Nouveau cadre réglementaire pour les mandataires en brevets
Ce 1er décembre 2020, la première partie de la loi du 8 juillet 2018 réformant la profession des mandataires en brevets et créant un Institut belge des mandataires en brevets est entrée en vigueur. Cette loi complète la réglementation existante au sujet de la profession des mandataires en brevets. La deuxième partie de la loi […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Saisies par les douanes | Numéro EORI
Depuis le 15 septembre 2020, le numéro EORI est devenu obligatoire pour obtenir des mesures douanières : les formulaires de demande de saisie ont en effet été modifiés afin d’imposer la mention du numéro EORI. Le numéro EORI Le numéro « EORI » (« Economic Operator Registration and Identification ») est unique à chaque opérateur […]
The European Commission issued its new Digital Finance Package
FLASH NEWS | Yesterday, the European Commission issued its new Digital Finance Package presenting a new digital finance strategy and new legislative proposals. The key takeaways are: 1. Legislative proposals on crypto-assets including a regulated status for previously unregulated crypto-assets; 2. An EU regulatory framework on digital resilience; 3. A renewed strategy for retail payments […]
Jurisdiction, territoriality and data protection: the Belgian Google case
Summary | This article deals with the private international law aspects in the Belgian Google case. With its decision of 14 July 2020, the Belgian Data Protection Authority confirms it is competent to hear a complaint filed against Google’s Belgian subsidiary, Google Belgium SA, even though the latter does not determine the purposes and means […]