BUSINESS LAW I
SUMMARY
Academic Year 2024-2025
0
,Table of contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1
PREFACE: 6
LIST OF USED ABBREVIATIONS: 7
RELEVANT ARTICLES: 9
EXTRA REFERENCED LEGISLATION: 13
CHAPTER 1 THE LAW: 14
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW: 14
LEGAL SYSTEMS AND LEGAL FAMILIES: 14
LEGAL FAMILIES: 14
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LAW IN WESTERN EUROPE 15
FIELDS OF LAW 17
PUBLIC – PRIVATE LAW: 17
SUBSTANTIVE LAW AND PROCEDURAL LAW: 18
NATIONAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW AND TRANSNATIONAL LAW: 18
FUNCTIONAL FIELDS OF LAW: 18
SOURCES OF LAW: 18
FORMAL SOURCES OF LAW & MATERIAL SOURCES OF LAW 18
TREATIES: 19
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW: 19
LEGISLATION/STATUTORY LAW/STATUTE LAW: 20
CASE LAW / JUDICIAL PRECEDENT / JUDGE MADE LAW: 20
EQUITY: 21
CUSTOMARY LAW: 21
CONTRACTS: 22
SOFT LAW: 22
JURISPRUDENCE: 22
KEY CONCEPTS OF LAW: 23
LEGAL SUBJECTS: 23
LEGAL COMPETENCE, STATUS AND CAPACITY TO ACT. 23
RIGHTS, DUTIES/OBLIGATIONS, PROHIBITIONS AND PERMISSIONS: 24
CHAPTER 2: THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS LEGAL SYSTEM 25
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 25
EU MEMBERSHIP: 26
EU’S PURPOSE AND IDENTITY: (P.12-13) 26
VALUE AND AIMS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 26
SYMBOLS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 26
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 27
OVERVIEW: 27
1
,EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: 27
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: 28
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 28
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: 29
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 30
LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 31
HIERARCHY OF SOURCES: 31
PRIMARY SOURCES OF EU LAW: 31
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED BY THE EU: 31
SECONDARY SOURCES OF EU LAW: 32
CASE LAW OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU: (ART. 19 TEU P.16, ART. 267 TFEU P.71) 32
WHERE TO FIND EU LAW: 32
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EU LAW AND NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEMS: 33
EU – SUPRANATIONAL ORGANISATION: 33
PRINCIPLES OF CONFERRAL, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY: 33
DOCTRINE OF SUPREMACY: 35
DISTINGUISHING EU FROM OTHER FORMS OF CROSS-BORDER COOPERATIONS IN EUROPE: 35
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: 35
EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION: (EFTA) 35
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA: (EEA) 36
EURO AREA: 36
SCHENGEN AREA: 36
CHAPTER 3: INTERNAL MARKET LAW 37
FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS: 37
CONCEPT AND LEGAL BASIS: 37
ADOPTION OF A COMMON EXTERNAL TARIFF: 37
PROHIBITION OF CUSTOMS DUTIES AND CHARGES HAVING AN EQUIVALENT EFFECT: 37
PROHIBITION OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AND MEASURES HAVING AN EQUIVALENT EFFECT: (ART. 34-36 TFEU
P.31) 38
FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT: 39
CHAPTER 4: COMPETITION LAW 40
SCOPE OF APPLICATION ART. 101 & 102. TFEU: 40
UNDERTAKING: 40
EFFECT ON TRADE BETWEEN THE EU MEMBER STATES: 40
PROHIBITION OF RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES: 41
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 41
EXCEPTIONS: 42
BLOCK EXEMPTIONS: 42
INDIVIDUAL EXEMPTIONS: 42
LEGAL EFFECTS: 42
PROHIBITION OF ABUSE OF A DOMINANT MARKET POSITION: 43
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 43
ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES: (ART. 3 EC N°1/2003 P.112, ART. 7, 8 EC N°1/2003 P.114, ART. 23 EC N°1/2003
P.117) 44
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW: 44
2
,SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 44
TYPES OF PRODUCTS: 45
TYPES OF CONTRACTS: 45
RIGHT TO INFORMATION: 46
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 46
REQUIRED INFORMATION: 46
FORMAT OF THE INFORMATION: 47
RIGHT TO FAIR CONTRACT TERMS: 48
