you are being redirected to the website of our parent company, Schönherr Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Read through our technology & digitalisation articles, publications and news!
EU: The end of a dry spell – NIS 2 published
After several delays, the revision of the NIS Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 27 December 2022 in the form of Directive (EU) 2022/2555 ("NIS 2").
23 December 2022
C.Haid A.Reumann G.Leissler V.Wolfbauer F.Schneider T.Veronesi M.Neagu
to the point: technology & digitalisation l December 2022
CZ: Schoenherr Journal Edition 13
The Schoenherr Journal, published by Schoenherr's Prague office, examines the latest important legal developments in the Czech Republic.
24 November 2022
D.Tyrybon C.Pretscher T.Kulnigg L.Telsnig R.Vesenmayer C.Haid F.Terharen N.Kerschbaumer V.Wolfbauer D.Rutecka D.Hofmarcher M.Vlajković
to the point: technology & digitalisation l November 2022
Bulgaria paves way for innovative businesses with new start-up visa
Country welcomes non-EU investors to boost local start-up ecosystem
After Decree No 318 of 7 October 2022 adopting the Ordinance on the conditions and procedure for issuing, extending and revoking a certificate for a high-tech and/or innovative project (the "Ordinance") was promulgated in issue 82 of the State Gazette of 14 October 2022, Bulgaria joins the almost half of EU countries that issue "start-up visas".
27 October 2022
D.Hofmarcher R.Vesenmayer A.Tipotsch T.Veronesi V.Wolfbauer C.Haid A.Reumann D.Rutecka V.Demschik
to the point: technology & digitalisation l October 2022
30 September 2022
T.Veronesi A.Tipotsch R.Vesenmayer N.Kerschbaumer V.Wolfbauer V.Demschik A.Reumann
to the point: technology & digitalisation l September 2022
NFT licences that "can't be evil": are they any good?
Licences connected to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are still far from being the norm. As a result, most NFTs still do not convey sufficient or appropriate IP rights to their underlying content. Moreover, they have to deal with practical difficulties inherent to the nature of NFTs. The need for licences tailored to the NFT market is therefore evident.
To overcome the practical difficulties and tackle these issues, publicly available NFT licence systems have emerged. But are they any good?
Bulgaria: Schoenherr advises KKCG and Aricoma Group International on acquisition of Musala Soft
Schoenherr advised the KKCG Group (KKCG) and its portfolio company Aricoma Group International AB (Aricoma) on the acquisition of Musala Soft, a major Bulgarian software company, and its subsidiaries.
EU: Commission Proposal to implement the FATF Travel Rule: Speed bumps ahead for crypto-asset transfers?
Austria: Schoenherr advises Red Bull on joint venture with Teletest consortium
Schoenherr advised Red Bull GmbH on the establishment of a joint venture with Arbeitsgemeinschaft Teletest ("AGTT").
Österreich: Schönherr berät Technologiedienstleister ARZ bei Übernahme durch Accenture
Schönherr hat die ARZ Allgemeines Rechenzentrum GmbH (ARZ), einen auf den Bankensektor fokussierten Technologiedienstleister in Österreich, beim Verkauf ihres auf informationstechnologische Unterstützungsleistungen von Kredit- und Finanzinstituten spezialisierten IT-Dienstleistungsunternehmens an Accenture beraten.
Trademarks: The classification of "virtual goods" in trademark applications
Trademark professionals have noted growing interest in protecting trademarks for "virtual goods". This leaves trademark specialists as well as IP offices grappling with how to correctly classify these goods.
23 May 2022
M.Czernin T.Kulnigg T.Veronesi R.Vesenmayer D.Hofmarcher F.Terharen V.Demschik C.Pretscher N.Kerschbaumer
to the point: technology & digitalisation l May 2022
Austria: Schoenherr advises Storyblok on USD 47m Series B financing
Schoenherr advised the Austrian scale-up Storyblok on its Series B financing worth USD 47m, one of several major transactions in the Austrian start-up scene on which Schoenherr has advised in the recent past.
