Submission Guidelines

Blog Submission Guidelines

Intellectual Property Cell | NMIMS Bengaluru

The Blog of the Intellectual Property Cell, NMIMS Bengaluru, serves as a dynamic forum for the expression of views on contemporary issues in intellectual property law and technology law. We aim to create a resourceful destination for high-quality legal scholarship and encourage students, academicians, and legal professionals to contribute.

1. Theme & Scope

• Subject Matter: Submissions must fall within the scope of intellectual property law and/or technology law (including data privacy, AI, fintech, etc.).

• Contemporary Relevance: We prioritise posts that address current debates, recent developments, or provide novel perspectives on settled areas of law. Authors are encouraged to contribute to pre-existing literature by offering unique opinions rather than merely summarizing legal concepts.

• Consultation: If an author is unsure about the suitability of a topic, they may reach out to us at Intellectualpropertycell.sol@nmims.in for preliminary approval.

2. Submission Specifications

• Word Limit: Submissions should generally range between 800 and 1500 words (excluding footnotes). The Editorial Board reserves the right to accept pieces outside this range on a case-by-case basis.

• Title & Keywords: The title of the post must not exceed 20 words. Please provide 5 keywords relevant to the post to assist with search engine optimisation (SEO) and categorisation.

• Co-Authorship: Co-authorship is permitted for up to two authors.

• Format: All submissions must be made in MS Word format (.doc or .docx) only. PDFs will not be accepted.

3. Formatting & Citation Style

• General Formatting: The body of the manuscript should be in Times New Roman, font size 12, with 1.5 line spacing.

• Headings: We strongly recommend using subheadings to structure the post and ensure readability.

• Hyperlinks: Considering the digital nature of the platform, we prefer that sources be referenced via hyperlinks within the text wherever possible.

• Citations: When hyperlinks are insufficient or strictly necessary to cite legal authorities, authors must use footnotes (not endnotes). All citations must strictly adhere to the 20th edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

4. Review Process & Anonymity

• Blind Review: To ensure a fair review process, the manuscript itself must contain no mention of the author's identity or institutional affiliation. Please include your name and details only in the body of the email.

• Review Cycle: Each post undergoes a rigorous internal review process. The Editorial Board reserves absolute discretion to accept or reject a submission.

• Revisions: Authors may be required to alter language, clarify legal positions, or respond to reviewer comments before final publication.

5. Originality & Exclusivity

• Plagiarism: By submitting, authors confirm that the work is original and has not been plagiarised. Any form of plagiarism will lead to immediate disqualification.

• Exclusivity: Submissions must be exclusive to the IP Cell, NMIMS Bengaluru. Authors must confirm that the piece is not currently under review, consideration, or publication by any other journal, blog, or website.

6. Copyright & Republishing

• Rolling Basis: Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

• Cross-Posting: Posts published on our blog may be cross-posted or republished on other platforms, provided that:

1. The subsequent publication explicitly mentions, "This post was first published on the Blog of the Intellectual Property Cell, NMIMS Bengaluru."

2. The IP Cell is informed of the republication via email.

How to Submit: Please email your manuscripts to Intellectualpropertycell.sol@nmims.in with the subject line: "Submission for IP Cell Blog – [Topic/Title]".