Ignace Vernimme and Michiel Van Roey speak on IP rightsduring Agoria's Research & Standardization Event

Short Reads - The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) aims to strengthen the rights of individuals in respect of their personal data. Although this aim has been achieved to a certain extent, the fundamental framework of the way personal data is processed remains unchanged. Companies are still able to use large amounts of user data, in many cases without even obtaining their consent. Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, has announced his plans for a decentralised web, in which users remain in control of their personal data.

Short Reads - In het kader van de modernisering van het auteursrecht binnen de Europese Unie heeft het Europese Parlement op woensdag 12 september 2018 gestemd over het voorstel voor een Richtlijn van het Europees Parlement en de Raad inzake auteursrechten in de 'digitale eengemaakte markt' (ofwel de Digital Single Market, afgekort de 'DSM-richtlijn'). Met name artikel 13 van de DSM-richtlijn – de zogenaamde 'content filter'- wordt ontvangen met veel kritiek. In deze blog wordt kort ingegaan op de betekenis en de mogelijke gevolgen van artikel 13.

Articles - A Royal Decree stipulating some important amendments to the Belgian rules governing public takeover bids was published on 5 October 2018 (the “Royal Decree”). The Royal Decree follows the new Belgian Prospectus Law of 11 July 2018. The amendments at stake relate to, among others, the financing of public takeover bids, the disclosures of transactions during the offer period, the squeeze-out procedure, and the rules applying to companies listed on certain markets (other than regulated markets). This newsletter discusses the implications for listed companies and offeror(s).

Articles - Most combinations of listed companies take place by means of a public offer or legal merger.  Public mergers and acquisitions give rise to questions such as: