Europe: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

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The EU's AI Act, which came into force on August 1st, 2024, represents the world's first comprehensive AI law with significant global implications. This briefing examines ten key questions about the Act's requirements...

On 11 August 2026, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court handed down a decision in cases 1C_317/2025 and 1C_319/2025, ruling for the first time that wellness and leisure facilities – including fitness rooms, saunas, indoor pools with Jacuzzis, and game rooms – qualify as main usable surfaces (MUS) under Art. 11 para. 2 of the Swiss Second Homes Act (SHA; "Lex Weber").

The German Federal Court of Justice has delivered a landmark ruling in the decades-long "Metall auf Metall" litigation, applying the EU Court of Justice's framework to determine whether unauthorized music sampling can qualify as lawful "pastiche" under German copyright law. This decision provides crucial guidance on the boundaries between copyright protection and creative reuse in the music industry, while confirming that pastiche remains a narrowly structured exception rather than a general license to samp

The German Federal Court of Justice has delivered a landmark ruling in the decades-long "Metall auf Metall" litigation, applying the EU Court of Justice's framework to determine whether unauthorized music sampling can qualify as lawful "pastiche" under copyright law. The decision examines whether a two-second rhythm sequence from Kraftwerk's 1977 recording, used repeatedly in a 1997 song, constitutes permissible artistic dialogue or copyright infringement.

The High Court examined whether an events company's use of prestigious brand names like VANITY FAIR and GQ on its website constituted trade mark infringement and passing off. The case centered on whether promotional references to exclusive invitation-only events crossed the line from legitimate identification to misleading consumers about a commercial connection with the trade mark owner.

From Leicester City's sale and Grand Slam Track's payment crisis to LIV Golf's cancelled championship and Liverpool's blockbuster investment, this roundup examines the financial turbulence and strategic shifts reshaping professional sports. The analysis also explores Formula E's streaming partnership with Disney+ and Paul Pogba's unexpected venture into Saudi camel racing.

Recent ASA decisions highlight how AI-generated advertising content can perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and offensive imagery, particularly through deepfake technology. As generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent in marketing campaigns, regulators are emphasizing that marketers remain fully responsible for ensuring their AI-generated content complies with advertising standards, regardless of the technology used to create it.

De naam, het portret en de online zichtbaarheid van een sporter kunnen een grote commerciële waarde vertegenwoordigen. Maar wie mag dat beeld gebruiken, voor welke doeleinden en hoelang? En wat gebeurt er wanneer afspraken met een persoonlijke sponsor botsen met verplichtingen tegenover een club of sportbond?

The European Court of Justice's Advocate General has delivered an opinion suggesting that the proportionality of data retention regimes should be assessed not only by the categories of data retained, but also by the technical arrangements surrounding that retention. This opinion raises questions about whether Ireland's 2022 Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act provides sufficiently...

Acquiring or developing land with telecoms apparatus requires careful navigation of the Electronic Communications Code. Operators hold powerful statutory protections that can restrict landowners' ability to relocate or remove equipment, creating potential delays and unexpected costs. Understanding your rights and obligations early in the development process is essential for managing timelines, negotiating effectively, and avoiding complications once construction begins.

Telecoms operators rely on the Electronic Communications Code to secure rights over land, but landowners retain important powers that can affect network deployment and maintenance. Understanding the interplay between statutory protections, lease renewal regimes, and contractual relocation provisions is essential to managing risk and avoiding costly disputes over apparatus installation and removal.