Recent Articles

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  28/04/2025

  Switzerland

  European Commission Report: Mapping Third-Party Funding in Litigation and Arbitration across Europe and beyond

  On 21 March 2025, the European Commission published the report "Mapping Third-Party Litigation Funding in the European Union", in response to a 2022 resolution by the European Parliament on responsible third-party funding (TPF).The Commission’s Report, which exceeds 700 pages and was conducted in collaboration with the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and the Asser Institute, examines the TPF landscape for litigation and arbitration across EU Member States and four non-EU countries – Canada, Switzerland, the UK, and the US – to inform potential future policy...

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  25/04/2025

  United Kingdom

  “Parasitic packaging”: The ongoing battle against ‘copycat’ products

  ‘Copycat’ products have attracted attention in recent years with high profile court actions, especially the infamous caterpillar cake wars, hitting the headlines. However, even with brand owners fighting back, the issue of copycats remains rife.The British Brands Group (“BBG”) recently conducted a comprehensive review[1] of copycat products and their “parasitic packaging”, uncovering the alarming number of products on the UK market which closely mimic well-known brands. These imitations not only threaten the originality and reputation of established brands but...

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  25/04/2025

  Hungary

  Hungary to introduce con­sti­tu­tion-based obligation to accept cash payments

  On 14 April 2025, the Hungarian parliament accepted a constitutional amendment that establishes cash payment as a fundamental right. On 23 April 2025, the Hungarian government submitted amendments to related consumer protection and e-commerce draft legislation and issued a government decree. The following article explores what this development means for businesses selling products or providing services in Hungary.Cash payment as a fundamental rightThe Fifteenth Amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law, accepted on 14 April 2025, elevates the right to pay in cash to the level of a fundamental...

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  25/04/2025

  Bulgaria

  Bulgaria high court rules agrivoltaics development should not be at the expense of agriculture

  In Decision No. 3 dated 23 April 2025, Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court ruled that Art. 2, para. 4 of the Agricultural Land Protection Act in the part “and for agrivoltaics – under conditions and in accordance with the procedure determined by an ordinance of the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works”, and Art. 17a, para. 3 of the Agricultural Land Protection Act in the part “of sites for the production of energy from renewable sources” violate the Bulgarian Constitution.With this ruling, the Court supported the opinion...

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  25/04/2025

  Hungary

  Hungary to introduce legislative package dramatically tightening drug laws

  The Hungarian government has announced it is getting tough on drugs.Lawmakers in Budapest will submit a legislative package in 2025 that amends existing narcotics laws and bolsters the government’s new zero-tolerance policy towards drug use.These proposed legislative changes filed with the National Assembly on 1 April 2025 as draft legislation reflect statements by the Hungarian government that the drug problem in Hungary has become increasingly prominent over the past ten years. In view of this, the declared aim of the amendments is "to completely eradicate the use, distribution and promotion...

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  24/04/2025

  Germany

  The EU Commission's AI Plans

  This article provides an overview of the EU Commission's AI measures in the 2025 Work Programme and the AI Continent Action Plan presented on 9 April.The EU has long recognised the relevance of artificial intelligence (AI) and is taking a variety of measures. The European Commission aims to make Europe an AI continent and to take a leading role in AI innovation worldwide. On 29 January 2025 the European Commission presented its "compass to regain competitiveness" in which it presents a roadmap for the economic policy priorities for the next five years. On 11 February 2025 the European Commission...

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