Thomas Riis

Thomas Riis is a Professor at the Centre for Information and Innovation Law (CIIR) within the Faculty of Law at the University of Copenhagen. He has served as study leader for the faculty's master's programs from 2019-2025 and will assume leadership of the cand.soc. program and part-time programs starting in 2025.

Education:

• PhD (1996) on copyright law and law and economics
• Doctor of Juridical Science (dr.jur., 2005) on intellectual property enforcement

Research Focus: Professor Riis specializes in Intellectual Property Law with interdisciplinary applications of Law and Economics, particularly in digital copyright enforcement. His work bridges Tort Law, IT Law, and Procedural Law to address contemporary challenges in online platforms, streaming services, and EU directive implementation. His research consistently examines the economic implications of legal frameworks in intellectual property contexts.

Publication Trends: Recent works (2024-2025) reveal concentrated analysis of EU digital legislation's practical effects in Denmark, with significant attention to intermediary liability models, trade secret protections, and trademark coexistence in local business contexts. His scholarship demonstrates growing emphasis on balancing copyright enforcement with digital market realities.

Administrative Leadership:

• Study leader for Law Faculty master's programs (2019-2025)
• Upcoming study leader for cand.soc. and part-time programs (2025+)
• Organizer of academic seminars including 2018 Trade Secrets Seminar

External Engagements: Professor Riis holds influential policy positions including Chair of the Valuation Committee for Zealand and the Islands, Secretary of the Domain Name Complaints Board, Chairman of Ex Tuto A/S board, and board membership in multiple family foundations (Vennerslund, Rosenfeldt, and estate security foundations), demonstrating substantial real-world legal impact beyond academia.