The forthcoming GLaw-Net conference (to be held in Maastricht on 22 and 23 June 2026) will bring together the researchers from the participating institutions of the sectorplan group ‘ Transformative Effects of Globalisation in Law ’ to discuss their work in progress and establish potential synergies.
Bridging the valley of death: a socio-legal theoretical exposition
PhD thesis by Krishnamani Jayaraman
With great sadness, we share the news of the passing of our colleague Erik van Rossum. Erik was seriously ill since October 2025 and was therefore forced to step down from his professional duties.
Erik worked as a senior researcher at the Department of Health Services Research and was highly active within the Living Lab in Ageing & Long-term Care, where he was dedicated to strengthening the connection between research, education, and practice. In addition, he was Professor (Lector) at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences where he focused on community care and was the programme leader on this theme within the Expertise Centre for Innovative Care and Technology (EIZT).
In his research, Erik focused on the development and evaluation of innovations aimed at supporting the self-reliance of vulnerable groups in the community, particularly older people. Maastricht University and Living Lab in Ageing & Long-term Care are deeply grateful to Erik. He made a significant contribution to improving care and support for older people in daily practice, as well as to shaping new research agendas. On behalf of the Samenwerkende Academische Netwerken Ouderenzorg in the Netherlands (SANO), Erik led the development and publication of the scientific knowledge agenda for long-term care, which has been published annually since 2022 and which he personally presented to the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Chair of ZonMw.
We are deeply shocked by his passing and have lost more than a colleague. Erik was for many an inspiration, mentor, and friend. He was known for his sharp mind, modesty, expertise, and his ability to connect people. Colleagues valued him for his collegiality and genuine interest in others. The many students and PhD candidates he supervised appreciated him for his expertise and his role as a role model. Beyond his professional qualities, Erik was above all a warm and compassionate person. He had a keen eye for those around him and, with his calm and sincere personality, created a positive atmosphere both within teams and beyond. For many, he was an inspiring colleague and a valued sparring partner.
We are grateful to Erik for everything he meant to the field and to his colleagues. We will deeply miss his passion for care, his personality, and his expertise.
Our thoughts are with his partner Joke, his daughters Karlijn and Eline, and his family. We wish them strength and courage during this difficult time.
On behalf of all colleagues of the Department of Health Services Research and the Living Lab in Ageing & Long-term Care
Marijn van der Sluis analyses Europeanisation of national budgets in student Jean Monnet Lecture
Dr. Marijn van der Sluis delivered a student Jean Monnet Lecture on 21 April, analysing the Europeanisation of national budgets and the evolution of EU economic governance.
Tim Rühlig engages audience in interactive student Jean Monnet Lecture on EU-China relations
Dr. Tim Rühlig (EUISS) delivered a student Jean Monnet Lecture at Maastricht University on 15 April, addressing EU-China relations in a shifting global context.
AI-Generated Representations of Architectural Works and Limits of Architectural Copyright
- Law
Copyright lawsuits in the US brought by groups of writers, artists, and musicians against AI developers have mainly focused on the AI training stage rather than the output stage. One of the reasons for this focus is that claimants often struggle to demonstrate that AI outputs are copies of original works. Architecture is different: where general-purpose AI models like GhatGPT reproduce copyright-protected architectural designs, the similarity is remarkable and therefore it becomes easier to demonstrate copying. While we have not seen lawsuits from architects yet, they are likely to be unsuccessful nevertheless. Why?
