News-Archive

On 3 February 2021, the German Federal Cabinet [Bundeskabinett] adopted a draft law to adapt copyright law to the requirements of the digital single market. EU member states must transpose the requirements of Directive (EU) 2019/790 ("DSM Directive") into national law by 7 June 2021. With the bill, its implementation is now close to completion.

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Detlef Scheele, the Chairman of the Board of the German Federal Employment Agency [Bun-desagentur für Arbeit], had recently reconfirmed in a newspaper interview that the Employment Agency is going to check every company that has received short-time work compensation. The final checks are scheduled to start in April 2021. Anyone who is not sure whether he did every-thing correctly or who already knows that mistakes were made should take action. Our partner Jörn Kuhn summarises the key points.

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The EU has adopted two directives to harmonise the European digital single market and ensure the highest possible level of consumer protection. In particular, these will noticeably change the law on sales contracts in Germany: on the one hand, the so-called "Sale of Goods Directive" ((EU) 2019/771 - Directive on certain aspects of the law applicable to contracts for the sale of goods) and, on the other hand, the "Digital Content Directive" ((EU) 2019/770 - Directive on certain aspects of the law applicable to contracts for the provision of digital content and digital services).

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Many trading companies are digitising their work processes. However, besides simplified processes and increased accessibility, there are also numerous risks: According to a survey by the German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media [Bundesverband Informationswirtschaft, Telekommunikation und neue Medien], approximately 75% of all of the companies questioned suffered a so-called cyber attack in 2018/2019.

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Oppenhoff has advised CCE Group on the implementation of the 107 MWp-Solar PV Park “Sol de Varas” in the north of Chile. Oppenhoff accompanied the complex contract drafting and negotiation process for the construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the utility scale solar park (EPC and O&M contracts), which has a design life of approximately 30 years.

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Chatbots are text-based dialogue systems that are primarily used by companies to communicate with their customers. Advanced systems are based on so-called machine learning (generation of knowledge from experience) and thus belong to the field of artificial intelligence. They can be used both in apps and on websites of the respective company.

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Smartphones not only serve as multimedia communication platforms, they have also become indispensable everyday companions, even "advisors" for all questions of our daily life, thanks to an almost endless selection of practical apps. Many of these apps - when set up accordingly - access the user's specific location to display shops, restaurants or special offers in the immediate vicinity.

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Oppenhoff is strengthening its position in Hamburg: corporate and insolvency lawyer Dr Sebastian Zeeck, LL.M., founding partner of Eversheds Sutherland's Hamburg office, joins the firm's Hamburg office as equity partner effective 1 February 2021.

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Since the first vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 was approved and vaccinations started in Germany in December 2020, there has been increasing discussion about compulsory vaccinations. The debate currently focuses on a sector-specific vaccination obligation for doctors and nursing staff.

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The technical implementation of distribution systems* usually involves the use of employees' personal data - for example, when they operate Click & Collect IT systems. This makes it imperative for dealers to comply with data protection regulations. For this reason, the involvement of the works council is often unavoidable. But does the complete ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system have to be negotiated with the works council if only online orders are concerned?

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