Delhi HC's Justice Prathiba Singh to Chair WIPO Advisory Board of Judges

In a landmark development for the global intellectual property (IP) community and a significant moment for the Indian judiciary, Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court has been appointed as the Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Advisory Board of Judges. Her term is set for 2025–2027, marking the first time an Indian jurist has been selected to lead this prestigious international body.

The appointment has been widely celebrated, with India’s United Nations Mission in Geneva hailing it as “a proud moment for India!” In a statement, the Mission highlighted the gravity of the role, noting, “As chair, she leads a group of international judges, providing guidance and direction to WIPO’s work with judiciaries in the field of #IP (Intellectual Property)!”

This appointment is not merely ceremonial; it places an Indian judge at the helm of a critical advisory body that shapes WIPO's engagement with judiciaries worldwide. It signifies a global acknowledgment of India's maturing IP ecosystem and the sophisticated jurisprudence emanating from its courts, particularly the Delhi High Court, which has become a hub for complex IP litigation.

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The Role of WIPO and its Advisory Board

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information, and cooperation. Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

Within this framework, the WIPO Judicial Institute works to strengthen dialogue, share best practices, and build capacity among judges who adjudicate IP disputes. The Advisory Board of Judges is a cornerstone of this effort. Comprised of distinguished jurists from diverse legal systems and traditions, the Board provides high-level strategic guidance to the Judicial Institute. According to WIPO, "Members of the Advisory Board serve in their personal capacity for a defined term." The Board’s insights ensure that WIPO’s programs remain relevant and responsive to the evolving challenges faced by national and regional courts in an era of rapid technological and economic change.

As Chair, Justice Singh will lead a board of nine other eminent judges from Panama, China, Kazakhstan, Egypt, France, Canada, Tanzania, the European Union (represented by a judge from Luxembourg), and South Korea. Her leadership will be pivotal in steering WIPO’s judicial engagement initiatives and fostering a more cohesive global approach to IP adjudication.

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A Profile of Judicial and Legal Excellence: Justice Prathiba M. Singh

Justice Singh's journey to this global leadership position is built on a long and distinguished career marked by deep expertise in intellectual property law, both as a litigator and a judge.

Formative Years and Legal Practice

After obtaining her law degree from University Law College, Bangalore, and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, Justice Singh began her legal practice in 1991. She quickly established herself as a leading IP practitioner, becoming the Managing Partner at Singh & Singh Advocates. Over the decades, she argued landmark cases before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, and the now-defunct IP Appellate Board.

Her acumen was formally recognized in 2013 when she was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court—the first IP practitioner to receive this distinction. In the same year, her alma mater, the University of Cambridge, established the "Prathiba M. Singh Scholarship" for LL.M. students in acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions to the field.

Transition to the Bench and Judicial Innovations

Elevated as a permanent judge of the Delhi High Court in 2017, Justice Singh brought her specialized expertise to the bench. Her tenure has been transformative for IP jurisprudence in India. A key achievement was her leadership in the establishment of the Delhi High Court’s first-ever Intellectual Property Division (IPD). Serving as its Chairperson and Presiding Judge during the 2021–22 session, she was instrumental in drafting its foundational rules, including the Delhi High Court IP Rights Division Rules and the Patent Suits Rules, 2022 . These initiatives have streamlined IP litigation, enhanced efficiency, and solidified the Delhi High Court's reputation as a premier forum for resolving IP disputes.

Her scholarly contributions are also significant. Justice Singh authored "Prathiba M. Singh on Patent Law," a peer-reviewed two-volume treatise considered the first comprehensive commentary on the subject in India. Her global influence has been consistently recognized; she was named among the "50 Most Influential People in IP" by Managing IP in both 2021 and 2022.

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The Mandate Ahead: Priorities for 2025-2027

Under Justice Singh’s chairmanship, the Advisory Board is expected to focus on some of the most pressing issues at the intersection of law, technology, and commerce. The key priorities identified for her term include:

1. Advancing AI and Digital IP Jurisprudence: The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies presents novel and complex challenges for IP law. The Board will likely guide WIPO in developing resources and training for judges on issues such as AI-generated works, data ownership, and liability in the digital ecosystem.
   
   
2. Fostering Cross-Border Judicial Collaboration: Encouraging the exchange of case law and judicial training across different jurisdictions is crucial for promoting consistency and predictability in IP enforcement.
   
   
3. Supporting Women in IP: A focus on promoting the role of women in IP law and the judiciary will be a key agenda item, reflecting a broader global push for gender diversity in leadership roles.
   
   
4. Expanding the WIPO Lex-Judgements Database: The Board will work to enhance this critical resource by incorporating more judicial decisions, particularly from developing countries, making comparative legal analysis more accessible to judges worldwide.

Beyond her role at WIPO, Justice Singh also co-chairs the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Working Group on Regulatory Considerations on AI in Health, demonstrating her versatility in navigating complex techno-legal domains. This dual expertise in IP and AI health regulation positions her uniquely to lead discussions on the intricate legal frameworks required for future innovations.

Legal Implications and Significance for India

Justice Singh’s appointment is a powerful validation of the Indian judiciary's capability to contribute meaningfully to the evolution of international legal norms. For Indian legal professionals, it signals that expertise honed in Indian courts is recognized and valued on the world stage.

This leadership role provides India with an influential voice in shaping global IP policy and judicial practices. It ensures that the perspectives of developing nations are represented in high-level discussions, particularly on topics like access to medicines, traditional knowledge, and the equitable sharing of benefits from innovation.

The appointment is expected to catalyze further development of IP law in India, encouraging deeper academic research, more specialized judicial training, and greater participation by Indian lawyers and jurists in international legal forums. For the global legal community, her chairmanship promises a period of dynamic leadership focused on making the international IP system more responsive, inclusive, and prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.