26 April 2022
R.Vesenmayer N.Kerschbaumer C.Pretscher T.Veronesi V.Demschik D.Rutecka L.Telsnig V.Wolfbauer M.Czernin M.Schmiedinger
to the point: technology & digitalisation l April 2022
Austria: Schoenherr advises S&T AG on voluntary partial public takeover offer
Schoenherr advised S&T AG, an Austrian company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, in connection with the voluntary partial public takeover offer by grosso tec AG (Germany) on issues of Austrian law. Hogan Lovells advised S&T AG on German law issues.
15 March 2022
M.Woller T.Veronesi D.Tyrybon M.Schmiedinger D.Rutecka L.Dočekalová M.Pressler F.Terharen V.Wolfbauer A.Reumann
to the point: technology & digitalisation l March 2022
Wegfall des "Privacy Shield": Kommt jetzt das Aus für "Google Analytics"?
Webinar | Schoenherr Privacy Academy
3. März 2022 | 9.30 - 10.30 Uhr
10 February 2022
V.Wolfbauer T.Kulnigg D.Tyrybon T.Veronesi C.Haid A.Reumann F.Terharen D.Rutecka V.Iurkovski A.Otean M.Trautinger N.Kerschbaumer M.Czernin R.Vesenmayer
to the point: technology & digitalisation l February 2022
03 February 2022
A.Doytchinova S.Pavlova-Kaneva V.Tomov G.Roussinova-Ivanova K.Bozhinova S.Bednář L.Dočekalová H.Hangler
Bulgaria: Schoenherr advises Chaos on Bulgarian law aspects in merger with Enscape
Schoenherr advised Chaos, a global leader in photorealistic rendering technology, on the Bulgarian law aspects of its merger with Enscape, a leading developer of real-time rendering and design workflow technology for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries.
Wegfall des "Privacy Shield": Kommt jetzt das Aus für "Google Analytics"?
Webinar | Schoenherr Privacy Academy
2. Februar 2022 | 17.00 - 18.00 Uhr & 3. März 2022 | 9.30 - 10.30 Uhr
Moldova: Digitalisation has made it easier to establish, operate and sell companies
Through its 11 November 2021 law ("Law 175/2021"), the Moldovan Parliament passed certain amendments to existing legislation with the goal of digitalising the national economy. As a result, the norms implemented have made it simpler to establish, operate and sell companies in Moldova.
Law 175/2021 entered into force on 10 January 2022.
Austria: Schoenherr advises Austrian unicorn Bitpanda on expansion of its product portfolio to include exchange traded cryptocurrencies
Schoenherr advised the Austrian fintech Bitpanda on the expansion of its product portfolio to include exchange traded cryptocurrencies. This product provides investors with easy access to crypto assets via a liquid financial instrument traded on a regulated exchange.
New warranty rules: old wine in new bottles?
Two new directives are trying to shape Europe's warranty rules. Member States must apply the Digital Content Directive ("DCD") and the Sale of Goods Directive ("SGD") from 1 January 2022. Austria and several others already implemented the DCD and the SGD in 2021.
Judgments issued ex machina? Are AI-made judicial decisions the future?
Digitalisation is invading all areas of our lives, including the judiciary. It is impossible to imagine everyday legal life without electronic legal transactions, the electronically managed land and company registers, the edict file or the possibility of submitting briefs to courts in electronic form.
Coming soon: The European Patent with Unitary Effect
The European Patent with Unitary Effect ("Unitary Patent") already has a longstanding and ambiguous history, although its underlying legal framework has not yet come into force. But 2021 brought a considerable push towards implementation of the Unitary Patent system.
The Digital Content Directive and the Sale of Goods Directive: when to apply which?