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 48
GENERAL UNFAIRNESS TEST: 48
NATIONAL LISTS OF UNFAIR TERMS: 49
LEGAL EFFECTS: 49
RIGHT TO FAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES: 49
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 50
GENERAL UNFAIRNESS TEST: 50
TYPES OF UNFAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES: 51
EU LIST OF UNFAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES: 52
RIGHT TO WITHDRAW: 53
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 53
EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW: 53
LEGAL EFFECTS: 54
RIGHT TO CONFORMITY: 56
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 56
CONFORMITY REQUIREMENTS: 57
LIABILITY: 58
LEGAL REMEDIES: 58
CHAPTER 6: PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW 60
SCOPE: 60
JUSTIFICATION GROUNDS: 62
CONTRACT: 62
LEGAL OBLIGATION: 62
LEGITIMATE INTEREST: 63
CONSENT: 63
SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA: (ART. 9 GDPR P.191) 65
DATA CONTROLLER & DATA PROCESSOR: 66
IDENTITY: 66
OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITY: 67
GDPR PRINCIPLES & RIGHTS: 68
PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA: (ART. 5 GDPR P.189) 68
A PERSON’S RIGHTS: 69
COMPLIANCE: 71
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH GDPR REGULATION: 72
CONDUCTING A DPIA (DATA PROTECTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT): (ART. 35 GDPR P.199) 72
DATA PROTECTION OFFICER (DPO): 72
DATA BREACHES: 73
DIRECT MARKETING: 74
CHAPTER 7: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 75
3
,LEGAL FRAMEWORK: 75
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS: 76
IP RIGHTS PROTECT EXPRESSED IDEAS: 76
IP RIGHTS PROTECT INTANGIBLE OR IMMATERIAL ASSETS: 76
IP RIGHTS GRANT EXCLUSIVITY TO THE RIGHT HOLDER: 76
IP RIGHTS APPLY ERGA OMNES: 77
IP RIGHTS ARE TEMPORARY: 77
IP RIGHTS ARE TERRITORIAL: 77
IP RIGHTS CREATE BUSINESS VALUE: 77
EU TRADEMARK: 77
TRADEMARK PROTECTION IN THE EU: 78
SUBJECT MATTER: 79
EXCLUDED MATTERS: 80
REGISTRATION AS A FORMAL REQUIREMENT: 80
REGISTRATION PROCESS: (ART.30-51 EUTMR P.310-316) 81
REGISTRATION THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL MADRID SYSTEM: 82
RIGHTS GRANTED TO EUTM HOLDERS: 82
LIMITATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF EUTM HOLDERS: (ART.14-15 EUTMR P.307) 82
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS: 83
DURATION OF THE PROTECTION: 83
TERRITORIAL SCOPE OF PROTECTION: 83
ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES: 83
COPYRIGHTS: 84
COPYRIGHT IN THE EU: 84
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 85
AUTOMATIC PROTECTION: 85
RIGHTS GRANTED TO COPYRIGHT HOLDERS: 85
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS: 87
TERM OF PROTECTION: 87
TERRITORIAL SCOPE: (ART. 8.1 ROME II NOT IN CODEX) 88
ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES: 88
THE EUROPEAN PATENT: 89
PATENTS IN THE EU: 89
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 90
REGISTRATION: 90
REGISTRATION PROCESS: 91
PROTECTION THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PATENT COOPERATION SYSTEM: (PCT P.227) 92
RIGHTS GRANTED TO EUROPEAN PATENT HOLDERS: 93
DURATION OF PROTECTION: 93
TERRITORIAL SCOPE: 94
ENFORCEMENT: 94
REMEDIES: 94
TRADE SECRETS: 94
SUBJECT MATTER: 94
REMEDIES: 95
DURATION AND TERRITORIAL SCOPE: 95
CHAPTER 8: COMPANY LAW 96
LEGAL FRAMEWORK: 96
COMPANIES ESTABLISHED UNDER EU LAW: 96
4
,THE COMPANY AND OTHER COMMON BUSINESS STRUCTURES: 96
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP: 96
PARTNERSHIPS: 97
COMPANIES: 98
OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESS STRUCTURES: 98
DEEP DIVE INTO COMPANIES: 99
LEGAL PERSONALITY: 99
LIMITED LIABILITY: 99
SHARED INVESTOR OWNERSHIP: 99
SINGLE MEMBER COMPANIES: 100
TRANSFERABILITY: 101
PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND LISTED COMPANIES: 102
DELEGATED MANAGEMENT UNDER A BOARD STRUCTURE: 103
WEALTH-ENHANCING PURPOSE: 104
5
,Preface:
Dear fellow Business Law I student,
This summary is for the Course Business Law I on the VUB taught by Prof. Coen.
