Erik is a South African patent attorney, one of the founding partners and he heads up the patent division at Von Seidels.
With his background in electronic engineering and computer science he advises a large number of established technology companies and tech start-ups on their local and international patent acquisition, prosecution and enforcement strategies.
Erik has a thriving patent drafting practice focusing on software, mobile technologies, mobile apps, electronic commerce, banking, telecommunications, and digital signal processing and related technologies.
His other areas of expertise include:
- advising on the international transfer of intellectual property rights and preparing applications to the South African Reserve Bank for offshore IP transfers;
- advising companies on strategically aligning their intellectual property portfolios with a view to acquiring international investments;
- obtaining granted patents for traditionally more difficult technologies (such as software) in the most challenging international jurisdictions (USA, EPO, China etc.);
- drafting intellectual property based agreements including licensing, manufacture, research and development agreements; and
- renewable energy technologies.
Erik is the President of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) and is a part-time lecturer in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Cape Town.
Education/Alumni:
- Stellenbosch University, BEng Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (2003)
- University of South Africa, LLB (2007)
- South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law, Qualified Patent Attorney (2007)
Network Memberships: AIPPI, FICPI, GIPC Participant, INTA
