Historic First: Delhi HC's Justice Prathiba Singh to Chair WIPO's Global Judicial Advisory Board

NEW DELHI/GENEVA – In a landmark development for India's role in global legal governance, Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court has been appointed Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) prestigious Advisory Board of Judges. The appointment, effective for the 2025–2027 term, marks the first time an Indian judge has been selected to lead this influential international body, underscoring the growing global recognition of India’s judicial expertise in the complex and evolving field of intellectual property (IP).

The announcement from WIPO in Geneva has been met with commendation from Indian officials, who have lauded it as a significant milestone. India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations at Geneva celebrated the appointment as “a proud moment for India,” highlighting her new role in guiding global judicial engagement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal echoed these sentiments, stating, "This prestigious appointment is a moment of great pride for Bharat, reflecting the nation's growing global stature in the field of Intellectual Property. It will further strengthen India's engagement with @WIPO, contributing to a resilient and innovation-driven IP ecosystem worldwide."

As Chair, Justice Singh will lead a distinguished ten-member board of international judges, providing strategic guidance and direction to WIPO's work with judiciaries across the globe. This role places her at the forefront of shaping international judicial dialogue, developing best practices, and enhancing the capacity of courts worldwide to adjudicate complex IP disputes.

The Significance of the WIPO Advisory Board of Judges

The WIPO Advisory Board of Judges is a crucial component of the WIPO Judicial Institute, a global hub for judicial training and cooperation in IP matters. The Board's primary function is to advise WIPO on its judicial engagement strategies, ensuring that its programs and resources are aligned with the practical needs of judges across diverse legal traditions and jurisdictions.

Members, who serve in their personal capacities, are selected for their extensive experience and deep knowledge of IP law. They play a pivotal role in facilitating transnational judicial dialogue, a critical element in harmonizing the application of IP law in an increasingly interconnected world. The Board's work is instrumental in building a shared understanding of international IP norms and addressing emerging challenges posed by rapid technological advancements.

For the 2025–2027 term, Justice Singh will lead a panel of esteemed jurists from varied jurisdictions, including Canada, China, Egypt, France, Kazakhstan, Panama, South Korea, Tanzania, and the European Union (represented by a judge from Luxembourg). This diversity ensures that the Board’s guidance reflects a truly global perspective on IP adjudication.

A Career Defined by IP Excellence

Justice Singh's appointment is the culmination of a distinguished career dedicated to the field of intellectual property, both as a leading litigator and a trailblazing judge. Before her elevation to the bench in 2017, she was a formidable presence in IP litigation, appearing regularly before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, and various specialized IP tribunals. As the Managing Partner of Singh & Singh, she became the first IP practitioner to be designated a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in 2013.

Since joining the judiciary, Justice Singh has authored several seminal judgments in patent enforcement, copyright protection, and trademark law, often balancing the need for innovation with public interest considerations. Her judicial philosophy has been particularly noted in cases involving pharmaceutical patents and digital content rights.

A key highlight of her judicial tenure was her instrumental role in establishing India's first dedicated Intellectual Property Division (IPD) at the Delhi High Court. Serving as its inaugural Chairperson and Presiding Judge in 2021-22, she spearheaded this landmark institutional reform aimed at streamlining and specializing IP adjudication. She was also central to the drafting of its foundational procedural rules, including the Delhi High Court IP Rights Division Rules, 2022 , and the Patent Suits Rules, 2022 . This initiative has positioned the Delhi High Court as a leading global forum for IP dispute resolution.

An alumna of University Law College, Bangalore, and the University of Cambridge (LL.M.), her contributions have been widely recognized. A scholarship was instituted in her name at Cambridge in 2013, and she was named one of the "50 Most Influential People in IP" globally in both 2021 and 2022.

Agenda for the Future: AI, Digital Rights, and Global Collaboration

Justice Singh's leadership of the WIPO Advisory Board comes at a critical juncture for intellectual property law. The proliferation of artificial intelligence, the complexities of data rights, and the challenges of cross-border enforcement demand sophisticated and coordinated judicial responses.

Under her chairmanship, the Board is expected to focus on several key priorities:

* Advancing Jurisprudence on AI and Digital IP: Promoting dialogue and sharing best practices among judges on the novel legal questions raised by AI-generated works, data ownership, and digital platforms.

* Enhancing Cross-Border Judicial Cooperation: Strengthening frameworks for judicial training and facilitating the exchange of case law to foster greater consistency in IP adjudication internationally.

* Expanding Access to Legal Resources: Supporting the expansion of the WIPO Lex-Judgements Database, with a particular focus on including more landmark decisions from developing countries.

* Supporting Women in IP: Championing initiatives to support the role and visibility of women in the IP legal and judicial fields.

Her concurrent role as Co-Chair of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Working Group on Regulatory Considerations for AI in Health provides her with a unique, cross-disciplinary perspective that will be invaluable in guiding discussions on the intersection of technology, health, and IP.

Implications for India and the Global Legal Community

This appointment is more than a personal accolade; it is a powerful affirmation of the Indian judiciary's growing influence on the world stage. It acknowledges the sophistication of Indian jurisprudence in handling complex IP matters and signals India's readiness to take an active role in shaping global IP governance frameworks.

For legal practitioners in India and across the region, Justice Singh’s leadership at WIPO will likely enhance the visibility and influence of judgments from Indian courts, particularly the Delhi High Court's IP Division. Her role will facilitate a deeper exchange of jurisprudential insights between India and other major economies, reinforcing the global relevance of domestic legal developments.

As the world grapples with creating an IP system that is both fair and efficient—one that encourages innovation while ensuring equitable access—the guidance of experienced judicial leaders is indispensable. With Justice Prathiba M. Singh at the helm of its Advisory Board of Judges, WIPO is well-positioned to strengthen the global judicial architecture required to meet the intellectual property challenges of the 21st century.