The Moot Court Organized by AMCA and AIPR

The Association of Intellectual Property Lawyers (AIPR), with the support of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia (AMCA) Foundation, organized a moot court competition dedicated to intellectual property law, the oral rounds of which took place on April 13–14.

The aim of the moot court was to deepen the knowledge of law students from Armenian universities in the fields of intellectual property law and commercial arbitration. More than 30 students from 7 universities across Armenia participated in the competition. In the final round, teams from Yerevan State University and the French University in Armenia competed and ultimately shared first place based on the overall results.

Tatevik Matinyan, Director of AMCA, noted:
“The Arbitration and Mediation Center of Armenia, emphasizing the importance of promoting education in the field of arbitration and fostering interest among future professionals, continues to support the organization of arbitration-related moot courts—this time at the national level.

It is noteworthy that this year the moot court is conducted under AMCA Arbitration Rules, which provides a valuable opportunity to become familiar with them and apply them in practice.”

This year’s moot court was dedicated to some of the most topical issues in the field of intellectual property, particularly the relationship between artificial intelligence and copyright, as well as related legal regulations. Given the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks in this area and the diversity of approaches within academic and professional communities regarding objects created by AI systems, teams were tasked with presenting well-reasoned arguments and analyses on still largely unregulated legal institutions and challenges.

The moot court was conducted in accordance with AMCA Arbitration Rules. During the oral rounds, participating teams presented their arguments before arbitrators representing academia, the legal profession, the judiciary, and specialized intellectual property organizations.

“This type of moot court creates a platform for students to conduct in-depth research on various issues related to intellectual property law and to present their views before leading professionals in the field. It made the competition particularly engaging, as students addressed institutions that are still subject to intense debate both in practice and in academia worldwide. We are confident that the experience gained during the moot court will contribute to the students’ future professional careers,” noted Mariam Ayvazyan, AIPR representative.

Members of the winning teams also emphasized the relevance of the topic and the value of the experience:

“I would like to thank the organizers for their high level of professionalism and for providing this opportunity. Participating in an intellectual property moot court for the first time, I can say that the experience was very successful. The topic is highly relevant today and certainly requires discussion in various settings. I am confident that every participant benefited from the moot court and that it will continue in the future,” said Hakob Petoyan, a student at the French University in Armenia.

Ara Sargsyan, a student at Yerevan State University, added:
“The moot court was a great opportunity to apply our knowledge and skills in practice. It also allowed us to interact with students from other universities in Armenia and exchange experiences. The topic was undoubtedly very relevant, especially considering that in the 21st century, with rapidly developing technologies and their application, numerous legal issues arise that require comprehensive study in order to find effective solutions.”

At the end of the moot court, certificates were also awarded as follows:

• Best Oralist: Hayarpi Mkrtchyan, Faculty of Law, Yerevan State University
• Best Teamwork: Team of the Faculty of Law, Yerevan State University
• Best Written Submission: Team of the Faculty of Law, Yerevan State University
• Best Legal Argumentation: Zaven Yervandyan, student at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University