PhD student of the month
January 2026: Per Carlson
Per Carlson is a doctoral candidate in private law and is writing a dissertation on issues of fact and issues of law in intellectual property cases. In his professional life as a judge—among other positions at the Patent Appeals Court, the Market Court, and most recently the Svea Court of Appeal (the Patent and Market Court of Appeal)—Per has extensive experience with procedural issues in intellectual property litigation.
-There are a number of questions that courts struggle with, partly because intellectual property legislation contains many complex criteria. This creates a tangible risk that the parties, as the basis for their claims, invoke value judgments—that is, issues of law—instead of sticking to relevant facts, that is, issues of fact.
During our conversation, Per repeatedly returns to his desire to streamline and improve intellectual property proceedings. He has seen and handled the problems as a judge. He also reflects on developments in how courts draft judgments.
Per Carlson Photo: Cecilia Wejryd
-In the past, being able to write concisely was a criterion of a good lawyer. That’s no longer the case. I believe the way the EU Court of Justice writes judgments has influenced us. Now there are often several pages of legal premises, and apparently the lengthy background sections are considered precedential when they appear in judgments from the highest instance. I don’t think that’s good. It draws attention away from what really matters.
Per was admitted as a doctoral student in 1986, with Professor Anders Agell (Professor of Private Law in Uppsala 1972–1995) as his supervisor, and with the intention of writing in tort law with a focus on personal injury. At that time, unlike today, there was no requirement for secured funding to be admitted to doctoral studies. Instead, there was a limited number of so-called educational grants that Per expected to receive. While awaiting funding, Per applied for support from insurance companies, but he also applied for and obtained a position at the Svea Court of Appeal and began his judicial career.
-One thing led to another … and it’s difficult to work as a judge without devoting a great deal of time to the job.
The dissertation work was therefore put on hold—until now, when Per has retired but felt he still had more to give.
-Many judges continue to adjudicate even after retirement, but I felt I wanted to do something completely different. The dissertation project has nagged at me a bit over the years, as things often do when you set out to do them but never quite get around to it.
Per has always had a theoretical interest, but as a judge there is not always time to delve deeply.
-You have to deliver judgments within a reasonable time …
I interject something Per mentioned earlier about writing concisely—there is hardly room for more developed analyses if a judgment is to be succinct. Even though Per can now write both deeply and expansively in his dissertation, he brings with him the ability to produce condensed text.
-Yes, I think that’s a good thing that I carry with me.
Per has taken the introductory course, participates in civil law and procedural law seminars, and feels both welcome and included as a doctoral student at the faculty. Of course, there are differences when comparing becoming a doctoral student after a professional career with doing so fairly soon after completing a law degree.
-Above all, I don’t really need to feel the same time pressure. My ambition is to complete the dissertation within the normal timeframe, but the supervisors (Professors Bengt Domeij and Torbjörn Andersson) may not need to chase me. The ball is in my court.
Per believes he will need to narrow the scope further and is considering focusing on trademark law. Generally, however, the state of research is sparse when it comes to procedural aspects of intellectual property law.
-It’s a fairly underexplored area. There is potential for improvements; I’ve seen problems that need to be highlighted.
I mention the damages case in the HQ Bank affair and the 2,600-page judgment delivered in 2017. One would have wished for a more concisely written judgment, to say the least. Per agrees, and we talk about how important matters risk being obscured and how few people can read and sort through such a lengthy judgment.
Per’s judicial career meant that after his appointment as an assessor he began at the Ministry of Justice’s intellectual property unit (L3). He then served as a district judge at the Sala District Court, chair of the Patent Appeals Court, chair of the Market Court, and since 2016 as presiding judge of a division at the Svea Court of Appeal. Per could, however, have ended up on a completely different path than the judiciary—namely as a photographer. I nevertheless sense that Per is pleased with how things turned out and with the opportunity to pursue a doctorate now.
As I usually do, I ask about life outside research. Per has a house in Eriksberg (Villa Scali, with a long history) that takes time to maintain. He sings in the Cathedral Choir, works out a bit, and plays some golf. “I try to keep death at bay,” as he puts it—a maxim he picked up from a former judicial colleague. A good maxim for all ages, I think.
Finally, I ask whether Per would like to send along any good advice or message to those considering pursuing a doctorate.
-Yes: It seems it’s never too late! I say seems, because it remains to be seen how it will go for me. But undeniably, it appears that it’s never too late.
With those hopeful and inspiring words, we say goodbye on a rainy December morning. I wish Per all the best and the greatest of luck with his dissertation project. Truly, it is never too late.
Rebecca Söderström
Fågelsången, 17 December 2025