IP-transactions

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.

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has far-reaching impacts on all areas of life. The European Union (EU) has recognized that an appropriate legal framework is necessary to ensure the responsible use of AI and aims to be a leader in trustworthiness as well as innovation. For this reason, the AI Act has been enacted. The regulation, which has direct effect in the member states, sets clear rules and standards for dealing with AI models, AI systems, and AI content.

Thanks to the Madrid Agreement concerning the international registration of trade marks, a single application can be filed to obtain international protection for a national or EU trade mark that has already been applied for or registered in the other member states of the Agreement. This now applies to 130 countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Qatar has now also officially joined the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

American journalist Jeff Javis is Niko Härting's guest in episode 76.

The computer game Palworld from the Japanese developer studio Pocket Pair was released less than a month ago and has since been the subject of numerous accusations of plagiarism, particularly in social media. The accusation from users is that Palworld is a Pokémon clone that makes illegal use of the Pokémon Company's ideas and intellectual property.