The summary is based on the syllabus (I corrected all mistakes I was able to find) and the relevant
selecbon of Arbcles of Treabes, Agreements, Regulabons, Direcbves…
Thus, if using this summary to study for the upcoming exams I strongly recommend you buy the most
recent version of the Codex.
I used Codex 2024 “European Business Law” by Tina Coen
The summary consists of:
- A list with abbreviabons and their meaning used in the summary or the syllabus
- A list with all relevant arbcles (Art.) you will find in the syllabus and even some that weren’t
menboned but do contain very valuable informabon relevant to the covered subjects. I put a
lot of bme in finding all relevant arbcles going through the codex page-by-page.
- The summary of the syllabus.
A lot of the relevant arbcles in the summary part will come in this format:
Art. 14 TEU p.14
Art. = Short for Arbcle
14 = The number of the Arbcle
TEU = The abbreviated name of the relevant law, treaty… (in rare cases the full name)
p.14 = The page and its number where to find the arbcle in the Codex.
The images above serve as an example how to highlight in your codex. I recommend reading the arbcle
and highlighbng only the part which immediately indicates the content of the arbcle or what it
references to in the summary. Otherwise, you’re going to be losing bme reading enbre arbcles to find
the relevant key word. What I also recommend is the use of something to indicate where the beginning
of for example a treaty or a regulabon is.
All there is lej for me to do is to wish you the best of luck with your exams.
(ps: Don’t stress too much, get enough sleep and don’t give up!)
Kind regards,
K.H.
“Nemo Censetur Ignorare Legem”
6
,List of used abbrevia/ons:
Art. = Arbcle
BCE = Before Chrisban/Common Era
BCIP = Benelux Convenbon on Intellectual Property
BENELUX = Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg
B2C = Business to Consumer
CA. = Circa/around
CD’s = Custom Dubes
CE = Current Era
CET = Common External Tariff
CEE’s = Charges having Equivalent Effect
CFREU = Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
CJEU = Court of Jusbce of the European Union
CoJ = Court of Jusbce
CRD = Consumers Rights Direcbve
CRM = Collecbve Rights Management (Direcbve)
CS3D = Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Direcbve
DCD = Digital Content Direcbve
DRM = Digital Rights Management
DSM = Digital Single Market (Direcbve)
EC = European Commission
ECB = European Central Bank
ECCN = European Consumer Centre Network
ECHR = European Convenbon of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
ECN = European Compebbon Network
ECSC = European Coal and Steal Community
ECthHR = European Court of Human Rights
EEA = European Economic Area
EEC = European Economic Community
EEIG = European Economic Interest Grouping
EFTA = European Free Trade Associabon
EMU = European Monetary Union
EPC = European Patent Convenbon
EPO = European Patent Office
ESG = Environmental Social Governance
EU = European Union
EUIPO = European Union Intellectual Property Office
EURATOM = European Atomic Energy Community
EUTM = European Trademark
EUTMR = EU Trademark Regulabon
GDPR = General Data Protecbon Regulabon
HoSG = Heads of State or Government
ICCP = Internabonal Covenant on Civil and Polibcal Rights
InfoSoc = Informabon Society (Direcbve)
7
,IP = Intellectual Property
IPR = Intellectual Property Rights
IPRED = Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Direcbve
MEP = Members of European Parliament
MERQ’s = Measures having Equivalent Effect
NAAT = Non-Appreciable Affecbon of Trade
