These days producers of prepacked foods seem to make daily life a lot easier for consumers seeking to buy their essentials in the supermarket. Whatever product you are looking for, the packaging often tells you exactly how much one portion is and how many calories that portion contains.
Read MoreA while ago, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) warned the automobile sector for incorrectly displaying car prizes. Shortly before that, the ACM had already addressed the travel industry. The ACM imposed two gigantic fines to the travel agency Corendon of a total amount of € 350.000. Recently, the District Court of Rotterdam declared Corendon’s appeal against these fines unfounded.
Read MoreOn the basis of EU law, it is mandatory to provide fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures in some types of advertisements for passenger cars. This information is meant to help consumers making their choice, keeping both costs and environmental considerations in mind.
Read MoreOn 1 July 2017 the Dutch act dealing with payment terms of maximum sixty days for large companies (Wet uiterste betaaltermijnen van zestig dagen voor grote ondernemingen) has entered into force.
Read MoreThe sportsmen and women among us often carry Dextro Energy: the glucose tablets are known to make a contribution to the muscles. The EFSA has also scientifically acknowledged this; the EFSA has given the green light to five health claims for glucose submitted by Dextro GmbH.
Read MoreOn June 20th 2017, the VMT food law event took place in the flashy Miele Experience Center in Vianen. The event is much visited by all stakeholders from the food industry. During the plenary morning program, Ebba Hoogenraad provided tips and tricks on the use of influencers in food marketing.
Read MoreA drink, from a legal standpoint, is only fruit juice if it consists of 100% fruit juice, with nothing added. Fruit drinks that consist only partly of juice are therefore not allowed to be called ‘juice’. Yet, in their online shops, supermarkets use the term ‘juice’ for the general category of fruit drinks. Is that allowed?
Read MoreThe Proplamp "Crumplelamp" has been marketed by a design duo in the Netherlands since the beginning of 2014. The lamp comes in various sizes and the price ranges from € 299 to € 1,199. Ikea has been selling the Krusning lamp (bottom left) since the end of 2014. The Krusning costs only € 14.95, but you do have to “crumple it up” yourself.
Read MoreThe product Heks’nkaas (literally ‘witches’ cheese’) has been receiving attention in IP circles for a while now. Levola, the producer of Heks’nkaas, has been embroiled in legal action for a number of years concerning the copyright protection of the flavour of the cream cheese spread. It has not been able to stop imitators on the grounds of flavour.
Read MoreIn Europe the principle of mutual recognition applies: if a product is validly marketed in a Member State, then in principle that same product may be sold throughout the rest of the EU. Nevertheless, a country can deny a product market access, but only if strict conditions are met.
Read MoreSince the entry into force of the European Enforcement Directive (10 years ago) the full legal costs of civil enforcement proceedings in the Netherlands have usually been reimbursed: in principle, the party that wins the case can claim all its legal costs.
Read MoreFor years, Gaos B.V. has owned the domain name < ok.nl >: a beautifully pithy domain name which it hopes to put to good use in the future. For example, a positive website full of descriptions of beautiful things: there is already so much negativity in the world.
Read MoreUntil recently, Dutch businesses transferring money abroad in foreign currencies were dependent on major banks like ING, Rabobank and ABN Amro. The rates set by the banks have stayed at roughly the same level for years. The Nederlandsche Betaal- en Wisselmaatschappij (NBWM) set the cat among the pigeons at the end of 2016, with a new fixed rate of €5 per transfer.
Read MoreThe Court holds that the present French rules hamper the free movement of goods. After all, a food supplement manufactured lawfully in another Member State, cannot be marketed in France. Such national legislation can be justified if it meets certain criteria.
Read MoreIn April the most important rankings for lawyers and law firms were published: Chambers and Legal 500. Chambers and Legal 500 research the legal market in detail and gauge the opinions of clients and colleagues. Only the best lawyers and firms are listed. Just like in previous years Hoogenraad & Haak and our lawyers do very well in the rankings.
Read MoreIt’s a well-known fact that for a vast range of products, consumers nowadays like to shop online. This applies to alcoholic beverages as well. Reason enough for the Vereniging SlijtersUnie (a Dutch association which serves the interests of liquor stores) to research whether the online-sellers of alcohol have the required licenses to do so.
Read MoreThe year 2017 started with some new and interesting developments in the Netherlands. An old voluntary food labelling scheme is about to be banned and clears the path to a new digital era.
Read MoreThe product Heks’nkaas (literally translated: witches’ cheese, best described: a herb cream spread for bread) continues occupying the minds in the Dutch IP circles. In 2015 Levola, the producer of Heks’nkaas, started legal proceedings on copyright protection of the spread’s taste.
Read MoreForever findable on Google? On Friday 24th of February 2017 the Dutch Supreme Court has ruled that a person’s privacy interest outweighs the economic interest of the operator of a search engine and the interest of internet users in having access to information: in principle search engines have to heed the request for the ‘right to be forgotten’. Only in special circumstances this could be different.
Read MoreSince Monday I am taking care of Tunahan Kuzu, the party leader of the Dutch political party “Denk”. That is: I take care of him digitally, via the (Tamagotchi-inspired) Kamergotchi app, which was created by the Dutch satirical TV show “Zondag met Lubach”. I proudly inform you that Kuzu is doing rather well. I regularly give him food, love and fresh ideas.
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