International Trademark Association Announces 2026 Latin American IP Moot Court Competition Winners

Team from Universidad de las Américas Win the Sixth Edition of the Annual Competition

New York, New York—November 3, 2026—The International Trademark Association (INTA) has concluded its sixth annual Latin America Intellectual Property (IP) Moot Court Competition. Students from Universidad de las Américas (UDLA) in Ecuador won first place.

Co-organized with the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI) and the Court of Justice of the Andean Community (Tribunal de Justicia de la Comunidad Andina, TJCA), the Competition gives law students in the region a forum to strengthen the written and oral advocacy skills needed for future careers in IP. Through that experience, students explore key issues in trademark law, unfair competition, and Andean Community law.

This year’s Competition was the largest to date, with 105 admitted teams representing more than 70 public and private universities across 12 jurisdictions. Compared with 2025, the number of participating teams grew by nearly 50 percent and the number of participating universities by 40 percent, reflecting the Competition’s momentum and expanding reach across the region.

The final round of oral arguments concluded on October 30. The winning team from UDLA comprised team leader Julián Bohórquez Gamba and team member Francisco Xavier Acosta Yandún.

Students argued a fictitious case before a Colombian court involving an unauthorized energy drink advertising campaign linked to the national team’s participation in a global football (soccer) tournament. Acting for the tournament organizer, its official apparel manufacturer, and a star player, the Colombian national football association challenged a campaign featuring a player look-alike in a yellow jersey, a special-edition yellow can, ticket sweepstakes, and a loyalty program offering official jerseys; the company neither claimed nor disclaimed an affiliation with the tournament.

The case raised questions of trademark infringement, including color and shape marks; unfair competition and free riding on another’s reputation; ambush marketing; protection of the player’s name, nickname, and image; and whether the national court was required to seek a TJCA preliminary interpretation under Andean Community Decision 486.

Teams first drafted a complaint on behalf of the claimants. Those advancing to the next phase prepared an answer on behalf of the energy drink company, and the highest-ranked teams progressed to the oral rounds.

“Our approach was built on arguing both sides of the case. As claimants, we focused on trademark infringement, likelihood of confusion and association, and unfair advantage taken of another’s reputation. When defending the respondent, we had to question our own arguments and study the differences between the signs, the limits of trademark protection and the legitimate use of third-party marks for informational purposes,” said Mr. Bohórquez Gamba and Mr. Acosta Yandún. “We prepared for the oral rounds through mock hearings, both virtual and in person, switching roles, which helped us sharpen our arguments, anticipate the tribunal’s questions and, above all, strengthen our rebuttals and surrebuttals.”

“Our analysis of well-known trademarks deepened our understanding of the principles of territoriality and specialty and taught us that a mark’s well-known status does not make every use of it an infringement. Being able to defend both positions was probably the most valuable lesson we took away from the experience,” added said Mr. Bohórquez Gamba and Mr. Acosta Yandún.

The winning team will receive a US $3,000 award from ASIPI and INTA. Additional benefits provided by the organizing institutions include registration for INTA’s 2027 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, and networking opportunities with IP professionals.

“In just six editions, this Competition has become the largest IP moot court in Latin America, and every year it reminds me why this work matters,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. “What moves me most this year is not only how many students took part, but where they came from. Seeing universities from Trujillo and Arequipa reach the very top of the rankings tells us that IP is no longer a discipline confined to a few capital cities. It is taking root in new places and new communities, among students who will shape how brands and innovation are protected across the region. To every participant: You are the future of our profession, and we look forward to welcoming you as colleagues.”

“It is an honor for ASIPI to support, together with the Court of Justice of the Andean Community and INTA, an initiative that each year brings together the most talented students in the region,” said ASIPI President Matías Noetinger. “This Competition is an invaluable learning experience. It gives them a real, concrete setting in which to test, in real time, their legal knowledge, their analytical skills, and their ability to argue and persuade before practitioners and judges. The participation of more than one hundred teams representing 70 universities from 12 countries confirms the growing interest of new generations in IP, and it commits us to keep fostering spaces for excellence in legal education.”

“The Latin American Moot Court Competition on Intellectual Property Law is an excellent initiative co-organized by ASIPI, INTA, and the Andean Court of Justice (ACJ). It not only allows students to strengthen their legal knowledge and litigation skills but also helps promote awareness of Andean law and foster regional integration. We are delighted to see the tremendous growth the competition has achieved, reaching a record number of participants in this edition,” said TJCA Judge Rodrigo Javier Garrón Bozo.

Mr. Noetinger, INTA Director of Policy Development José Luis Londoño, and Judge Garrón Bozo judged the final round of oral arguments.

Twenty seven INTA members volunteered as judges during the written and oral phases of the Competition. They are: Johanna Aguirre Guerrero, Ricardo Enrique Antequera, Roberto Arochi, Carlos Auza, Alberto R. Berton-Moreno Jr., Marcela Bolland González, César Burgoa, Leandro Corral, Jimena Cuevas Bautista, Carolina del Río, Elsy Elena Durán, María Fabiana Fernández, José Octavio Guerrero Martínez, Alfredo Gusmán, Ignacia Leria, Mercedes Londoño, Paulina Maturana, Patricio Murphy, Nancy Nufio, Natalia Paladino, Montserrat Puente, María Victoria Salcedo, Virginia Servent Palmieri, Astrid Torres, Francisco Tschen, Ninoshka Urrutia, and Mariana Volpi.

ASIP, INTA, and the TJCA thank the judges, faculty advisors, and participating universities for their commitment to developing the next generation of IP professionals in Latin America.

Learn more about the Latin American IP Moot Court Competition.

About the International Trademark Association:
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and intellectual property (IP) professionals committed to elevating the understanding of and respect for IP rights to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and societal transformation. Members include more than 6,700 organizations, representing more than 39,000 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 167 jurisdictions, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and representatives in Nairobi and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

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