NCA = Nabonal Compebbon Authority
NDA = Non-Disclosure Agreement
NGO = Non-Governmental Organisabons
OCT = Overseas Countries and Territories
P. = page number in the Business Law codex of 2024
PCT = Patent Cooperabon Treaty
PLT = Patent Law Treaty
PSC’s = Points of Single Contact
QR’s = Quantabve Restricbons
RCD = Registered Community Design
SCE = European Cooperabve Society
SE = European Company (Supranabonal Enbty)
SGD = Sales of Goods Direcbve
SMD = Single Member Direcbve
SOE = State Owned Enterprise
TDM = Text and Data Mining
TEU = Treaty of the European Union
TFEU = Treaty on the Funcboning of the European Union
TM = Trademark
TMD = Trademark Direcbve
TRIPS = Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
TSD = Trade Secrets Direcbve
UCPD = Unfair Commercial Pracbces Direcbve
UCTD = Unfair Contract Terms Direcbve
UDHR = Universal Declarabon of Human Rights
UN = United Nabons
UPC = Unified Patent Court
UPCA = Unified Patent Court Agreement
UPR = Unitary Patent Regulabon
VAT = Value Added Tax
WIPO = The World Intellectual Property Organizabon
WTO = World Trade Organisabon
8
, Relevant Ar/cles:
Treaty on the European Union: TEU p.11
Art.2 Art.3 Art.5 Art.6 Art.7 Art.10 Art.13 Art.14 Art.15 Art.16
Art.17 Art.18 Art.19 Art.20 Art.26 Art.47 Art.49 Art.50
Treaty on the FuncZoning of the European Union: TFEU p.25
Art.3 Art.4 Art.5 Art.6 Art.14 Art.16 Art.19 Art.26 Art.28 Art.29
Art.30 Art.34 Art.35 Art.36 Art.45 Art.46 Art.47 Art.48 Art.49 Art.50
Art.51 Art.52 Art.53 Art.54 Art.55 Art.56 Art.57 Art.58 Art.59 Art.60
Art.61 Art.62 Art.101 Art.102 Art.103 Art.104 Art.105 Art.106 Art.107 Art.108
Art.109 Art.113 Art.169 Art.194 Art.223 Art.226 Art.227 Art.230 Art.234 Art.236
Art.237 Art.238 Art.244 Art.248 Art.252 Art.253 Art.254 Art.256 Art.258 Art.259
Art.260 Art.263 Art.265 Art.267 Art.268 Art.282 Art.285 Art.287 Art.288 Art.289
Art.290 Art.291 Art.300 Art.310 Art.311 Art.312 Art.313 Art.314 Art.315 Art.316
Art.317 Art.318 Art.319 Art.320 Art.321 Art.322 Art.323 Art.324 Art.325 Art.326
Art.327 Art.328 Art.329 Art.330 Art.331 Art.332 Art.333 Art.334 Art.340 Art.352
Charter of fundamental rights of the European union: p.87
Art.1 Art.7 Art.8 Art.21 Art.23 Art.38 Art.47 Art.49 Art.51
Protocol N°2 on the applicaZon of the principles of subsidiarity and proporZonality: p.92
Art.1
ConvenZon for the protecZon of human rights and fundamental freedoms: p.94
Art.7 Art.8
Rules governing acZons for damages under naZonal law for infringements of the compeZZon law
provisions of the member states of the European Union: p.111
Art.1 Art.2 Art.3 Art.7 Art.8 Art.23
Services in the internal market direcZve: p.117
Art.1 Art.9 Art.14
9
SUMMARY
Academic Year 2024-2025
0
,Table of contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1
PREFACE: 6
LIST OF USED ABBREVIATIONS: 7
RELEVANT ARTICLES: 9
EXTRA REFERENCED LEGISLATION: 13
CHAPTER 1 THE LAW: 14
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW: 14
LEGAL SYSTEMS AND LEGAL FAMILIES: 14
LEGAL FAMILIES: 14
THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LAW IN WESTERN EUROPE 15
FIELDS OF LAW 17
PUBLIC – PRIVATE LAW: 17
SUBSTANTIVE LAW AND PROCEDURAL LAW: 18
NATIONAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW AND TRANSNATIONAL LAW: 18
FUNCTIONAL FIELDS OF LAW: 18
SOURCES OF LAW: 18
FORMAL SOURCES OF LAW & MATERIAL SOURCES OF LAW 18
TREATIES: 19
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW: 19
LEGISLATION/STATUTORY LAW/STATUTE LAW: 20
CASE LAW / JUDICIAL PRECEDENT / JUDGE MADE LAW: 20
EQUITY: 21
CUSTOMARY LAW: 21
CONTRACTS: 22
SOFT LAW: 22
JURISPRUDENCE: 22
KEY CONCEPTS OF LAW: 23
