IFIM (Stockholm University) hosted leading Nordic IP scholars and fashion/design
researchers in Stockholm to explore the current landscape and future development of fashion and design law across the Nordic jurisdictions.
Denmark was represented by Jens Schovsbo (University of Copenhagen) and Stina Teilmann-Lock (Copenhagen Business School), Norway by Ole-Andreas Rognstad (University of Oslo) and Astrid Heimer (OsloMet University), and Finland by Heidi Härkönen (University of Turku) and Natalia Kataila (Metropolia University of Applied Sciences). Sweden was represented by Frantzeska Papadopoulou Skarp and Marianne Levin (Stockholm University).
To enrich the dialogue beyond the Nordic context, we were honoured to host Professor Johanna Gibson, Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Queen Mary University of London and Editor-in-Chief of the Queen Mary Journal of Intellectual Property. Professor Gibson is a pioneer in fashion law and a scholar whose work has shaped debates on authorship, creativity, cultural production, and the place of fashion within legal frameworks. Her recent launch of Queen Mary’s new LLM in Fashion Law marks a significant step in establishing the field as a mature and interdisciplinary academic discipline. Our discussions were exceptionally stimulating, covering research developments, teaching practices, and case law across Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. A shared conviction quickly emerged: fashion and design law is at its strongest when approached interdisciplinarily, drawing on insights from design, cultural studies, and creative practice alongside doctrinal legal analysis.
Looking ahead: building a vibrant Nordic research environment
One of the most important outcomes of the meeting was the collective commitment to
developing the Nordic Fashion and Design Law Network into a dynamic, collaborative
research community.
Our future plans include:
Co-developing research projects that address the unique challenges and
opportunities within Nordic fashion and design law
Collaborating on national and international research funding applications,
including EU and Nordic research councils
Creating regular forums for scholarly exchange, workshops, and joint publications
Building connections between legal scholars, designers, and cultural institutions
to ensure that research remains grounded in real creative practices
We look forward to our next meeting — and to the many research initiatives, partnerships,
and innovations that will grow out of this newly established network.