India Takes Global IP Centerstage: Justice Prathiba Singh to Lead WIPO Judges Board

In a significant global recognition of India’s growing influence in the domain of intellectual property law, Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court has been appointed Chair of the Advisory Board of Judges of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for the 2025–2027 term. 

Image Source: hughes.cam.ac.uk

Her appointment marks a historic milestone--not only for the Indian judiciary but also for global judicial collaboration on IP law and innovation policy.

Justice Singh, a formidable force in India’s legal and academic IP ecosystem, brings to this role a deep understanding of both international legal frameworks and grassroots implementation challenges. 

Her elevation as Chair comes at a critical juncture when the global IP landscape is being reshaped by emerging technologies, data sovereignty debates, AI governance, and traditional knowledge protection--areas in which Justice Singh has consistently been an intellectual leader.

A graduate of the University Law College in Bengaluru and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge (on a prestigious Cambridge Commonwealth Trust scholarship), Justice Singh has had a trailblazing career. 

Before joining the bench, she was one of India’s leading IP lawyers, known for her litigation expertise, academic writing, and policy work. As a practitioner, she advised multiple parliamentary committees on landmark legislations, including the Copyright Amendment Act (2012) and reforms to the Patents Act. 

She also played a pivotal role in drafting India’s National Intellectual Property Rights Policy in 2014.

Justice Singh’s advocacy was instrumental in strengthening India’s IP infrastructure. She filed a writ petition that led to the establishment of a permanent office for the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) in Delhi--a long-pending institutional demand. 

Her leadership extended beyond India through her role as president of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association, and her contributions continue to shape jurisprudence on IP rights in India’s rapidly digitizing economy.

At WIPO, she will now chair the Advisory Board of Judges, a high-level international forum that offers strategic guidance on judicial training, policy harmonization, and dispute resolution. 

With WIPO administering 26 international IP treaties, including the Madrid System for trademarks, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and the Hague System for industrial designs, Justice Singh’s new role is vital to global efforts to streamline and democratize IP systems.

Her appointment also comes as WIPO begins implementing its “New Renaissance” framework--a vision to expand accessibility, equity, and resilience across the world’s IP regimes. 

Notably, the WIPO Traditional Knowledge Division--focused on protecting indigenous knowledge, cultural expressions, and biodiversity--aligns well with India’s long-standing advocacy in global negotiations. 

Justice Singh is expected to bring new momentum to these conversations, reinforcing the voice of the Global South in multilateral fora.