etc.) – Competition law and digital monopolies
  • Cultural access inequality – Open access vs. proprietary therapeutic sound
  • Public interest vs. IP protection debate – Possibility of a “therapeutic use exception”
  • “Digital Disruption” – Use of music for mental health related therapeutic and other measures
• Theme 5: Harmonising the Mind – Regulating Music Therapy as Healthcare
  • What constitutes “music therapy” vs. recreational use
  • Need for certification, licensing, and ethical guidelines
  • Integration into mental healthcare frameworks
  • Ethics and malpractice liability – Negligence standards in therapeutic interventions
  • Informed consent requirements
  • Regulatory challenges in India and comparison with regulated professions

Registration Fees

• Academicians: Rs. 1000
• Research Scholars: Rs. 750
• Students: Rs. 500

Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts of 300–500 words outlining the argument, methodology, and contribution
• Full chapters: 8,000–10,000 words; original and unpublished work only.
• Style Guidelines: Font -Times New Roman, Font Size-12, Line spacing-1.5, Alignment-Justified
• Citation standards- Citations must conform to standards laid down in the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (4th ed., 2012).
• All submissions must be in (.docx) format

Submission Procedure

Submissions shall be mailed to ciprseminar@gmail.com.

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission: 10th June 2026
• Communication of acceptance: 15th June 2026
• Full Paper Submission: 12th July 2026

Contact Details

For queries, please reach out to ciprseminar@gmail.com.