The constant and growing development of new technologies is leading towards an increasing availability of various digital products for consumers. This, in turn, triggers competitiveness and consumers' ever-greater expectations about the offerings, the ease of their purchase and conclusion of contracts without leaving home.
Don't be gentle it's a rental – or isn't it? Correctly classifying an IT service in a contract
There's no such thing as a one-stop software contract that covers all services.
The rise of the machines: The EU is getting ready to regulate AI
In April 2021, the European Commission (EC) released its long-awaited proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act.1 But what is artificial intelligence?
Does the Digital Services Directive stipulate a right to updates?
The new Digital Services Directive (DSD) aims to harmonise certain aspects of consumer protection law by providing consumers a mandatory warranty for digital content and digital services supplied by a vendor. First and foremost this concerns contracts on the purchase or rental of software (usually comprising licence agreements) or cloud services.
New laws will be needed before real estate, shares and other rights can be tokenised
The transfer of title to real estate requires an entry in the land register. Likewise, the transfer of shares in companies necessitates an entry in the commercial register.
Evidence no. 5. How to sniff out cybercrimes and build a successful case
More and more companies are being subjected to cyberattacks. To effectively respond to this criminal phenomenon, it is essential to be prepared, meaning making sure you have solid evidence to build a criminal case.
Wie man ein 64-kg-Kunstwerk als NFT verkauft
Derzeit besteht ein regelrechter Run auf digitale Kunstwerke, deren Einmaligkeit durch „Non-Fungible Token“ (NFT) garantiert ist. Das gute alte ABGB ermöglicht es, diese Technologie für körperliche Schöpfungen zu nutzen.
16 December 2021
T.Kulnigg D.Tyrybon T.Veronesi C.Haid A.Reumann V.Wolfbauer D.Rutecka N.Kerschbaumer M.Schmiedinger
to the point: technology & digitalisation | December 2021
Non-Fungible Tokens: Ist digitale Kunst versicherbar?
Digitale Kunstwerke in Form von Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) erzielen bei Auktionen Millionenpreise. Für Sammler stellt sich daher die Frage, ob sie die Werke versichern können
FMA permits automated biometrical customer identification – a game changer for the KYC process?
Cultural Hackathon podcast: NFT – Is it worth it?
The NFT art market is growing and occupying the cultural sector.
19 October 2021
T.Kulnigg G.Leissler V.Wolfbauer J.Böszörményi F.Terharen D.Rutecka M.Trautinger D.Tyrybon T.Veronesi M.Czernin M.Pressler
to the point: technology & digitalisation | October 2021
Limited network exemption under PSD2 – EBA consults on Draft Guidelines
In summer 2021 the European Banking Authority (EBA) published Draft Guidelines on the limited network exemption (LNE) under the Payment Service Directive 2 (PSD2) for consultation (available here). The Draft Guidelines are meant to foster supervisory convergence amongst the EU's national competent regulators (NCAs).
Dissonant Optimism: Mergers and Acquisitions in the Bulgarian Technology Industry
Austria: Schoenherr advises on the sale of the oral hygiene start-up Playbrush to the Sunstar Group
Schoenherr advised the shareholders of the Austrian oral hygiene start-up Playbrush on the sale of the majority shares to the international health care company Sunstar Group.
IP-Day 2021
IP-Day is dedicated to current and fundamental questions regarding intellectual property law – not just in an academic way, but also practically.
The tension between the GDPR & NFTs
If you are unfamiliar with the world of NFTs, please see our self-experiment. If you want to quickly recap what NFTs have to do with smart contracts, please see here.
19 July 2021
D.Tyrybon M.Mihaljčić D.Hofmarcher S.Khalil G.Kucsko D.Rutecka A.Tipotsch F.Terharen V.Wolfbauer R.Vesenmayer
to the point: technology & digitalisation | July 2021
Blockchain and (Un)Real Estate
Blockchain technology has – so far – not lead to a transfer of the world's land registers onto this technology or to a "tokenization" of title (documents). The only significant exception in this respect is Georgia where a purchaser's title to real property can be registered by execution of a smart contract.