LEGAL SUBJECTS: 23
LEGAL COMPETENCE, STATUS AND CAPACITY TO ACT. 23
RIGHTS, DUTIES/OBLIGATIONS, PROHIBITIONS AND PERMISSIONS: 24
CHAPTER 2: THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS LEGAL SYSTEM 25
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 25
EU MEMBERSHIP: 26
EU’S PURPOSE AND IDENTITY: (P.12-13) 26
VALUE AND AIMS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 26
SYMBOLS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 26
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 27
OVERVIEW: 27
1
,EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: 27
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: 28
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 28
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: 29
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 30
LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: 31
HIERARCHY OF SOURCES: 31
PRIMARY SOURCES OF EU LAW: 31
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED BY THE EU: 31
SECONDARY SOURCES OF EU LAW: 32
CASE LAW OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU: (ART. 19 TEU P.16, ART. 267 TFEU P.71) 32
WHERE TO FIND EU LAW: 32
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EU LAW AND NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEMS: 33
EU – SUPRANATIONAL ORGANISATION: 33
PRINCIPLES OF CONFERRAL, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY: 33
DOCTRINE OF SUPREMACY: 35
DISTINGUISHING EU FROM OTHER FORMS OF CROSS-BORDER COOPERATIONS IN EUROPE: 35
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: 35
EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION: (EFTA) 35
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA: (EEA) 36
EURO AREA: 36
SCHENGEN AREA: 36
CHAPTER 3: INTERNAL MARKET LAW 37
FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS: 37
CONCEPT AND LEGAL BASIS: 37
ADOPTION OF A COMMON EXTERNAL TARIFF: 37
PROHIBITION OF CUSTOMS DUTIES AND CHARGES HAVING AN EQUIVALENT EFFECT: 37
PROHIBITION OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AND MEASURES HAVING AN EQUIVALENT EFFECT: (ART. 34-36 TFEU
P.31) 38
FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT: 39
CHAPTER 4: COMPETITION LAW 40
SCOPE OF APPLICATION ART. 101 & 102. TFEU: 40
UNDERTAKING: 40
EFFECT ON TRADE BETWEEN THE EU MEMBER STATES: 40
PROHIBITION OF RESTRICTIVE PRACTICES: 41
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 41
EXCEPTIONS: 42
BLOCK EXEMPTIONS: 42
INDIVIDUAL EXEMPTIONS: 42
LEGAL EFFECTS: 42
PROHIBITION OF ABUSE OF A DOMINANT MARKET POSITION: 43
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 43
ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES: (ART. 3 EC N°1/2003 P.112, ART. 7, 8 EC N°1/2003 P.114, ART. 23 EC N°1/2003
P.117) 44
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW: 44
2
,SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 44
TYPES OF PRODUCTS: 45
TYPES OF CONTRACTS: 45
RIGHT TO INFORMATION: 46
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 46
REQUIRED INFORMATION: 46
FORMAT OF THE INFORMATION: 47
RIGHT TO FAIR CONTRACT TERMS: 48
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 48
GENERAL UNFAIRNESS TEST: 48
NATIONAL LISTS OF UNFAIR TERMS: 49
LEGAL EFFECTS: 49
RIGHT TO FAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES: 49
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 50
GENERAL UNFAIRNESS TEST: 50
TYPES OF UNFAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES: 51
EU LIST OF UNFAIR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES: 52
RIGHT TO WITHDRAW: 53
