From Extrasolar Planets to Extraterritorial Intellectual Property Law
Some careers are straightforward, others are a roller coaster of choices, failures, and successes. Sometimes we ask ourselves if we are made for a specific position, if it suits us, or if it will be fitting our curriculum. However, surprises are always around the corner and your career might take a shift turn that you have not even thought about some years earlier.
At this Space Café we will hear a story on how you can shift from studying theoretical astrophysics and cosmology to navigating the halls of a law firm. Join us on November 12th, 2025, at 14:00. This event will take place in a hybrid mode, on-site (Irchel campus, Y10-G-03/04) and online. However, seats are limited and will be assigned on a first come-first serve basis. Registration at the end of this page
More about the Space Café event series
Speaker
Dr. Jean-Noël Mettler studied theoretical astrophysics and cosmology at the University of Zurich. In his PhD research at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, he investigated Earth as an exoplanet based on Earth observation data. With regard to the search for life on other planets, studying Earth from a distance offers a unique opportunity to explore a world that is actually habitable and inhabited. His research demonstrated the strengths of thermal emission data for characterizing these planets, but also highlighted the complexity of correctly interpreting it. Yet, the combination of exoplanet and planetary science in addition to remote sensing of solar system bodies creates a promising framework for interpreting future observations of potentially habitable worlds. Since completing his doctorate in 2023, Dr. Mettler has been working as a patent attorney candidate at a law firm in Zurich.
Abstract
From the search for life on exoplanets to the challenges of protecting intellectual property (IP) across borders, my current career path bridges two seemingly distant worlds: space science and IP law. In this talk, I will show how these two fields are interconnected, while providing an introduction to the basics of IP law. In addition, I will highlight why today’s IP law framework may need to adapt to meet the demands of a young, rapidly growing global space sector as humanity expands its horizons beyond Earth.