NFT art: The most important (legal) questions for artists, buyers in general and museums
Bulgaria: Schoenherr advises Ringier on the acquisition of Sportal Media Group and Digital Ventures
Schoenherr advised Swiss-based media company Ringier on the acquisition of a majority stake in the leading Bulgarian sports news portal – Sportal Media Group – and an affiliated IT company behind the leading international Sports Content Management System, Sportal365 – Digital Ventures OOD.
NFT: An all-round legal view of Non-Fungible Tokens | Webinar
Did you miss our webinar, or do you want to listen to the discussed topics again? Watch the NFT webinar video recordings here!
When a museum buys an NFT: Legal challenges and considerations
The story of our NFT self-experiment does not end with the selling of the token. To the contrary, it is only the start: The buyer – in our case the Museum Francisco Carolinum in Linz – wants to use the artwork for their purposes. In general, what legal considerations should a museum keep in mind?
14 June 2021
S.Khalil C.Cudlik G.Kucsko T.Kulnigg G.Leissler A.Natterer A.Tipotsch F.Terharen D.Tyrybon
to the point: technology & digitalisation | June 2021
Let the NFT Self-Experiment begin!
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) aren't new, in fact they've been around for years. However, it took the auction of an NFT linked to an image by Christie's Auction House and the fall of the hammer at a spectacular USD 69 million to create worldwide attention and interest in NFTs.
Czech Republic / Austria: Schoenherr advises Twisto group on senior and mezzanine debt (re)financings
Austria: Schoenherr and Museum Francisco Carolinum clarify NFT Art
Schoenherr's IP & Technology practice group has set itself the goal of providing clarity on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in the art and culture industry. In collaboration with the Museum Francisco Carolinum Linz in Upper Austria, the questions preoccupying artists, collectors and museums will be addressed at one of the world's first art exhibitions on NFTs in art. An important milestone for this has already been reached: The museum recently acquired their first NFT artwork – a work of art by conceptual artist and Schoenherr partner Guido Kucsko, that was also used in a Schoenherr team's self-experiment.
Facial recognition technology: regulations and use
In recent years there has been an increased use of technologies that match a person's digital image (eg, from a surveillance camera) to a picture database. These technologies facilitate various tasks, including:
The ECJ's VG Bild-Kunst case: Are there (legal) limitations to the use of links?
YES - In its previous case law, the court has recognised the importance of hyperlinks for the operation of the World Wide Web and for freedom of speech. On these grounds, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) generously allowed the use of links to make third-party content accessible via one's own website.
Checking In: Data Protection Compliance in CEE
For our Checking In feature, we reach out to partners and heads of practice across CEE to learn how specific practice areas are faring in their jurisdictions. This time around we asked Data Protection experts: Overall, how compliant would you say economic agents are with relevant local regulations on data protection, and what are the main gaps that have yet to be addressed?
Zum rechtskonformen Einsatz moderner Technologien im Beratungsalltag
Anforderungen des Berufsrechts an externe elektronische Datenverarbeitung iZm Cloud Computing
COVID-19 – a catalyst for digital assets and crypto trading regulation?
The economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has not only significantly changed the way we work, travel and shop, but has sent a large number of investors on the search for assets that can provide a safe haven during the ongoing crisis and its macroeconomic events.
IT projects: Everything agile or still waterfall?
Agile project methods have been a topic of conversation for years. There is hardly a management consultant who does not swear by them and hardly a company that does not prescribe "agile" as a miracle cure for many homemade problems. Agility in project management has almost become mandatory, for better or worse.
2021
Quickly adapt with an e-commerce presence and digital business models
The COVID-19 crisis has forced many businesses to sell their goods and services online. Limitations on the number of people who can enter a store or restaurant have made e-commerce solutions necessary even for companies that have never used this channel before.
