Justice Prathiba M Singh of the Delhi High Court was recently inducted into the International IP Hall of Fame 2026, becoming the first Indian judge to receive such recognition for their contributions to intellectual property (IP) law..The honour was conferred at the Intellectual Property Business Congress (IPBC) Global 2026 event held in San Diego on June 16. Justice Singh was inducted alongside Italian IP practitioner Roberto Dini and late British-Australian scholar William Cornish, who was recognised posthumously.Justice Singh was recognised for her role in developing IP jurisprudence in India and for contributing to the evolution of the country’s IP framework and helping shape national IP policy. Notably, she currently serves as Chairperson of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Advisory Board of Judges..The IP Hall of Fame, instituted by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) in 2006, recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of intellectual property law and practice. Inductees are selected through a global nomination and peer-review process involving members of the IP Hall of Fame Academy, comprising leading judges, academicians and practitioners..In her acceptance speech, Justice Singh described the recognition as a “humbling experience”, noting that several authors she had studied during her legal career - such as J Thomas McCarthy, Melville Nimmer and Paul Goldstein - were among past inductees.Reflecting on India’s growing role in intellectual property, she said,"India is now a momentous country for IP. It is making tremendous strides in IP. This year we've had more than 150,000 patent applications filed in India which itself shows the kind of innovation that's taking place in India."She also highlighted the institutional developments in Indian courts, stating,"The IP divisions in the Delhi High Court and other High Courts in the country have given exclusive dedicated IP benches for dealing with IP disputes and India is the go-to IP country right now as I realize from the recent spate of SEP litigations that Indian courts are dealing and adjudicating. I do believe that my induction into the IP Hall of Fame is a recognition of India's leadership in IP."Concluding her remarks on a personal note, Justice Singh dedicated the honour to her family, colleagues and the nation, saying,"I dedicate this award to my family and to my friends. My husband Mr. Maninder Singh and my son Karmanya are here. I miss my daughter who's not here. I also dedicate this award to the Delhi High Court and to my country India.".This year’s ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the IP Hall of Fame. IAM Editor Rachel Mountain noted that over the past 20 years, the Hall of Fame has recognised individuals whose contributions have strengthened the intellectual property system, advanced innovation and inspired generations of practitioners, policymakers and business leaders.The Academy also selects the recipient of the Q Todd Dickinson Award each year, honouring exceptional contributions to the development of IP as a business asset.
