Acknowledgements

On a sunny day in May 2018, I got a phone call, out of the blue. Would I be interested in pursuing a PhD in law at KU Leuven? asked the voice at the other side of the phone. I was slightly taken aback, and momentarily – some might say uncharacteristically – lost for words. At the time, I had been an intellectual property (IP) attorney for almost four years and felt quite comfortable in my professional life. Regardless, the seed planted during that brief conversation quickly grew, to such an extent that, after just a few days, it could no longer be ignored. I eventually took the leap, and started my PhD trajectory at the beginning of 2019. Fast forward a few years, and that brings us here today – to me thanking everyone that has provided me with abundant support, love and laughter along the way.

First, I would like to thank my PhD supervisor, Professor Dr Evelyne Terryn. Thank you for writing me a letter of recommendation for the Cambridge LLM, which expanded my world; for the ample opportunities you gave me to write, teach and grow in an independent way; and for showing me what to aspire to, on both a professional and a personal level. My heartfelt thanks also go out to my co-supervisor, Professor Dr Marie-Christine Janssens. Thank you for being a beacon of integrity, intelligence and vision at the Faculty of Law and Criminology at KU Leuven (and beyond) and for challenging me to always do and be better. Thank you, also, to Professors Dr Hendrik Vanhees and Dr Fabienne Brison, for being members of my supervisory committee and PhD jury. I will admit that, ever since I read both of your PhD theses in full, I have unashamedly been a fangirl to you both. Without a doubt, the same is true for Professors Dr Lionel Bently and Dr Séverine Dusollier, whom I thank not only for agreeing to be members of my PhD jury but also for the seminal contributions that they have both made – and are still making – to an inclusive intellectual property law framework that is fit not only for the digital age but also for the artists that live, create and perform in it. I feel truly honoured to have you on my side.

To the immensely diverse group of people that I get to call my friends, whether met through school in Belgium or abroad, via travel, work, sports or – especially – music: thank you for bringing me joy and ensuring that I always have a place to stay across the globe. I hope you realise how much you inspire me.

Most of all, however, my thanks go out to my family. The Vanherpe name may very well be close to extinction on a global level, but my parents’ legacy on that front is undeniable – in both quantity and quality. My parents and all of my siblings give me something to aim for, ranging from an incredible resilience in the face of adversity, over the impressive ability to stay calm and pragmatic when confronted with insurmountable chaos, to the incredible strength of always taking the high road. I am very lucky, and I know it. The greatest luck of all, however, is seeing and experiencing the expansion of our family, with mini versions of the people I love the most. While the past few years have forced us to say an untimely goodbye to a number of valued family members, the future looks bright.

And with that, I close the journey of my PhD research, which started in February 2019, hit a high note with my public defence in March 2022 and has now culminated in this volume. No dazzling grand finale, no encores, no snazzy 500-days-of-Summer-style wrap-up musical number, no mic drop – only my sincere, heartfelt gratitude. As ABBA would say: thank you for the music.