A distinctive aspect of the Inter-oPEn project is the opportunity it provides to expand professional development through intersectoral training. The training module 3 entitled “Introduction to Regulation and Intellectual Property Law for Power Grids”, was held on 17-18 June 2025 at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. It facilitated a more profound exploration of the intricate interweaving of technical and legal dimensions.

The course commenced with a general overview of the objectives of law and regulation, after which the EU legal framework was gradually delved into, with a specific focus on the energy sector and power grid regulation. Despite the breadth of each topic, the approach facilitated comprehension of the roles, tasks and responsibilities of the various stakeholders. On the first day, a PhD workshop was held, where the recent work of the doctoral candidates’ colleagues was presented. The event constituted a valuable space for knowledge to be shared and evaluated through critical thinking in an interdisciplinary context.

On the second day, we focused on laws related to data and intellectual property (IP). We learned that IP can take several forms, including copyright, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Under EU law, software code is treated like a book and protected by copyright. However, if the software is designed to control a hardware—such as in the HVDC converter control system—it may also qualify for patent protection.

Engineers often simplify their questions to help lawyers understand the technical aspects more easily. However, our discussions revealed that lawyers can offer better legal recommendations when engineers provide a full and detailed explanation of the problem. This need for clear communication stems from both the differences between types of IP protection and the distinct ways engineers and lawyers define and approach problems.

Written by Alejandra Obando and Ali Sajjadi