Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time in Finland there was an exotic field of law called intellectual property law. In the 1970s, it was mainly the domain of practitioners like patent attorneys, book publishers and the music industry. Within Academia, the obligatory studies in IP law at the University of Helsinki amounted to a chapter of 20 pages in the general textbook on civil law. There were two professors of private law, Berndt Godenhielm and Pirkko-Liisa Haarmann (Aro), who encouraged some of their students to take up IP law as the field of study for a doctoral thesis. The success was limited: during the second half of the 20^th century, only five doctoral theses in IP law were approved in Finnish universities.

Many factors contributed to the reconsideration of teaching and research in IP in the 1990s. These included the digital revolution, the TRIPS-Agreement, Finland’s joining of the EU and the Finnish industry’s experience of the costs of mismanagement of IP (especially Nokia´s adventures in the US courts in the late 1990s). The IPR University Center was established in 1999 as a cooperation between four (later six) Finnish universities encompassing the fields of law, technology and economy. The forming of the IPR University Center Association, and the involvement of all practical stakeholders in the field, has strongly supported IP teaching and research. IPRinfo Magazine, nowadays primarily an online publication, has served as a forum for both researchers and business to present analyses of current issues to the public.

During the 21^st Century, there have been over forty doctoral dissertations published in Finland within the field of IP law. In addition, a number of related theses have been defended in the fields of economic and technological research.

We regard the responsibility of arranging the 37^th ATRIP Conference in Finland as a recognition for the results that the Finnish IP research and teaching have achieved during the past 15 years. It is a great pleasure to welcome the leading Academics from all over the globe to Helsinki in August 2018.

To present the range and depth of both the Finnish IP research and IPR in business to the international guests coming to Finland, we have decided to publish a special printed edition of IPRinfo in English. In this issue, a few IP researchers in Finnish universities present themselves and their research. You can also read interviews with our supporters from the Finnish business community. Furthermore, we received some fine analyses from three international academics who have been actively teaching in Finland – and whom we regard as our close friends. Enjoy!

The whole Finnish IP Community warmly welcomes ATRIP to Finland in the Summer of 2018.

P.S The ATRIP Congress in Helsinki will carry a special meaning to me, being my last big project as the director of IPR University Center. From September 2018 the Institute will be lead by my excellent colleague Professor Marcus Norrgård.

Niklas Bruun

Professor, Director IPR University Center