EIFL is lending its support to the first national essay competition in Nepal on IP (Intellectual Property) and development. The competition is being launched on World IP Day through social media, distribution of printed materials and an advert on the national radio station, Radio Thaha Sanchar.

The essay competition, that is open to students in Nepal taking courses in areas such as law, business, arts, health, social science and human rights, aims to explore the relationship between IP, human rights and development.

The competition is organized by Pratyush Nath Upreti, Upreti & Associates in Kathmandu. It is sponsored by Teresa Hackett, EIFL’s Copyright and Libraries Programme Manager thanks to a Flash Grant received from the Shuttleworth Foundation in November 2015.

“I’m proud to support the first essay competition in Nepal on IP and development,” says Teresa Hackett. “The competition is the brainchild of Pratyush Nath Upreti, a bright young lawyer with an activist streak and a keen awareness of the challenges facing Nepal,” continued Teresa. “It’s a great opportunity to start building a knowledge base among the next generation of leaders towards openness in IP policy and law to meet the challenges ahead.”

“Nepal is in the midst of a political transition”, says Pratyush Nath Upreti. “With a newly drafted Constitution, Nepal needs to focus on strengthening economic development. A balanced IP system will play an important role in this development. My hope for the competition”, continues Pratyush, “is to generate real interest and debate among students across the country in how to achieve this. I can’t be thankful enough to Teresa for helping to kickstart this initiative, that I hope will carry forward into the future.”