Events

Dutch courts have a long tradition of granting cross-border injunctions in IP cases. They never stopped doing so in "soft" IP cases, where the law is harmonised to a large extent (as recently confirmed again by the CJEU for copyright in Mio/Konektra), and have also granted them in preliminary injunction proceedings in patent cases. Following last year's CJEU decision in BSH/Electrolux, the door seems open for more extensive use including in patent proceedings on the merits. This presents opportunities for right holders seeking to effectively enforce their IP rights on a pan-European level (and beyond) in a single, coordinated action.

More than four years have passed since an unprecedented series of EU sanction packages were imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Over the course of these four years, EU sanctions law has matured and continues to evolve. In this year's session, we will take stock of the main developments and discuss the latest restrictions added. We will also take a closer look at the recently submitted Dutch International Sanction Measures Bill, which is likely to be enacted in the near future. Naturally, we will also touch on the snap-back of EU sanctions against Iran. Last but not least, we will assess the current status of export controls and the trend towards national control lists

As competition authorities around the world step up enforcement, the importance of compliance has never been greater. Businesses must be acutely conscious of the dividing line between legitimate commercial behaviour and illegal anticompetitive practices.Effective compliance is not simply a matter of having the right processes in place. It requires a genuine, company-wide compliance culture, starting from the tone at the top. Fostering such a culture begins with the commitment of management to ensure that actionable and tailored guidance is available to employees at all levels. Mechanisms for reinforcing compliance range from in-person training and eLearning to internal audits and anonymous complaint processes. All these compliance efforts require continuous evaluation of their effectiveness. A true compliance culture also demands cooperation with authorities. Operationalising practical dawn raid procedures ensures such cooperation while safeguarding rights of defence and other key interests.