"It is inspiring to constantly come into contact with new cutting edge technologies."
Simon Van Mierlo joined EP&C in 2020 after completing a PhD and post-doctorate at the University of Antwerp, where he researched technologies for modelling and simulating complex systems. Since becoming a trainee patent attorney, he has been augmenting his academic background in computer science with intellectual property knowledge.
By combining these worlds, Simon is a valuable antenna in the area of tension between what can and cannot be protected in the field of software and other modern technologies. "Protecting software with intellectual property rights is a challenge, which is why I like to explain the choices I make and the options available to a client as clearly as possible. With a patent, you can obtain broad protection for software. The aim is always to describe the technical contribution made by the software as well as possible and to thus offer maximum protection."
Simon particularly enjoys the diversity of the new technologies he encounters in his work. "It is inspiring to constantly come into contact with new cutting edge technologies. It's very interesting to figure out how innovations work and to help inventors and innovative companies protect their inventions in the best possible way."
