Latest blog articles

  • Myth: Companies are only after maximizing their profits

    The recent case of the Volkswagen emissions scandal can be an example of how the law also upholds the interests of the environment towards companies. These are all examples of the law keeping companies in check, but in the past couple of years companies have taken it a step further.

    VW_old-factory
  • Are open designs truly free?

    A handbook, a practical tool for users”; this is how Dr. Thomas Kirchberger defines his thesis, in which he covers the relation between Open Design and Intellectual Property. On Friday 29th of September 2017, Dr. Kirchberger came to our Law Faculty to discuss this topic and analyse how open design...

    creative-commons license
  • German Amtsgericht on the duty to rescue

    A 83-year-old man suffered severe brain damage due to a fall in a bank. The man was brought to a hospital where he died one week later. A medical report then showed that the lack of assistance did not (even partly) contribute to the man’s unfortunate death. Still, the refusal to help had certain...

    Oude man op bank
  • Increased pressure on law enforcement from organised crime

    While there are no indications that the number of serious violations of integrity in law enforcement has increased over the past five years, the violations are getting more serious. Investigating authorities such as the Dutch National Police Internal Investigations Department are faced with more...

    Lady justice
  • The importance of a flexible AOW commencement date

    Last week, the Dutch and Belgian ombudsmen called on their governments to take action in the context of pensions problems for unemployed cross-border workers, aged 65, and living in Belgium. In response to this call, a possible solution by Expertise Centre ITEM is elaborated in this blog.

    This blog...

    Grenswerkers NL/BE
  • Does the asylum seeker tell us a true story?

    Asylum seekers usually do not cross borders with a bag of documents. They have lost their personal belongings or have been confiscated by smugglers. Oral statements are therefore the only proof of origin. (Dutch only) 

    Gehoorkamer