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 53
EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW: 53
LEGAL EFFECTS: 54
RIGHT TO CONFORMITY: 56
SCOPE OF APPLICATION: 56
CONFORMITY REQUIREMENTS: 57
LIABILITY: 58
LEGAL REMEDIES: 58
CHAPTER 6: PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION LAW 60
SCOPE: 60
JUSTIFICATION GROUNDS: 62
CONTRACT: 62
LEGAL OBLIGATION: 62
LEGITIMATE INTEREST: 63
CONSENT: 63
SPECIAL CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA: (ART. 9 GDPR P.191) 65
DATA CONTROLLER & DATA PROCESSOR: 66
IDENTITY: 66
OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITY: 67
GDPR PRINCIPLES & RIGHTS: 68
PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA: (ART. 5 GDPR P.189) 68
A PERSON’S RIGHTS: 69
COMPLIANCE: 71
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH GDPR REGULATION: 72
CONDUCTING A DPIA (DATA PROTECTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT): (ART. 35 GDPR P.199) 72
DATA PROTECTION OFFICER (DPO): 72
DATA BREACHES: 73
DIRECT MARKETING: 74
CHAPTER 7: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 75
3
,LEGAL FRAMEWORK: 75
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS: 76
IP RIGHTS PROTECT EXPRESSED IDEAS: 76
IP RIGHTS PROTECT INTANGIBLE OR IMMATERIAL ASSETS: 76
IP RIGHTS GRANT EXCLUSIVITY TO THE RIGHT HOLDER: 76
IP RIGHTS APPLY ERGA OMNES: 77
IP RIGHTS ARE TEMPORARY: 77
IP RIGHTS ARE TERRITORIAL: 77
IP RIGHTS CREATE BUSINESS VALUE: 77
EU TRADEMARK: 77
TRADEMARK PROTECTION IN THE EU: 78
SUBJECT MATTER: 79
EXCLUDED MATTERS: 80
REGISTRATION AS A FORMAL REQUIREMENT: 80
REGISTRATION PROCESS: (ART.30-51 EUTMR P.310-316) 81
REGISTRATION THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL MADRID SYSTEM: 82
RIGHTS GRANTED TO EUTM HOLDERS: 82
LIMITATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF EUTM HOLDERS: (ART.14-15 EUTMR P.307) 82
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS: 83
DURATION OF THE PROTECTION: 83
TERRITORIAL SCOPE OF PROTECTION: 83
ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES: 83
COPYRIGHTS: 84
COPYRIGHT IN THE EU: 84
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 85
AUTOMATIC PROTECTION: 85
RIGHTS GRANTED TO COPYRIGHT HOLDERS: 85
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS: 87
TERM OF PROTECTION: 87
TERRITORIAL SCOPE: (ART. 8.1 ROME II NOT IN CODEX) 88
ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES: 88
THE EUROPEAN PATENT: 89
PATENTS IN THE EU: 89
SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS: 90
REGISTRATION: 90
REGISTRATION PROCESS: 91
PROTECTION THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PATENT COOPERATION SYSTEM: (PCT P.227) 92
RIGHTS GRANTED TO EUROPEAN PATENT HOLDERS: 93
DURATION OF PROTECTION: 93
TERRITORIAL SCOPE: 94
ENFORCEMENT: 94
REMEDIES: 94
TRADE SECRETS: 94
SUBJECT MATTER: 94
REMEDIES: 95
DURATION AND TERRITORIAL SCOPE: 95
CHAPTER 8: COMPANY LAW 96
LEGAL FRAMEWORK: 96
COMPANIES ESTABLISHED UNDER EU LAW: 96
4
,THE COMPANY AND OTHER COMMON BUSINESS STRUCTURES: 96
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP: 96
PARTNERSHIPS: 97
COMPANIES: 98
OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESS STRUCTURES: 98
DEEP DIVE INTO COMPANIES: 99
LEGAL PERSONALITY: 99
LIMITED LIABILITY: 99
SHARED INVESTOR OWNERSHIP: 99
SINGLE MEMBER COMPANIES: 100
TRANSFERABILITY: 101
PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND LISTED COMPANIES: 102
DELEGATED MANAGEMENT UNDER A BOARD STRUCTURE: 103
WEALTH-ENHANCING PURPOSE: 104
5
,Preface:
Dear fellow Business Law I student,
This summary is for the Course Business Law I on the VUB taught by Prof. Coen.
