Karnika bansal

In my current role, I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate law programs. I hold a PhD in Copyright Law from Swinburne University of Technology, a Master of Laws in Intellectual Property from Queensland University of Technology, and a BA LLB (Honours in Economics) from Panjab University, India.

I was admitted to the Bar Council of Delhi in 2015 and began my practicing career at an intellectual property firm in Delhi, where I advised music studios and IT companies on copyright, trademark litigation, and IP contracts before moving to Australia in 2017 for my Master's.

My research sits at the intersection of intellectual property law and emerging technology. I specialise in national and international copyright frameworks, with a particular focus on how they operate in the context of the entertainment industry. My current work examines what the growing use of generative AI means for performers: exploring questions of authorship, originality, ownership, and whether existing copyright law adequately protects those whose voices, images, and performances are increasingly at risk of replication or misappropriation. Alongside this, I research what genuine AI competency looks like for lawyers, and how legal education can equip graduates with transferable skills rather than mere tool familiarity.
I have been recognised for my contributions to legal education, receiving a Student Experience Award at James Cook University in 2024 and being named a finalist for Academic of the Year at the 2024 Australian Law Awards.

I also have an interest in exploring and experimenting with how to engage as an academic in the new age through the use of Instagram, podcasts and LinkedIn.