From 27^th to 28^th May 2023, the 15^th “BFSU - WANHUIDA Cup” Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition” (Moot Court Competition), which is jointly organised by the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and China Intellectual Property Society (CIPS), sponsored by Wanhuida Intellectual Property, is held virtually.

The Moot Court Competition attracts 14 competing teams from Peking University School of Transnational Law, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Southeast University, University of International Business and Economics, East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPSL), Xiangtan University, YanTai University, China Foreign Affairs University, Wuhan University, China University of Political Science and Law (CUPSL), University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the BFSU.

On Saturday May 27^th, the opening ceremony of the Moot Court Competition is held. The ceremony is hosted by Professor Mi Liang, Dean of the BFSU Law School. Guests addressing the opening ceremony include Professor Ding Hao, BFSU Vice President, Xie Xiaoyong, Vice President and Secretary General, CIPS, Qin Yuanming, Vice Director of Beijing Intellectual Property Office and Presiding Judge of IP Tribunal, Supreme People’s Court, as well as Bai Gang, Founding Partner and Management Committee Chair of Wanhuida.

Professor Ding Hao

Professor Mi Liang

Xie Xiaoyong

Qin Yuanming

Bai Gang

The debate of this year’s moot court competition focuses on unfair competition surrounding gathering big data by the platforms or technical supports renting other e-commerce accounts to users or the extraction of user data from other platforms.

Contestants and judges

After a heated contest, the team of CUPSL wins the championship, the Peking University School of Transnational Law wins the runner-up, and the BFSU and ECUPSL tie for the second runner-up.

On Sunday May 28^th, the winners of the “Best Memo Prizes”, the “Best Oralists” and the “Outstanding Oralists” are also unveiled at the closing ceremony. The ceremony is hosted by Ms. Liu Lijuan, Director of Intellectual Property Center, BFSU Law School. Professor Jiang Ge, doctoral supervisor, School of Law, Tsinghua University, on behalf of the distinguished guests serving as judges of the moot court competition, commends the outstanding performance of all the contestants. Dr. Huang Hui, Partner and Management Committee Member of Wanhuida shares his insights on the debated issue.

Professor Jiang Ge

Dr. Huang Hui

Closing ceremony

Winning teams are eligible for the cash prize offered by “Wanhuida IP Awards”, a program created by the title sponsor to commend individuals with exceptional academic achievements and profound understanding in intellectual property law. Winning teams are also offered internship opportunities at Wanhuida on a first-come, first-served basis.

The BFSU - WANHUIDA IP Moot Court Competition is the only English competition that strictly abides by the rules for international moot court and focuses on international intellectual property laws in China. Wanhuida has been its sponsor since its first competition in 2008.