The summary is based on the syllabus (I corrected all mistakes I was able to find) and the relevant
selecbon of Arbcles of Treabes, Agreements, Regulabons, Direcbves…
Thus, if using this summary to study for the upcoming exams I strongly recommend you buy the most
recent version of the Codex.
I used Codex 2024 “European Business Law” by Tina Coen
The summary consists of:
- A list with abbreviabons and their meaning used in the summary or the syllabus
- A list with all relevant arbcles (Art.) you will find in the syllabus and even some that weren’t
menboned but do contain very valuable informabon relevant to the covered subjects. I put a
lot of bme in finding all relevant arbcles going through the codex page-by-page.
- The summary of the syllabus.
A lot of the relevant arbcles in the summary part will come in this format:
Art. 14 TEU p.14
Art. = Short for Arbcle
14 = The number of the Arbcle
TEU = The abbreviated name of the relevant law, treaty… (in rare cases the full name)
p.14 = The page and its number where to find the arbcle in the Codex.
The images above serve as an example how to highlight in your codex. I recommend reading the arbcle
and highlighbng only the part which immediately indicates the content of the arbcle or what it
references to in the summary. Otherwise, you’re going to be losing bme reading enbre arbcles to find
the relevant key word. What I also recommend is the use of something to indicate where the beginning
of for example a treaty or a regulabon is.
All there is lej for me to do is to wish you the best of luck with your exams.
(ps: Don’t stress too much, get enough sleep and don’t give up!)
Kind regards,
K.H.
“Nemo Censetur Ignorare Legem”
6
,List of used abbrevia/ons:
Art. = Arbcle
BCE = Before Chrisban/Common Era
BCIP = Benelux Convenbon on Intellectual Property
BENELUX = Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg
B2C = Business to Consumer
CA. = Circa/around
CD’s = Custom Dubes
CE = Current Era
CET = Common External Tariff
CEE’s = Charges having Equivalent Effect
CFREU = Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
CJEU = Court of Jusbce of the European Union
CoJ = Court of Jusbce
CRD = Consumers Rights Direcbve
CRM = Collecbve Rights Management (Direcbve)
CS3D = Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Direcbve
DCD = Digital Content Direcbve
DRM = Digital Rights Management
DSM = Digital Single Market (Direcbve)
EC = European Commission
ECB = European Central Bank
ECCN = European Consumer Centre Network
ECHR = European Convenbon of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
ECN = European Compebbon Network
ECSC = European Coal and Steal Community
ECthHR = European Court of Human Rights
EEA = European Economic Area
EEC = European Economic Community
EEIG = European Economic Interest Grouping
EFTA = European Free Trade Associabon
EMU = European Monetary Union
EPC = European Patent Convenbon
EPO = European Patent Office
ESG = Environmental Social Governance
EU = European Union
EUIPO = European Union Intellectual Property Office
EURATOM = European Atomic Energy Community
EUTM = European Trademark
