Axel Metzger

Prof. Axel Metzger is a Professor of Civil Law and Intellectual Property Law at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin's Faculty of Law. He serves as Prodekan (Pro Dean) in the Dean's Office and leads the Intellectual Property Law chair. His work focuses on digital innovation law, patent systems, and data governance. He holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School.

Research Interests:

• Patent reform in biotechnology and digital fields
• Data protection in EU frameworks
• IP overlaps between patents, copyrights, and trade secrets
• Competition law implications of digital markets
• Global IP policy challenges

Publications highlight regulatory issues in CRISPR/Cas9 patents, Data Act compliance, and plant variety rights. He co-authored major textbooks on patent law and open source software. Active in policy debates on vaccine IP during the pandemic and EU's Digital Markets Act.

Teaching includes advanced courses on intellectual property practice, international IP, and innovation policy. Supervises doctoral research on topics like AI ethics in IP, data portability, and genetic engineering law. Involved in the Josef Kohler Institute for Intellectual Property Law and the Weizenbaum Institute for AI in Society.