New technologies and legislation: speed of developments vs. legal adaptations
From self-driving cars to AI and new forms of cybercrime: new technologies are developing faster and faster. And so are the legal challenges, particularly since the legislator is usually only able to react, and not to proactively set the course in this field.
Internet platforms do not have to report the true online identity of copyright infringers
The internet as a remote platform for day-to-day human interactions has been growing exponentially for many years – and internet crime along with it. Therefore, the existing legal framework, which often comes from the "offline" age, is sometimes tested for its ability to cope with the new online reality.
13 January 2021
T.Kulnigg J.Böszörményi C.Haid G.Leissler D.Rutecka F.Schneider M.Trautinger D.Tyrybon V.Wolfbauer
to the point: technology & digitalisation | January 2021
Cyber security: the last days for operators of essential services in Romania to notify CERT-RO
Operators of essential services are required to notify CERT-RO - the national competent authority for security of networks and information systems - for registration in the Register of operators of essential services by 17 December 2020. Otherwise, these companies risk fines of, in some cases; up to 5 % of their turnover.
Austria: Schoenherr advises voestalpine on foundation of technology joint venture for production of TransAnt
Schoenherr successfully advised voestalpine Stahl GmbH on the establishment of a joint venture with the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group for the production of the TransAnt – an innovative platform car. The 50/50 joint venture which aims to further combine the activities of both companies to additionally enhance the jointly developed TransAnt platform car is now entering a preparatory phase.
OGH - Aufgriffsrechte in der Insolvenz sind zulässig
Hintergrund: In der Praxis vereinbaren Gesellschafter einer Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) im Gesellschaftsvertrag häufig sog. Aufgriffsrechte, das sind im Wesentlichen wechselseitige Erwerbsrechte, die bei Eintritt von definierten Ereignissen (sog. "Aufgriffsfälle") zum Erwerb des Geschäftsanteils des vom relevanten Ereignis betroffenen Gesellschafters berechtigen. Ein Aufgriffsfall ist zB der Tod eines Gesellschafters, der eine natürliche Person ist.
Austria: Schoenherr advises sell-side in LINK Mobility's acquisition of WebSMS
Schoenherr advised the owners of the Austrian CPaaS ("Communication Platform as a service") companies atms, sms.at and their WebSMS brands (referred to as "WebSMS") on selling WebSMS to Norwegian LINK Mobility Holding ASA.
Ein Do-it-yourself-Weg zur Legal-Tech-Lösung
Für maßgeschneiderte Lösungen kann dennoch manchmal die Eigenentwicklung einer Legal-Tech-Plattform der richtige Weg zum Ziel sein. Die Erfahrung einer Großkanzlei
to the point: technology & digitalisation | October 2020
Welcome to the October edition of Schoenherr's to the point: technology & digitalisation newsletter!
We are excited to present a selection of legal developments in the area of technology & digitalisation in the wider CEE region.
Global Legal Insights to: Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Regulation 2021 - Chapter Montenegro
Czech Republic: Schoenherr advises Celonis SE on acquisition of Integromat group
Schoenherr advised Celonis SE ("Celonis"), a global leader in process mining software, on the acquisition of Czech Integromat, s.r.o. and its subsidiaries, one of the most progressive providers of automation software. The acquisition allows Celonis to achieve full synergy in the provision of process mining services offering professional automation solutions.
Austria: FMA publishes guidance on ICOs and token classification
The Austrian Financial Market Authority (Finanzmarktaufsicht, FMA) has recently published guidelines on how it views Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) from a financial services regulatory perspective.
Czech Republic: Schoenherr advises KB SmartSolutions, a.s. on the strategic entry and acquisition of a stake in Platební instituce Roger a.s.
Schoenherr advised KB SmartSolutions, s.r.o. ("KB Smart Solutions"), a subsidiary of Komerční banka, a.s. focusing on collaborating with innovative fintech companies and start-ups, on the strategic entry and acquisition of an almost 25 % share in Platební instituce Roger a.s., which connects investors with companies that suffer from long invoice maturities.