EUTMR = EU Trademark Regulabon
GDPR = General Data Protecbon Regulabon
HoSG = Heads of State or Government
ICCP = Internabonal Covenant on Civil and Polibcal Rights
InfoSoc = Informabon Society (Direcbve)
7
,IP = Intellectual Property
IPR = Intellectual Property Rights
IPRED = Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Direcbve
MEP = Members of European Parliament
MERQ’s = Measures having Equivalent Effect
NAAT = Non-Appreciable Affecbon of Trade
NCA = Nabonal Compebbon Authority
NDA = Non-Disclosure Agreement
NGO = Non-Governmental Organisabons
OCT = Overseas Countries and Territories
P. = page number in the Business Law codex of 2024
PCT = Patent Cooperabon Treaty
PLT = Patent Law Treaty
PSC’s = Points of Single Contact
QR’s = Quantabve Restricbons
RCD = Registered Community Design
SCE = European Cooperabve Society
SE = European Company (Supranabonal Enbty)
SGD = Sales of Goods Direcbve
SMD = Single Member Direcbve
SOE = State Owned Enterprise
TDM = Text and Data Mining
TEU = Treaty of the European Union
TFEU = Treaty on the Funcboning of the European Union
TM = Trademark
TMD = Trademark Direcbve
TRIPS = Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
TSD = Trade Secrets Direcbve
UCPD = Unfair Commercial Pracbces Direcbve
UCTD = Unfair Contract Terms Direcbve
UDHR = Universal Declarabon of Human Rights
UN = United Nabons
UPC = Unified Patent Court
UPCA = Unified Patent Court Agreement
UPR = Unitary Patent Regulabon
VAT = Value Added Tax
WIPO = The World Intellectual Property Organizabon
WTO = World Trade Organisabon
8
, Relevant Ar/cles:
Treaty on the European Union: TEU p.11
Art.2 Art.3 Art.5 Art.6 Art.7 Art.10 Art.13 Art.14 Art.15 Art.16
Art.17 Art.18 Art.19 Art.20 Art.26 Art.47 Art.49 Art.50
Treaty on the FuncZoning of the European Union: TFEU p.25
Art.3 Art.4 Art.5 Art.6 Art.14 Art.16 Art.19 Art.26 Art.28 Art.29
Art.30 Art.34 Art.35 Art.36 Art.45 Art.46 Art.47 Art.48 Art.49 Art.50
Art.51 Art.52 Art.53 Art.54 Art.55 Art.56 Art.57 Art.58 Art.59 Art.60
Art.61 Art.62 Art.101 Art.102 Art.103 Art.104 Art.105 Art.106 Art.107 Art.108
Art.109 Art.113 Art.169 Art.194 Art.223 Art.226 Art.227 Art.230 Art.234 Art.236
Art.237 Art.238 Art.244 Art.248 Art.252 Art.253 Art.254 Art.256 Art.258 Art.259
Art.260 Art.263 Art.265 Art.267 Art.268 Art.282 Art.285 Art.287 Art.288 Art.289
Art.290 Art.291 Art.300 Art.310 Art.311 Art.312 Art.313 Art.314 Art.315 Art.316
Art.317 Art.318 Art.319 Art.320 Art.321 Art.322 Art.323 Art.324 Art.325 Art.326
Art.327 Art.328 Art.329 Art.330 Art.331 Art.332 Art.333 Art.334 Art.340 Art.352
Charter of fundamental rights of the European union: p.87
Art.1 Art.7 Art.8 Art.21 Art.23 Art.38 Art.47 Art.49 Art.51
Protocol N°2 on the applicaZon of the principles of subsidiarity and proporZonality: p.92
Art.1
ConvenZon for the protecZon of human rights and fundamental freedoms: p.94
Art.7 Art.8
Rules governing acZons for damages under naZonal law for infringements of the compeZZon law
provisions of the member states of the European Union: p.111
Art.1 Art.2 Art.3 Art.7 Art.8 Art.23
Services in the internal market direcZve: p.117
Art.1 Art.9 Art.14
9
