Liberalisation of the Distribution of Medical Devices (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Christel Brion, Florence Verhoestraete, Jeroen Boelens en Vincent Wellens (NautaDutilh) Publication date: 19/02/2019 Until recently, certain medical devices could only be distributed in Belgium through limited channels (pharmacies or dental practitioners). In addition, Belgian law prohibited the sale of some medical devices directly to physicians; consequently, patients could obtain such devices only from pharmacies. A royal decree which…

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International Business Court to Put Brussels on the Map as a Hub for Cross-border Dispute Resolution (NautaDutilh)

Author: Alexander Roels (NautaDutilh) Publication date: 16/10/2018 On 15 May 2018, the Belgian government submitted a bill to Parliament which brings us one step closer to the creation of the Brussels International Business Court (BIBC), undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy judicial developments in recent years. Brussels as a centre for international dispute resolution With the…

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GDPR Bill Finally Released (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Heidi Waem and Louisa Vandepitte (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 13/06/2018 The Belgian GDPR bill is finally ready and has been submitted to Parliament for review. Please find below a brief summary of the bill’s main highlights of relevance to private companies. We will follow-up on the legislative process and will inform you once the text is…

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Important changes to Benelux Trade Mark Law as per June 1, 2018 (NautaDutilh)

Author: Charles Gielen (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 23/04/2018 The Benelux trade mark System will undergo two important changes as per June 1, 2018. Appeals from decisions of the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) Until now appeals from decisions of the BOIP in opposition cases were brought before the courts of appeal of The Hague, Brussels…

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Belgium : No Strict Liability for the Holder of an IP Right Enforcing a Descriptive Seizure (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Florence Verhoestraete, Tanguy de Haan en Christel Brion (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 29/03/2018 On 28 February 2018, the Brussels Court of Appeal rendered a decision in the Snowfall case on the issue of liability for harm caused by a so-called descriptive seizure (saisie-contrefaçon). The facts of the case can be summarised as follows. In 2010, the proprietor…

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Crocs killed its own design through public disclosure (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Tanguy de Haan, Anne Marie Verschuur and Vincent Wellens (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 14/03/2018 The General Court of the EU confirmed the cancellation of the registration for the famous design of Crocs clogs on the ground that it was disclosed to the public more than twelve months preceding the priority date. The facts The predecessor to the…

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Proceedings Before the Data Protection Authority (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Heidi Waem and Louisa Vandepitte (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 24/01/2018 On 10 January 2018, the Act on the creation of the Data Protection Authority (the “Act”) was published in the Belgian State Gazette. Further to our previous newsletter on the composition and powers of the Data Protection Authority (the “Authority”), this newsletter provides more information about…

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Bill to Align Belgian Patent Law to the UPC Agreement (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Tanguy de Haan, Florence Verhoestraete and Christel Brion (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 19/12/2017 Although Brexit has called into question the future of the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court, the Belgian legislature is nonetheless laying the necessary groundwork by ushering in various legislative changes. Indeed, if and when the European unitary patent becomes a reality, it will join…

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CJEU Upholds Prohibition on the Sale of Luxury Goods via Branded Third-party Internet Platforms (NautaDutilh)

Authors: Herman Speyart, Anne Marie Verschuur, Tanguy de Haan en Vincent Wellens (NautaDutilh) Date of publication: 07/12/2017 The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has just ruled, in the context of a selective distribution system for luxury goods, that contractual clauses prohibiting authorised distributors from selling those goods on branded third-party Internet platforms can be compatible with…

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Conflicterende belangen in Belgische vennootschappen (NautaDutilh)

Auteurs: Elke Janssens en Heidi Waem (NautaDutilh) Publicatiedatum: 16/10/2017 In ons Belgisch rechtsbestel zijn er maar weinig regels die conflicterende belangen tussen een vennootschap en haar werknemers, zelfstandige dienstverleners en management regelen. Wat bestuurders betreft, bevat het Wetboek van vennootschappen een regeling in geval van een conflicterend belang van financiële aard. Deze regeling beperkt zich…

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