AVINYA 3.0 Cross continental conference ; organised by School of Law and Governance in collaboration with Institution Innovation Council, Department of Physical Education, and NIPAM.

The School of Law and Governance in collaboration with The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), the Department of Physical Education, and the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM), inaugurated AVINYA 3.0. This cross-continental conference revolved around the theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!” to examine how intellectual property (IP) underpins the global sports industry. Held under the patronage of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) K. N. Singh, the event brought together international experts to explore the connections between law, technology, and athletic performance. The session opened with leadership addresses that set a strategic tone for the day. Prof. Dr. Venktesh Singh, President of IIC at CUSB, emphasized that a developed economy requires strong IP consciousness in sports. Building on this, Prof. Dr. Ashok Kumar, Dean of the School of Law and Governance, presented the concept note and underlined the urgent need for structured engagement with sports law across Asia. Prof. Usha Tiwari, Head of the Department of Physical Education and a key organizer, highlighted the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration between physical education and legal frameworks to safeguard sporting innovation.

As discussions progressed, speakers explored sports as complex commercial ecosystems. Prof. Sameek Sen (WBNUJS) contrasted India’s reactive IP framework with proactive, event-specific legislation used globally to prevent ambush marketing. From a technological perspective, Prof. Hayri Ertan (Turkey) shared biomechanical research on Olympic archers , while Prof. Subhrajit Chanda (Jindal Global Law School) raised questions regarding the ownership of AI-generated data and athlete “digital twins” . Adding an economic dimension, Dr. Gururaj Devarhubli and Dr. Chandrakant Dheeman noted that IP acts as the invisible engine driving billions in revenue through broadcasting rights, equipment patents like the Nike Vaporfly, and merchandising.

The conference also addressed pressing challenges and mapped out a future direction. Chief Guest Prof. (Dr.) Pushpinder Singh Gill, vice chancellor, Maharaj Bhupinder Singh Sports University, Punjab emphasized the importance of swift legal remedies, such as John Doe orders, to tackle illegal streaming and piracy in real time. He further advocated for simpler, affordable IP systems to support grassroots innovators. Guest of Honor Dr. Indu Mazumdar, Dean, School of Physical Education, ITM University Gwalior added a vital perspective, explaining how athletes today are not just competitors but brands in their own right, with image rights extending even to personal elements like signature celebrations and tattoos. She reinforced the economic dimension of the sector, noting how IP protection sustains the business of sports through broadcasting and licensing. The event concluded with a strong call for a unified national framework for sports-related IP in India. In the closing vote of thanks by Dr. Sunaina, participants recognized that the future of sports depends on how effectively intellectual property is managed and protected.