As soon as I got the opportunity to do a one-year postgraduate course in European law in the Netherlands after my studies at a law faculty in Prague, I knew immediately that I wanted to specialise in international trade law, technology law and intellectual property, as well as related aspects of competition law. I started in the Prague office of a global law firm where I was also interested in telecoms and technology transactions, as we were going through the dot.com boom, and I had the opportunity to work briefly in London. In 2001, we founded our law firm Havel & Partners and I continued in this specialisation. After 2008, I formed our dedicated Commercial IP and IT advisory group, where we are now fully engaged in all areas of intellectual property, digital economy, e-commerce, fintech, drones, autonomous cars, blockchain and technology transactions and all possible types of commercial contractual relationships, both domestic and cross-border.
robert.nespurek@havelpartners.czArticles by the author
RRTV to regulate all influencers like streaming platforms. Or not
Influencers who create audiovisual content may now be required to notify their activities as provision of on-demand audiovisual media services (ODAVMS) under a new interpretation by the Czech Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting (RRTV) and thus be subject to the same conditions as streaming
More funding for movies and video games or fees for streaming platforms: What changes does the amendment to the Audiovisual Act introduce?
The dynamic growth of the entertainment industry has not escaped the attention of Czech lawmakers, who have decided to address this trend with an amendment to the Audiovisual Act. The objective of the amendment is to modernise and strengthen the competitiveness of the Czech audiovisual market intern
Legal handbook for filmmakers: legal challenges of (co-)production – lights, camera, contract!
What legal steps must a producer take before the first clapperboard, to ensure their audiovisual work can see the light of day? Without solid legal foundations – from securing rights for individual shots to contractual relationships with each crew member – production can quickly turn into a nightmar
Legal handbook for filmmakers: The development phase as a foundation of any successful project
The development phase is the fundamental pillar of the production of films, series, or commercials. Be it a low-budget true crime documentary or a Hollywood blockbuster, producers and their partners always need to address fundamental issues concerning the new project before shooting begins. In this
When AI Meets Hollywood: Understanding the Legal Landscape of Digital Personas
The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is gradually making its way into a number of industries, including cinematography. The potential of AI to generate film characters, whether from scratch or based on a real-life counterpart, is driving the film industry deeper into the “tech waters”. In this cont
Questioning Loot Boxes: Gaming Fun or Hidden Gamble
In a world where video games have transformed from a mere leisure time activity into a cultural and economic phenomenon, the legal issues arising from it are as complex as they are fascinating. These include the concept of loot boxes – digital game packages with randomly selected prizes. Are these p
Computer games and consumer law – What should you be aware of as a player or developer?
Only few people realise that consumer protection regulations must also be respected when developing and playing computer games. It doesn’t happen very often, but even in the Czech Republic we have encountered inspectors from the Czech Trade Inspection Authority checking whether a computer game viola
Unique design, old problems. How to use Certoo to protect against design copying?
Design work is unique and enticing at the same time. But can something like this be protected from the persistent fingers of plagiarists? And can it be done quickly and cheaply? In the EDIT project, to protect his designs and design elements, Petr Novague also uses the online tool Certoo.
Multiplayer School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Video game modding and its copyright implications
Video games and "modding" - two terms that go increasingly hand in hand. With the growing availability of tools for modifying gaming systems, modding is becoming not only more widespread, but also a very popular way to improve individual games by “fans” themselves. But where does copyright law stand
Patent Revolution: Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court
As of 1 June 2023, the Unitary Patent (UP) system will become effective. With it, a brand-new institution – the Unified Patent Court (UPC) – will be established. As a result, the mechanism will introduce the biggest change in the area of patents in decades and will affect all European patents, also