NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and Financial Services
NFTs have garnered significant attention as a unique form of digital assets, representing ownership and authenticity of various digital content ranging from collectibles and art pieces to more typical financial assets such as securities. As a relatively new and diverse asset class, NFTs are still evolving in an environment with limited legal certainty regarding their […]
Deadline to update companies’ articles of association approaching!
The Belgian Companies and Associations Code (the ‘BCAC’) entered into force 4 years ago, on 1 May 2019. The transition period is soon ending. By 31 December 2023, all companies that were incorporated before 1 May 2019 must have updated their articles of association. | DEADLINE: 31 DECEMBER 2023 When the BCAC entered into force, […]
Should IP Owners mind the NFT Business?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital assets registered on the blockchain that represent unique though intangible items such as, among others, pictures, videos or video game collectibles. These digital assets feature unique characteristics allowing them to somehow replicate the tangible attributes of physical goods like uniqueness, scarcity and proof of ownership. In the virtual economy, NFTs […]
Trade Mark Laws and Regulations Belgium 2023-2024
Simont Braun is happy to share the Belgian chapter on Trade Mark Law and Regulations, authored by our Intellectual Property Team for ICLG Comparative Guide. The chapter covers common issues in trade mark laws and regulations – including legislation, application, refusal, opposition and registration. Built as a Q&A, this guide is meant to be a […]
Simont Braun ranked in The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Last Wednesday, Legal 500 released its 2023 rankings. We are very proud of our teams who once again maintained their excellent rankings and were even mentioned in 6 new categories. All our rankings are available here. We warmly thank all team members for their motivation and hard work. We are also grateful to our peers […]
Breaking news for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) operating in Belgium!
On March 23rd, 2023, the Belgian legislator adopted a draft law amending the Belgian VAT Code with regard to the introduction of certain information obligations applicable to Payment Service Providers (PSPs), transposing Directive 2020/284 into Belgian law. Under the new law, PSPs will be required to report specific information to the Belgian tax administration on […]
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): An introduction guide
Simont Braun takes a deep dive into the technicalities and unique legal challenges that come with NFTs. This article is the introductory part of a series dedicated to NFTs and law and takes a closer look at what NFTs are, how they work and what use cases exist. | INTRODUCTION Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital […]
The FSMA Regulation on the marketing of virtual currencies to consumers
On Friday 17 March 2023, the Financial Services and Market Authority (FSMA) regulation on the marketing of virtual currencies to consumers (as approved by Royal Decree) has been published in the Official Gazette (the Regulation). | WHAT IS IT ABOUT? The Regulation imposes new requirements regarding the marketing of virtual currencies to consumers. It will […]
UPC Agreement | International Competences
UPC AGREEMENT | WHAT ARE THE COMPETENCES OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT? Part 3 | «INTERNATIONAL» COMPETENCES This article can be downloaded here. The introduction of the European patent with unitary effect is accompanied by the creation of a unified court with exclusive competences to hear certain actions concerning this new type of patent and […]
UPC Agreement | The Opt-Out
UPC AGREEMENT: THE «UNITARY PATENT PACKAGE» & UNIFIED PATENT COURT | THE OPT-OUT Full article can be downloaded here. The reform of European patent law introducing a European patent with unitary effect is accompanied by the creation of a Unified Patent Court (UPC). In the context of these developments in patent law, a number of […]
UPC Agreement | Material Competences
UPC AGREEMENT | WHAT ARE THE COMPETENCES OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT? Part 1 | MATERIAL COMPETENCES Full article can be downloaded here The introduction of the European patent with unitary effect is accompanied by the creation of a unified court with exclusive competences to hear certain actions relating to this new type of patent […]
UPC Agreement | General Overview
UPC AGREEMENT: THE «UNITARY PATENT PACKAGE» & UNIFIED PATENT COURT) | GENERAL OVERVIEW The full article can be downloaded here On 19 February 2013, twenty-five Member States of the European Union (“the EU”) signed an agreement creating the Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) (hereinafter “the UPC Agreement”). The UPC Agreement complements European Regulation No 1257/2012, […]