Another promotion at Schoenherr: Matthias Pressler becomes Counsel
Matthias Pressler, member of Schoenherr's banking, finance and capital markets practice in Vienna, was promoted to counsel as of 1 October 2020. Pressler joined Schoenherr in 2015, and is an expert in financial services regulation, covering both transactional work as well as contentious and non-contentious regulatory advisory matters and administrative (criminal) proceedings.
30 September 2020
C.Benes D.Tyrybon T.Kulnigg V.Wolfbauer M.Trautinger S.Khalil
to the point: technology & digitalisation l September 2020
Austria: Schoenherr advises Bitpanda on its USD 52 million Series A financing round
Schoenherr advised Austrian fintech Bitpanda, on the largest European Series A financing round in 2020 led by Valar Ventures, and including other fintech investors such as Speedinvest. The funding secures USD 52 million to further drive Bitpanda's expansion.
Disclosure obligations and liability of UUC platforms in focus
It was in the very first Technology newsletter in fall 2019 that I reported about referrals to the CJEU concerning disclosure obligations and liability of user uploaded content (UUC) platform providers in relation to illegal (copyright infringing) uploads.
31 August 2020
D.Hofmarcher V.Wolfbauer T.Kulnigg C.Haid S.Khalil D.Rutecka M.Trautinger
to the point: technology & digitalisation l August 2020
Mandatory e-communication for companies seated in Croatia
The digitalisation of the Croatian court system is proceeding and e-communication is expanding. Snail mail and "paper" communication are on the verge of extinction. As of 1 September 2020, all legal entities will have to use e-communication with the court.
Bulgaria: Schoenherr advises United Group on EUR 1.2 bln acquisition of Vivacom
Schoenherr has closed United Group's EUR 1.2 bln acquisition of Vivacom (Bulgarian Telecommunications Company EAD), the largest telecoms operator in Bulgaria. Signed in November 2019, this was the largest deal in Bulgaria in 2019 both in terms of value and size of the assets.
European Court of Justice invalidates "Privacy Shield" but affirms Standard Contractual Clauses
Decision of the CJEU dated 16 July 2020, Rs C 311/18
WIPO PROOF: Launch of new online service to create trusted tamper-proof evidence through timestamps
Companies spend a lot of time and money creating, innovating and protecting their intellectual property. When the protection fails due to unavailable or insufficient evidence, the frustration is understandably high.
30 June 2020
czech republic slovakia slovenia austria
M.Woller D.Rutecka V.Wolfbauer M.Trautinger T.Kulnigg G.Leissler
to the point: technology & digitalisation l June 2020
Welcome to the June edition of Schoenherr's to the point: technology & digitalisation newsletter!
Hungary: Data protection authority imposes highest post-GDPR fine
The Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (the "Authority" or "NAIH") recently imposed a fine of HUF 100m (approx. EUR 285,000) on one of the biggest electronic communication service providers Digi Távközlési Szolgáltató Kft. ("Digi").
to the point: technology & digitalisation l May 2020
Welcome to our May edition of Schoenherr's to the point: technology & digitalisation newsletter!
Czech Republic: Crowdfunding can help businesses overcome COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost all businesses worldwide and could end in collapse for many of them. One way businesses (especially SMEs) can get through this period and stand on their own two feet again is crowdfunding.
Global Legal Insight: Al, Machine Learning & Big Data 2020
The Global Legal Insights series provides essential insights into the current legal issues, providing readers with expert analysis of legal, economic and policy developments through the eyes of the world's leaders.
Czech Republic: Top ten most common mistakes in terms & conditions for e-shops (not only) in the time of coronavirus
Bulgaria: Lawyer Kristina Chakarova for the monitoring of mobile devices and the European experience
Under the state of emergency, a number of measures restricting personal freedoms were introduced. Among the controversial proposals was mobile device monitoring during the COVID pandemic.
