IP | IT | Law

The Hamburg Regional Court, in the so-called Laion case, has become the first German court to rule on whether copyright is infringed when training artificial intelligence (AI). It has dismissed the lawsuit of a photographer, ruling that the use of his photo is justified under the text and data mining exception outlined in § 60d of the German Copyright Act (UrhG).

The transfer of data across international borders is essential for many companies in the digitalized world but poses significant regulatory challenges, particularly in the EU.

Following its failure to qualify for the League of Legends (LoL) Worlds 2024 for the first time since 2016, the e-sports organization Cloud9 has once again stirred up the LoL scene by unexpectedly terminating the contract of Joseph Joon "Jojopyun" Pyun, a player signed as recently as November 2023. The reason behind the termination is reportedly Jojopyun’s tardiness to training sessions, workouts, and meetings on at least 43 occasions.

The risk classification under the AI Act determines the obligations and requirements for companies using AI in their operations or products. In this article, we explain how the various risk classes are structured and how you can determine which category the AI-tools used or developed by you fall into.

The AI Act came into force this August. The first wave of obligations arising from it is fast approaching, with implementation beginning in February 2025. For companies using or intending to offer AI-based or AI-assisted products, determining whether the AI Act applies to them is crucial.

When considering the extent to which companies need to train their employees and whether an AI officer is required in connection with the use of AI, the future reference point will be the Artificial Intelligence Act (commonly referred to as the AI Act). The key provision is Article 4 of the AI Act, which regulates the requirements for companies regarding their „AI literacy.“ Article 4 stipulates that providers and operators of AI systems must take measures to ensure an „adequate level of AI literacy” among their employees and other persons involved in the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf. In addition to technical knowledge, the law also specifies appropriate training to determine the adequate level of literacy.

Open source software has become an integral part of software development. From a legal perspective, the extent to which rights to the end product can be acquired is relevant. In this article, we show what risks exist in the development and acquisition of software and how these can be overcome.

Even in times of the "eSports Winter," the gaming industry continues to grow steadily and has become one of the largest entertainment media in the world. Last year alone, the industry's revenue in Germany rose to nearly 10 billion euros. Innovative game concepts and unique game designs are crucial for the success of video games. The competition for media attention and players is fierce. It is not uncommon for basic concepts and game ideas of successful games to be adopted by competitors to offer similar games and benefit from the hype of the original game. It is therefore not surprising that legal proceedings in the industry are also increasing. The Cologne Regional Court recently dealt comprehensively with the copyright protection of game concepts and the limits of imitation.

The development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) raises numerous legal questions – particularly regarding liability.