The MIPLC Research Unit
IP and Competition Law research is a central focus of the MIPLC. The Cooperation Agreement establishing the MIPLC lists the preparation and support of papers on research topics, "particularly those which seek to develop innovative practical recommendations based on the results of research undertaken by the MIPLC Partners," as the first goal.
To this end, the MIPLC has set up a dedicated Research Unit, which is overseen by Professor Dr. Josef Drexl, LL.M. (Berkeley), Chair of the MIPLC Managing Board and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition. The Research Unit is directed by the MIPLC Program Director who is responsible for the coordination of research projects, scientific conferences and the MIPLC Ph.D. Program.
Seth Ericsson, LL.M.
In 2015, Seth returned to MIPLC where he had served as Program Director from 2009 to 2013. In addition to his Program Director responsibilities, Seth has been a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition since January 2009. His research at the MPI focuses mainly on copyright-related matters with a particular emphasis on the intersection of law and digital technology.
Seth graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and obtained his LL.M. from the Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz. In addition to teaching the course Media Law within the MIPLC curriculum, he has also lectured on the Economics of Intellectual Property Rights within the Double Degree Programme in Intellectual Property Law offered by the University of Strasbourg (Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies) and the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (Iustinianus Primus Law Faculty). Beyond his research and teaching engagements, Seth has also acted as an expert consultant to the EPO and WIPO on matters of IP education.
MIPLC Book Series
Since 2008, the MIPLC has been publishing outstanding Master's and Ph.D. theses in its own book series. This series is published by the well-known publishing house Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. To see a list of all volumes, please refer to our Projects and Publications section.
Master's and Ph.D. Theses
As part of their degree requirements, all students must submit a Master's Thesis of 55-70 pages length. The thesis, which allows students to explore a particular IP area in great depth, is one of the central features of the LL.M. program.
Moreover, the MIPLC offers Ph.D. scholarships to its most promising LL.M. graduates who wish to pursue an academic career.
The majority of the completed Ph.D. theses, as well as the best Master's theses of each academic year, are published in the MIPLC Book Series. A complete list is available in the Projects and Publications section.
Visiting Research Scholars
We regret, but the MIPLC is unable to accommodate visiting researchers. Please contact the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law instead.
