Silke von Lewinski

Silke von Lewinski serves as a Scientific Advisor at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition and holds the position of Extraordinary Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb since 2020. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as a leading authority in intellectual property law, particularly in copyright and related rights. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical policy development at national, European, and international levels.

Dr. von Lewinski earned her Doctor of Law (Dr. jur.) from the Free University of Berlin. She completed her legal clerkship (Assessorin) in Munich before joining the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition as a scientific staff member. Since 1995, she has served as Head of Department for International Law and Special Problems of Developing Countries at the Institute. Her academic credentials were further recognized in 2020 when she was appointed as an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Law.

Her research interests focus on intellectual property law with particular expertise in copyright law, international copyright treaties, European copyright harmonization, digital copyright challenges, and the protection of traditional knowledge. She has extensively examined the intersection of copyright law with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital platforms. Her scholarly work addresses critical issues such as cross-border licensing, collective rights management, exceptions and limitations in the digital environment, and the implementation of the Digital Single Market Directive in Germany.

Dr. von Lewinski's publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with evolving copyright challenges. Her recent work shows increasing focus on platform liability (particularly Article 17 implementation), artificial intelligence and copyright, performers' remuneration in digital environments, and the practical implications of CJEU case law. She has maintained a strong scholarly output through her editorial work on the comprehensive 'Copyright Throughout the World' series while producing timely analyses of specific copyright developments in Germany and Europe.

• The Hosier Distinguished Visiting IP-Scholar, DePaul University, Chicago (2005)
• First Distinguished Visitor to the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia (IPRIA) (2002)
• First Walter Minton Visiting Scholar, Center for Law and the Arts, Columbia University School of Law, New York (1998)
• Heinrich-Hubmann-Preis für die beste Monographie im Urheberrecht (1991)

Dr. von Lewinski has advised numerous governments and international organizations on copyright matters. She has served as legal advisor to the European Commission, participated in WIPO diplomatic conferences that led to the Marrakesh and Beijing Treaties, and provided expertise to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Asia through PHARE, TACIS, and other programs. Her extensive conference presentations across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia demonstrate her global influence in copyright scholarship and policy development.

At the Max Planck Institute, Dr. von Lewinski contributes to one of the world's leading research centers in intellectual property and competition law. She collaborates with an international team of scholars and participates in major research projects examining the future of copyright in the digital age. Her work with organizations like ALAI (where she serves as Vice President) and ATRIP connects her research to broader international intellectual property discourse.