AI Act and Contracts: Why AI Compliance Starts at the Negotiation Table
25.03.2026 Gernot Fritz, Tanja Pfleger, Amina Kovacevic When companies deploy AI today, they rarely do so entirely in-house. In practice, systems are typically procured, integrated, or accessed via platforms. Companies are therefore not merely acquiring technology, but often complex, dynamic systems whose functionality, data basis, and behaviour continuously evolve. This is precisely where a key […]
The EU’s First Draft Code of Practice on AI Transparency
From “label your deepfakes” to a full content provenance and governance framework 08.01.2026by Gernot Fritz, Tanja Pfleger Transparency is one of the cornerstones of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). Yet, until recently, it remained unclear what transparency would mean in practice for generative AI systems and their users. Is it enough to add […]
CJEU in Russmedia Digital: platform operators as controllers for (sensitive) user data – the end of the provider privilege in relation to personal data processing
17.12.2025by Gernot Fritz, Tanja Pfleger On 2 December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered a judgment that will reverberate far beyond the facts of the case at hand. In Russmedia Digital and Inform Media Press (C-492/23), the Court fundamentally recalibrated the role of online platforms under EU data protection law. The […]
Where mere Advertising Ends and Trade Marks Begin: The New EUIPN Common Practice on Slogans
27.11.2025Helmut Liebel, Hannah Kercz For a long time, slogans were considered difficult candidates for trade mark applications: too promotional, too interchangeable, too little indication of origin. The EUIPN (European Union Intellectual Property Network) common practice adopted on 8 November 2025 now makes it clear: slogans are not subject to stricter examination criteria than other types […]
When the camera sees too much: Why IKEA should pay millions for looking too far
16.10.2025by Dr. Helmut Liebel / Marie Pfisterer In its ruling of 25 July 2025 (W258 2299744-1), the Federal Administrative Court confirmed a fine of EUR 1.5 million against IKEA for unlawful video surveillance. The sum seems high, but is relatively low compared to the possible maximum amount. Because GDPR fines are based on global group […]
A big step for accessibility – the new BaFG standard
28.07.2025by Dr. Helmut Liebel Since 28 June 2025, accessibility is no longer a “nice to have” – it is a duty. With the new Accessibility Act (BaFG), Austria is implementing the requirements of the European Accessibility Act. This has far-reaching consequences for companies, especially in the digital sector. 1. What does “accessibility” mean for products […]
Highest fine ever imposed in Austria – EUR 70 million for violating the standstill obligation
13.02.2025 In a landmark decision for the future practice of fines in Austria, the Supreme Court as the higher cartel court has increased a fine set by the cartel court from EUR 1.5 million to EUR 70 million. The background to this is the prohibited implementation of a merger (OGH 28.01.2025, 16 Ok 5/24g). What […]
The Austrian “sustainability exception” – the (green) opportunity for cooperation between competitors
12.02.2025 Against the backdrop of the European Green Deal, the issue of whether sustainability aspects can play a role in antitrust law has come to the fore in the EU. Central questions were, in particular, whether environmental and climate initiatives between competitors (“sustainability agreements” or “sustainability cooperation“) can be exempted from the ban on cartels […]
AI in the Spotlight: The Legal Revolution of Artificial Intelligence
by Helmut Liebel und Lukas Weber In the latest development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), the European Union has today, 12 July 2024, published a regulation that represents a milestone for this technology. The Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation 2024/1689) (AI Act) will apply from 2 August 2024. The AI Act aims to standardize and secure […]
EU-US Data Privacy Framework: “Data traffic between the EU and the US is possible again” or “Will the third time be the charm?”
On 10 July 2023, the European Commission adopted its adequacy decision, putting the EU-US Data Privacy Framework directly into effect. This successor to the EU-US Privacy Shield and the Safe Harbour Agreement is once again intended to enable “simple” data transfers between the EU and the USA. Essentially, it implements guarantees and criteria to comply […]
A New Liberal Red-White-Red Card Regime Entered Into Force on 1 October 2022
Scroll down for Ukrainian version 04 October 2022 With the implementation of the Red-White-RedCard (the RWR Card), Austria has created a flexible immigration regime that allows skilled workers from third countries (i.e., persons who are not citizens of an EU / EEA member state or Switzerland) and their family members to immigrate to Austria, living […]
Road transport liberalization agreement EU-Ukraine
Scroll down for Ukranian translation EU and Ukraine have signed the agreement on liberalization of the carriage freight operations & recognition of driving licences: key changes On 29 June 2022, the European Union (EU, Union) and Ukraine signed the Agreement on the carriage of freight by road (Agreement)[1] with the aim of liberalizing transit and […]
E+H strengthens antitrust team with additional lawyer from its own ranks
EHLegalUpdate – HR / Employment Law: May 2022
Information on current EU sanctions against Russia’s military aggression
Russia / Belarus – Sanctions 2022: Acceptance of payments or deliveries from Russia / Belarus?
Residence and employment of Ukrainian refugees
Stricter duties of the management and supervisory board in group-relevant transactions
What’s new in Austrian merger control?
Recap after one month with the second domestic threshold and update of the Joint Guidance Paper on the Transaction Value Test by the Austrian FCA and the German FCO Recap after one month: Introduction of second domestic threshold in the primary turnover thresholds test In January 2022, only 23 filings were submitted to the […]