Compulsory insurance in the construction sector: perfectly imperfect
On 1 July 2019, it became compulsory for construction service providers other than architects to have their civil liability and professional indemnity covered. This law of 25 April 2019 aims at complementing the law 11 May 2017 concerning the ten-year structural warranty in housing construction. However, the scope of application and the consequences of the […]
New regulatory framework for patent attorneys
Version française disponible ici – Nederlandse versie beschikbaar hier. On 1 December 2020, the first part of the law of 8 July 2018 reforming the profession of patent attorney and creating a Belgian Institute for Patent Attorneys, entered into force. This law is an addition to the existing regulations on the profession of patent attorney. […]
Unfair terms in B2B relations – What you should know from now on.
Are you a small, medium or big company? As a builder, banker, retailer, seller or any other business, do you enter into B2B agreements that usually provide for some penalties, limitation of liability, specific duration or transfer of risks? Would you mind if a judge strikes down these clauses or reviews the price agreed to […]
Simont Braun advises the shareholders of Sopura on its sale to Kersia
Simont Braun successfully assisted the shareholders of the Belgian group Sopura, a world leader in cleaning solutions for the food and beverages industries and more particularly for brewers, in its sale to the French group Kersia, the reference in food safety worldwide. Established in 1946, Sopura is a Belgian family-owned group with a global reach […]
New law on basic banking services for businesses in Belgium
Yesterday, 24 November 2020, the new law on basic banking services for businesses has been published in the Belgian Official Journal. This law voted on 22 October 2020 by the Belgian Parliament introduces a right to basic banking services for companies in Book VII of the Economic Law Code. This new regime aims at providing […]
Simont Braun promotes Renaud van Melsen to Of Counsel
Belgian leading independent law firm Simont Braun is pleased to announce that it has promoted Renaud van Melsen to Of Counsel, acknowledging his know-how and many years of experience in matters of Real Estate, Public & Administrative law, as well as Supreme Court litigation. Renaud van Melsen gathers 15 years of experience in public law, […]
Payments in the video game industry: Regulatory Status in Belgium
Rising importance of payments in the video game industry: Apple v. Epic Games This summer has brought a major lawsuit in the video game industry with the “Apple v. Epic Games” case. Epic Games, the developer of the popular game Fortnite, introduced the possibility for its iOS users to buy V-Bucks (the virtual currency used […]
A European passport for crowdfunding
At last, a European passport for crowdfunding! As from 10 November 2021, it will be possible for both new and existing crowdfunding platforms to obtain a licence allowing them to carry out their activities in all EU countries. What does it mean in practice for SMEs, start-ups and potential investors? Catherine Houssa clarifies the main […]
Simont Braun authors FinTech Belgian Chapter in The Legal 500
Have a look at the FinTech Belgian Chapter authored by Simont Braun in The Legal 500 Comparative Guide! It’s a concise, pragmatic and yet comprehensive overview of FinTech in Belgium, and a must-read for all practitioners and actors of the sector. The Belgian Chapter is available here. Thank you, in particular, to Catherine Houssa, Philippe […]
Trademarks & Designs | Fake application or renewal invoices!
Trademark applicants and owners often receive documents asking for payments related to a trademark or design application or renewal. Cautiousness is highly recommended in this respect! For example, a new misleading invoice is in circulation, which takes the form of a fake European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) renewal invoice. The misleading invoice has recently […]
The CJEU Testarossa judgement | Clarification of the contours of genuine use & the burden of proof
A trademark which has not been put to Genuine use by its owner or an authorised third party within five years after its registration is liable to revocation unless there are proper reasons for its non-use. On 22 October 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) clarified the contours of the notion […]
Arrêté ministeriel 28.10.2020 | Mesures urgentes pour lutter contre le Covid-19
Comme suite aux dernières mesures de confinement annoncées en Belgique, l’arrêté dit “de confinement” le plus récent, daté du 28 octobre 2020 et portant des mesures d’urgence pour limiter la propagation du coronavirus Covid-19, a été amendé le 1er novembre par un arrêté publié au Moniteur belge le jour-même. Simont Braun a réalisé une version […]
