Latest articles
The German initiative WIN, backed by the government and over 30 major companies, pledges a €12 billion investment into startups by 2030. The goal is to boost innovation and competitiveness within Germany and Europe. This program opens new opportunities also for Czech and Slovak startups that can ben
H&P corporate judgment: Liability of foreign elected body members for company debts (September 2024)
As a judgment of the month of September (Case No. 27 Cdo 3032/2023) we present a landmark decision that sheds light on the international jurisdiction of courts in disputes involving the liability of an elected body member for a company’s debts. These disputes often arise when a member—frequently a f
HAVEL & PARTNERS provided comments to the ongoing review of the Czech merger control regime
The Czech Competition Authority (the “CCA”) initiated a public consultation concerning the proposed review of the Czech merger control regime. The review may result in the most extensive changes to the regime in decades. HAVEL & PARTNERS has submitted its comments to the consultation.
When to take over employees and when not to? (Overview of competitive events for July and August 2024)
We are pleased to present you with the forty-eighth instalment of the newsletter, which brings you interesting facts from the world of competition law for July and August 2024. Regular readers will know that this is a purely subjective selection of events that we found interesting this time.
A comprehensive guide to the AI Act – What it regulates, who it affects, and how to prepare for the new rules
In July, after more than three years, Regulation 2024/1689 of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (the “AI Act”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (EU) – the world’s first comprehensive regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) which has th
ESOP Myths | Myth #7: ESOPs are not safe
In this post of our series on ESOP myths, we discuss the concerns about the safety of ESOPs for companies and their shareholders. It comes as no surprise that this, too, is merely a myth. ESOPs can encompass enforceable rules and additional mechanisms to ensure their proper functioning and enforceab
Competition
HAVEL & PARTNERS provided comments to the ongoing review of the Czech merger control regime
The Czech Competition Authority (the “CCA”) initiated a public consultation concerning the proposed review of the Czech merger control regime. The review may result in the most extensive changes to the regime in decades. HAVEL & PARTNERS has submitted its comments to the consultation.
IP
How do geographical indications protect the quality of products and why do they matter more than ever this year?
Geographical indications are not just a bureaucratic term – they safeguard the unique qualities and reputations of specialty foods, wines, and spirits that stem from their distinct geographic origins. These appellations have become synonymous with credibility and originality, whether it is mountain
GDPR
The new Digital Markets Act and its impact on marketing of online stores
The long-awaited major change in the collection and use of cookies, which was supposed to ban third-party cookies in Google Chrome, is not taking place in the end. However, new obligations have already emerged in the shadow of the event, including the obligation to redesign cookie bars on websites b
Consumer
Czech and Slovak price reduction regulation – what is the same and what is different?
The new price reduction rules adopted to protect consumers from “fake” price reductions and price manipulation continue to be a hotly debated topic. While in the Czech Republic, the rules have been in force for almost two years, in Slovakia companies had to prepare for them as late as this July. For
Life Sciences
Boundaries of telemedicine defined – what will the new decree bring?
In early October, an amendment to the Health Services Act came into force, which brought a completely new definition of telemedicine – i.e. the provision of health services via information technology. The Ministry of Health has submitted a long-awaited decree to lay down more precise rules for the p
Corporate
H&P corporate judgment: Liability of foreign elected body members for company debts (September 2024)
As a judgment of the month of September (Case No. 27 Cdo 3032/2023) we present a landmark decision that sheds light on the international jurisdiction of courts in disputes involving the liability of an elected body member for a company’s debts. These disputes often arise when a member—frequently a f
Venture Capital
A Fresh Breeze from Germany: €12 Billion Boost for Startups
The German initiative WIN, backed by the government and over 30 major companies, pledges a €12 billion investment into startups by 2030. The goal is to boost innovation and competitiveness within Germany and Europe. This program opens new opportunities also for Czech and Slovak startups that can ben
Technology
A comprehensive guide to the AI Act – What it regulates, who it affects, and how to prepare for the new rules
In July, after more than three years, Regulation 2024/1689 of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (the “AI Act”) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (EU) – the world’s first comprehensive regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) which has th
Other fields
English Translation of the Czech Act on Class Actions
On 1 July 2024 the Act No. 179/2024 Coll. on on Civil Class Proceedings entered into force. Colleagues from the Litigation Department of HAVEL & PARTNERS have prepared an unofficial (and non-binding) English translation of the Act for free use by the professional community.
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