Client Alert
CJEU: Why Airbnb is not Uber
The CJEU recently ruled that the intermediation service offered by Airbnb Ireland is an “information society service” in the light of the E-Commerce Directive. We have summarised the decision in our Client Alert, especially since it contains interesting aspects for the differentiation of an information society service from the underlying overall service (e.g. the intermediation […]...
International comparative legal guide – Foreign direct investment regimes 2021
The International Comparative Legal Guide - Foreign Direct Investment Regimes 2021 is a critical resource for legal practitioners and industry specialists who are looking for detailed and up-to-date information on FDI Regimes in the CEE/SEE region and beyond (including any relevant changes stemming from Covid-19). Combining high-level policy analysis with a clear breakdown of procedural and substantive requirements, the easy-to-navigate country chapters are broken down into:...
EDPB on Schrems II: The end of U.S. cloud services?
The decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union in July 2020 in Schrems II left companies without a clear framework for transfers to the US. In August 2020, authorities highlighted that the invalidation of the Privacy Shield is enforceable without any grace period and that the use of Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) […]...
BVergG 2018 passiert Ministerrat
Vom BVergG 2017 zum BVergG 2018 Da die bereits bekannte Regierungsvorlage zum BVergG 2017 in der abgelaufenen Legislaturperiode nicht mehr vom Parlament verabschiedet wurde, war für die – bereits überfällige – Umsetzung der EU-Vergaberichtlinie (2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU etc) ein neuer Entwurf erforderlich. Dieser hat nunmehr den Ministerrat passiert und wird daher demnächst als Regierungsvorlage vom Parlament […]...
Unionsmarken und der Brexit – Was Unternehmen jetzt beachten sollten
Wie Medienberichten zu entnehmen ist, besteht seit dem Brexit am 31.1.2020 zwischen dem Vereinigten Königreich (UK) und der EU nach wie vor keine Einigkeit über die künftigen Beziehungen nach dem Ablauf des Übergangszeitraums am 31.12.2020 (Stichwort “No-deal-Brexit”). Die gute Nachricht ist, dass zumindest betreffend die bislang gemeinschaftlich einheitlichen Markenrechte mittels der Unionsmarke bereits Klarheit besteht, […]...
Austrian e-commerce act: Update on the right to information – sec. 18 para 4 ECG
In contrast to other European legislation, the Austrian E-Commerce Act (ECG) sets forth a particular obligation of Host Providers to disclose information: Pursuant to Sec. 18 para 4 ECG, Host Providers are obliged to transmit information about their users at the request of third parties, provided that they have an overriding legal interest and can […]...
Romania: New rules on damages claims for infringements of competition law
Last week Romania adopted new rules on claims for damages in cases of infringement of competition law, implementing the related EU directive. The new provisions are aimed at enhancing private enforcement in Romania and ensuring that victims of anticompetitive practices can exercise their rights to full compensation. To learn more, please open the attached file....
Romania: Liquidity related state aid scheme now available for large enterprises and SMEs
On 7 October 2020, a liquidity state aid scheme became active in Romania worth RON 4 billion (EUR 820 million). Designed to provide access to finance for companies facing a liquidity shortage caused by Covid-19, the scheme provides subsidized interest loans and guarantees on loans. Available to large enterprises and SMEs, aid will be granted […]...
Slovakia: New rules governing the liquiditation of companies are intended to offer more protection for creditors
On 1 October 2020, a new amendment to the Commercial Code and related laws became effective in Slovakia, introducing, among other things, several important changes concerning the liquidation of companies. The changes arguably approximate, to an extent, the legal regime of liquidation with that of insolvency, with the aim of affording more protection to creditors. […]...
Proprietors of Romanian trademarks may clarify the scope of goods and services by 30 September 2020
The Romanian Trademarks Law has been recently and substantially amended. An important change means that now when class headings are used to designate the scope of protection in trademark applications, they will not be interpreted as covering all goods or services in their class but will rather be interpreted literally. Proprietors of existing trademark registrations […]...
The asset tracing and recovery review: Austria – Eighth edition
The Austrian chapter in the Asset Tracing and Recovery Review provides an overview of the most relevant provisions under Austrian law with respect to the recovery of assets deprived through fraudulent conduct. It focuses on the interaction of legal rights and remedies in civil and criminal proceedings regarding inter alia obtaining evidence, seizure of assets and damages claims. Furthermore, international aspects as conflict of laws, international judicial assistance, enforcement of judgments rendered abroad are covered....
The Austria chapter in the lending and secured finance review – 6th edition
Leopold Höher authored the Austrian chapter in the 6th edition of The Lending and Secured Finance Review. His contribution offers a comprehensive overview on legal topics to be considered in the context of doing finance in Austria, including regulatory developments, tax considerations, collateral structures and related aspects....