One step towards virtual dispute resolution: hearings via videoconference
Court hearings via videoconference were unimaginable in Austrian courts pre-COVID-19. Witnesses could testify via videoconference in Austrian court proceedings only under certain circumstances, but they still had to attend court – just not the court in which the proceedings were pending.
Das COVID-19-GesG – aktuelles zu Virtuellen Versammlungen im Gesellschaftsrecht und zu elektronischen Notariatsakten
Der Nationalrat hat unter anderem im Zuge der COVID-19-Gesetzgebung mehrere gesellschaftsrechtliche Maßnahmen im Rahmen eines sog. gesellschaftsrechtlichen COVID-19-Gesetzes (COVID-19-GesG) beschlossen.
31 March 2020
czech republic poland slovenia austria
S.Bednář T.Kulnigg M.Trautinger V.Wolfbauer S.Khalil A.Lengger D.Rutecka
to the point: technology & digitalisation l March 2020
Welcome to our March edition of Schoenherr's to the point: technology & digitalisation newsletter!
We help Start-Ups!
In an attempt to help start-ups during the current corona situation obtaining the much needed financial liquidity support from their shareholders or other investors, we put together a short and simple forward equity agreement, the "Simple Equity Investment Contract (SEIC)".
Court hearing via social network – has Europe missed its chance?
Digitalisation is on everyone's lips. Parts of the judiciary – at least in some European countries – are hesitant. Austria introduced an electronic legal communication system for most Austrian courts decades ago.
The Police, Drones, and the Corona Pandemic – Reflections on Austria
The Corona pandemic is putting our world to an unexpected stress test. But despite all difficulties, in only a couple of weeks, people dramatically changed the way they work, shop, seek health care, and interact with each other.
26 February 2020
czech republic poland romania austria
T.Kulnigg M.Trautinger A.Lopatka-Sint D.Rutecka U.Rath C.Benes V.Wolfbauer
to the point: technology & digitalisation l February 2020
Welcome to our February edition of Schoenherr's to the point: technology & digitalisation newsletter!
Digital Signatures
More and more companies are using digital signatures to sign their contracts electronically. But is this permissible and are the contracts valid?
Freedom of contract (Vertragsfreiheit) is an underlying principle of Austrian contract law. A contract is defined as consenting declarations of an offer and an acceptance and, in general, neither offer nor acceptance requires a specific form under Austrian law. Moreover, oral agreements are legally binding and enforceable. Contracting parties are therefore free to choose any suitable form for a contract according to Section 883 of the Austrian civil law (Allgemein Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, "ABGB"), including tools to sign contracts electronically. This possibility to choose is called freedom of form (Formfreiheit), which is part of the mentioned freedom of contract ("Vertragsfreiheit").
The flying Fiaker: A case study
The Fiaker, a Viennese term for a horse-drawn four-wheeled carriage for hire (a "hackney coach"), has been trundling through the streets of Vienna for centuries. The first Fiaker was licensed in 1693. Back then, it was the first means of urban transportation to carry several passengers at once. Today, it is a tourist attraction and traffic obstruction. Nonetheless, the Fiaker survived and adapted. Just recently, the first electronic Fiaker hit the road in Vienna.1
Czech data protection authority: Can the employer enter into its employee's e-mailbox?
In January 2020, the Czech data protection authority (ÚOOÚ) published on its website an anonymised inspection protocol, which contains valuable information on how the authority assess checking and reading employee emails after the GDPR came into effect.
In the case in question, the authority received a complaint which reads that "… after an employee leaves, his e-mailbox, which contains both working and private data, is handed over to such employee’s supervisor, who has a full access to the e-mailbox, administers it and uses it…". The authority initiated an investigation in which it expressed (and protocoled) its opinions on accessing employee mailboxes.
