Joris Deene
The innovation deduction is an important tax benefit for Belgian companies investing in research and development (R&D), particularly in the software sector. To help companies and the tax administration...
Seven years of AVG: a legal review and outlook
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), better known as the GDPR, has been a cornerstone of data protection within the European Union since May 25, 2018. Now, seven years later, the privacy landscape continues to...
Incoterms and import tariffs: who pays the bill in Trump's trade policy?
Introduction: a costly misunderstanding In our daily practice as international corporate lawyers, we find that many entrepreneurs have a fundamental misunderstanding of Incoterms® and the distribution of...
Is the TC String a personal data and IAB Europe a data controller?
Introduction On May 14, 2025, the Market Court (Brussels Court of Appeal) ruled in an important case on data protection in the online advertising industry. The case revolves around IAB Europe and its...
Freedom of speech versus incitement to hatred: where is the line in political criticism?
Introduction On Dec. 6, 2024, the Antwerp Court of Appeal issued a judgment in a case that touches on the fundamental question: where is the line between permissible political criticism and punishable incitement to hatred...
EDPB opinions: binding or merely indicative?
Introduction On April 29, 2025, the General Court of the European Union ruled in Case T-319/24, in which technology giant Meta Platforms Inc. had appealed Opinion 08/2024 on valid...
Does a foreign webshop have to respect the Belgian right of withdrawal?
Antwerp Court of Appeal protects Belgian consumers in cross-border online purchases On Oct. 14, 2024, the Antwerp Court of Appeal issued a ruling on consumer rights in international e...
Can the police look into your phone?
For many, the smartphone has become an extension of ourselves. Our devices contain not only contact information and messages, but also photos, location data, banking information, browser history and...
When does the right to oblivion outweigh freedom of the press?
In a December 19, 2024 ruling, the Ghent Court of Appeals ruled on the balance between the right to oblivion on the one hand and freedom of the press on the other. This case touches on fundamental...
How legitimate is climate protest in museums?
Introduction In recent years, climate activists have attracted worldwide attention through their high-profile protests in museums. Iconic works of art such as Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," Vermeer's "Girl...
Are the contact details of a company's director also personal data?
The Court of Justice of the European Union issued an important ruling on April 3, 2025 (C-710/23) on the processing of personal data in official documents. This ruling clarifies when data from...
Can a critical press article be badmouthing?
On April 17, 2024, the president of the French-speaking enterprise court in Brussels ruled in a case concerning the limits of freedom of the press and malpractice. The case concerned a dispute between S.A. BioTempo, publisher...
Can YouTube decide to remove videos for disinformation?
In today's digital age, where social media platforms have become essential channels for public debate, a fundamental legal question arises: where is the line in Belgium between freedom...
What are the legal implications of Deep Saas?
The Software as a Service (SaaS) market is about to undergo a profound transformation. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, recently suggested that most SaaS applications are essentially no longer...
Can censorship of the press sometimes be permissible?
In an order dated Dec. 23, 2024, the judge of summary proceedings of the court of first instance in Liège imposed a temporary ban on publication on the newspaper Le Soir. This case, in which Maxime Degey (a local...
When is an employer responsible for unauthorized access to medical records?
The Belgian Data Protection Authority (GBA) published a decision on April 1, 2025 (64/2025) that offers interesting insights into the question of responsibility in cases of unauthorized access to medical...
Can a domain name be seized?
An order by the attachment judge at the Dutch-speaking court of first instance in Brussels brings clarification to a legal issue that is becoming increasingly relevant in our digital economy: can the...
Can I sue my bank if I am a victim of phishing?
In a recent ruling on Feb. 18, 2025, the French-speaking Court of First Instance in Brussels ruled on a phishing case and resulting liability. The case involved a...
Dutch 
English