International Trademark Association Announces 2023 Asia-Pacific Moot Court Winners

New York, New York—September 7, 2023—The International Trademark Association (INTA) has announced the winners of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Moot Court Competition, which took place in Singapore from September 1 to 2.

The winning team came from the National University of Singapore, with team leader Ling Sean Yi  supported by Marie Leo Kai Xin, Tan De-Reng, and Yuan Yang. Second place was awarded to the SASTRA University School of Law team (Tamilnadu, India), led by Aaryyan Aathreya, and third place went to the University of Punjab Jhelum Campus team (Punjab, Pakistan), led by Moeed Ahmed.

INTA began hosting moot court competitions 32 years ago when it held the first Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition, in honor of Saul Lefkowitz, whose distinguished career was devoted to the development of trademark and unfair competition law. More than three decades later, it is one of three such moot court competitions hosted by INTA in the United States, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asia-Pacific Moot Court Competition provides the much-anticipated and appreciated opportunity for law students to step into a mock courtroom experience; interact with and learn from a panel of judges; and network with peers and leaders in the global IP community, including with experienced attorneys, judges, and future attorneys from around the world.

Participating teams in this year’s moot court argued the fictional case of Blue Fin Surf Sports, Inc. v. Skuyler Finn Enterprises LLC and Skuyler Finn, a dispute about surfboards and snowboards developed by young women athlete-entrepreneurs. The arguments centered on foundational trademark issues of priority, tacking, zone of expansion, and likelihood of confusion.

“Participating in a moot court competition is highly beneficial for law students as it offers a practical platform to hone their legal research and advocacy skills, preparing them for real-world legal practice. It also provides an opportunity to develop critical thinking and public speaking abilities, which are essential for success in the legal profession,” said Max Ng (Gateway Law Corporation, Singapore), who serves on INTA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and was one of the moot court judges.

“These moot court competitions also often simulate rea lifel legal scenarios, enhancing participants’ understanding of the law and courtroom procedures. I was very happy to be part of the project team, and would volunteer to judge again if invited,” added Mr. Ng.

Students on winning teams received complementary INTA student memberships. The prize for Best Team, which received the highest overall oral argument scores, is US $3,000 and second place winners received US $1,500; the prize for the winner of the final oral argument is US $1,000; and runner-up in the final oral argument will receive US $500.

“The 2023 Asia-Pacific Moot Court Competition has been extremely enriching. Because the case on which the moot court was based moot was set in a fictional jurisdiction, we had to work within the boundaries of a limited, hypothetical statute while bearing in mind authorities from all over the world. This was especially challenging but has allowed us to broaden our horizons beyond any local paradigm,” said Mr. Yi on behalf of his team. “We would like to thank INTA for their exceptional hospitality and for giving us the opportunity to prepare and present our cases before such a decorated bench.”

INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo offered his congratulations to all of the participants, especially the winners, noting, “The preparation and skill required of these students was of the highest caliber, and they met these standards with hard work and artful oral presentation skills. We see in all of them the future of IP law and know our industry is in very good hands!”

About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands. Members include nearly 6,000 organizations, representing more than 33,500 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 181 countries, 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, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and representatives in Amman, Nairobi, and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Bogner
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