Romanian fintech start-ups combine powers and create the first Romanian fintech association
For the last couple of years, the fintech industry has become of great interest in the Romanian entrepreneurial scene. Numerous Romanian start-ups or long-existing financial and IT companies have switched focus on what fintech means and on what it can bring to the table.
31 January 2020
D.Hofmarcher A.Pabst T.Kulnigg V.Wolfbauer M.Trautinger S.Bednář S.Khalil
to the point: technology & digitalisation l January 2020
Welcome to our third edition of Schoenherr's to the point: technology & digitalisation newsletter!
Telemedicine on the rise in Austria?
Seven out of the 328 pages of the new green/conservative government's programme are dedicated to the health sector. One bullet point on this programme for the next five years is to implement telemedicine treatment in the best possible way. The government further explains that it aims to promote digitalisation in diagnosis, treatment and medical research and thus strengthen Austria as a health hub.
Dashcams: Panta rhei in the data protection world?
At present it seems nothing about the GDPR is fixed or settled. This was recently illustrated by an update to the Austrian Data Protection Authority's (DPA) online information on dashcams. While dashcams are rumoured to be inadmissible in Austria, the DPA's update may revive this discussion.
Exchanging views on current trends in Legal Tech and financing transactions
Legal Tech is currently on everyone's mind and has also become a central topic in the context of financing transactions. While marketable applications for buzzwords such as "automated document generation" or "artificial intelligence" are often still in their infancy in the field of legal transactional advice, such applications can already make a significant contribution to the success of a transaction in the field of efficient process management, e.g. in connection with the satisfaction of conditions precedents under loan agreements.
Electromobility on the rise
As part of the EU's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 (effective from January 2020) laying down CO2 emission performance standards for new automobiles and new light commercial vehicles (the "Regulation") was issued. Under the Regulation, individual manufacturers (or associations of manufacturers under Article 6 of the Regulation) will be obliged, inter alia, to reduce emissions from new automobiles by 37.5 % by 2030 (compared to the 2021 target of 95 g CO2/km).
Together on the blockchain: Finding consensus in a decentralised network
An essential element of the blockchain and the technology behind it is the validation of transactions, i.e. confirmation that data in the blockchain ledger is entered rightfully1. But how, exactly, can data entered in a decentralised ledger be validated? Who does the validating? These questions arise once you look deeper into the workings and structure of transactions on the blockchain.
What is AI and why should lawyers care?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are familiar buzzwords when it comes to future technology and fundamental societal shifts. But what is it really all about and why is it so difficult to apply common legal concepts to these developments?
A new reality for ridesharing apps in Poland
The battle between traditional taxi drivers as well as their supporters and those advocating a more digitalised approach focused on ridesharing applications such as Uber, Lyft or Bolt began a few years ago and is being waged in almost every country. In Poland, Uber started back in 2014 as the first mobile taxi application on the Polish market. Taxi drivers began protesting the app almost immediately after it became clear that consumers preferred Uber's efficiency and prices to those of traditional taxis. Criticism from traditional taxi drivers about the safety of Uber and the qualifications of its drivers led to the need for legal changes. A first draft amendment of the Polish Act on Road Transport was submitted to the Council of Ministers in July 2017 (the "Amendment").
Romania: How to start-up an army of cyber guardians
This year, Romania's first tech unicorn reached a USD 7bln valuation. This has stirred things up, expanding the horizons for many Romanian entrepreneurs. While still far from being a major start-up ecosystem, the country is showing its potential, mostly due to high-quality tech talent available at still manageable costs.
Article 15(3) of GDPR and right to access files or documents – an Austrian perspective
Austria: Lawyer vs. Robot: Is there a future without human lawyers?
On 10 December, experts from both legal practice and academia spent the evening at the "Lawyer vs. Robot: A lost cause?" event which is part of the event series TECHNOLOGYLEGAL, a collaboration between Professor Christian Piska from the University of Vienna, and Christian Schmelz, partner at Schoenherr Vienna.
