Joris Deene
Millions of consumers download music and movies daily through streaming services to listen or watch them without an Internet connection. This raised the important legal question of whether manufacturers of...
Is complaining about your employer on Facebook a valid resignation?
Employees do frequently express frustrations about their jobs on social media. But can an employer simply interpret a negative Facebook message as a final dismissal? The answer is usually no, the will to...
Can a company challenge critical publications by an NGO or media through business law?
Yes, a company can take action against critical publications by an NGO or media organization through the cessation claim under the Code of Economic Law (WER). A March 30, 2026 ruling by the French-speaking...
Can you use a sample from another musical number?
Can you just use a sample from another song in your own music? According to an April 14, 2026 European Court of Justice ruling in the Pelham II case (C-590/23), this is only allowed under strict conditions....
When does the copying of a fashion design constitute an infringement
Copying someone else's designs is in principle allowed, unless one infringes on intellectual property rights such as copyright or engages in unfair market practices. In a ruling by...
Is a high severance fee for early termination of a b2b contract valid?
When early termination of a fixed-term business contract occurs, general terms and conditions often demand a fixed and sky-high termination fee. Since the introduction of the B2B legislation ter...
Why a standard SaaS contract is not suffucuent for AI providers
Many enterprises purchase AI applications under the cover of standard Software as a Service (SaaS) contracts, leading to significant legal blind spots. Whereas traditional software licenses merely cover the...
Can a company seek a prior injunction to prevent the broadcast of an investigative report?
Many business owners wonder if they can pre-emptively prohibit a media organization from broadcasting a potentially harmful report. The answer is theoretically yes, since (public) broadcasters such as...
Artificial intelligence in documentaries: what are the legal pitfalls for filmmakers?
More and more documentary filmmakers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create unique images, voices or storylines, but this innovation comes with legal risks. To avoid fines and...
Can a consumer organization publicly disparage a product?
When a testing organization questions the effectiveness of a product, it can have disastrous consequences for a company. Although freedom of the press and the right to consumer information have a broad...
Can a historical year in your brand name lead to the invalidity of your trademark?
The use of a fictitious or inherited founding year in a brand name can lead to the invalidation of that brand. The Court of Justice ruled in a March 26, 2026, ruling that such a year...
Who bears the risk in invoice fraud: the debtor, the creditor or the bank?
Invoice fraud is a persistent and growing problem for businesses, with fraudsters intercepting payment transactions and manipulating bank information. When you as a customer unknowingly pay on the forged...
Are you allowed to share a video of a public space incident on social media?
Online sharing of footage showing antisocial or dangerous behavior in traffic is becoming more common. But may you simply publish such videos without violating privacy or personal...
Should international streaming services co-pay for local productions?
International streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ can be legally required by Belgian authorities to contribute financially to the local audiovisual sector. The Constitutional Court ruled in...
Can a competitor simply imitate your product or packaging? The limits of parasitic competion after the Capri Sun ruling
May a competitor imitate the design of your successful product if there is no intellectual property right on it? Yes, as a rule, you may. The Supreme Court's Capri Sun ruling of March 2, 2026 confirms...
Doxing and stalking: when does the dissemination of personal data online effectively lead to a conviction?
The correctional court has jurisdiction to try doxing - the Supreme Court said so in a June 4, 2025 ruling. But jurisdiction is not the same as conviction. In a March 11, 2026 ruling, the...
May your company collect testimony about a competitor through social media?
Companies are increasingly confronted with negative posts or calls for testimonials on social media by competitors or interest groups. May an association simply launch an online call to...
Can you unilaterally terminate an IT contract if the budget derails?
When an IT project drastically exceeds agreed budgets, the question often arises as to whether you, the client, may unilaterally terminate the contract. A ruling by the French-speaking Business Court of Brussels from 1...
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