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The automotive industry is rapidly transforming through digital technologies
This shift introduces complex legal and compliance challenges under EU law, particularly around data collection, processing, and sharing. Key frameworks such as the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive govern issues like user consent, data transparency, access, and deletion. Manufacturers must embed privacy by design and strengthen cybersecurity. How does the GDPR impact data collection in infotainment systems? Infotainment, telematics, and autonomous features gather vast user data - raising critical questions of control, purpose, and protection. The Data Act grants users broader rights to access and share vehicle data, while public safety tools like eCall must still ensure compliance with data
Amendment to the Slovak Act on Information Technologies in Public Administration
The Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic has submitted a proposal to amend the Act on Information Technologies in Public Administration. Its aim is to strengthen the management of the state's digital assets, increase cybersecurity resilience, and introduce clear rules for the use of artificial intelligence in public administration. From the state’s perspective, this is an ambitious reform, but for IT solution suppliers, it introduces numerous negative consequences that fundamentally change the existing contractual practices and business environment. Below is a summary of the key changes and their practical impacts on businesses. 1. Special copyright regime for public
Franchising Law Handbook
We are pleased to release our Franchising Law Handbook—a comprehensive guide developed by Kinstellar’s team of IP and competition law experts across our jurisdictions. The initiative was led by Partner Natalia Kirichenko to support businesses navigating the increasingly complex and fast-evolving legislation in this field. According to the US Department of Commerce, franchising contributes around USD 2.3 trillion to the global economy annually, making it a powerful model for business expansion across various sectors. This Handbook brings together the expertise of our lawyers across multiple jurisdictions, offering practical insights into key legal frameworks and regulatory requirements. It is designed to serve as
Special legal regime for the protection of intellectual property, established at the beginning of the war, canceled in Ukraine
On April 29, 2025, the President of Ukraine signed Law No. 4362-IX “On the Repeal of the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Protection of Intellectual Property Interests during Martial Law Imposed in Connection with the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine’.” According to the adopted amendments, the temporary legal mechanisms, introduced in 2022 to support intellectual property rights holders in the context of the war, will expire on May 31, 2025. This means the abolition of the suspension of deadlines for taking actions related to the protection of intellectual property, including the deadlines for the renewal of the relevant certificates, patents and for filing oppositions to applications. Annual
Kinstellar and Strategy Council deliver the 3rd Defence Tech Forum in London
Following on the success of our two previous defence-tech events, Kinstellar and the Strategy Council, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, were honoured to deliver the 3rd Defence Tech Forum in London on 25 April 25 at the Royal United Services Institute. The theme of the gathering was Ukrainian Technology for a New European Army: Galvanizing the private sector to meet UK-European security demands. The continued relevance of these events was underscored by His Excellency Ambassador Valeriy Zaluzhniy, former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ambassador Zaluzhniy opened the forum by summarising the changes to modern warfare and emphasising Ukraine’s position as the epicentre of real-time
EUIPO offers SMEs trade marksand designs grants of up to EUR 1,350 again in 2025
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has launched the 2025 SME Fund, offering up to 75% savings on, among others, trademark and design application fees, as well as pre-diagnostic IP services. Since 2021, more than 72,000 businesses have benefited from the fund. This year with a budget of over EUR 18 million, this initiative will help startups, videogame studios, and other small businesses, regardless of industry, to strengthen their Intellectual Property portfolios. Applications are open from 3 February to 5 December 2025 — but remember: it is on a first-come, first-served basis! Secure your IP portfolio! Read more in our overview below by Natalia Kirichenko, Partner
TMT Legal Update
Our TMT Legal Update provides insights from our law experts and aims to keep you regularly up to date with sector news, trends and legislation in the Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia regions. This issue covers key updates from our jurisdictions from the past few months. REGIONAL Implementation status of certain EU regulations Technology 01. New development regarding NIS 2 Directive implementation in various Kinstellar jurisdictions The EU's NIS2 Directive is a cybersecurity act aimed at improving overall cybersecurity in the EU. Member States must implement it by 17 October 2024. Below we provide
Tímea Bana, a leading TMT lawyer in Hungary, joins Kinstellar as Partner
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that Tímea Bana, a high-profile Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT), Data Protection (DP) and Intellectual Property (IP) lawyer, has joined the firm’s Budapest office as a Partner and Head of the local TMT service line and sector, effective 14 October 2024. This strategic move reflects Kinstellar’s commitment to enhancing and expanding its TMT team in Hungary to serve our clients seamlessly across all service lines and sectors. With over 20 years of experience at media companies and top-tier law firms, Tímea is a renowned expert in media, telecommunications and entertainment law. She brings a broad range of knowledge and experience across telecommunications regulatory
Major changes in Bulgarian gambling regulation
In a recent legislative update in the Bulgarian Gambling Act, major changes to regulations governing organisers of gambling games and activities and gambling advertisements have been introduced. Most of the amendments enter into force on 18 May 2024. These amendments entail substantial alterations to the activities of gambling organisers, bans on advertisements (including an updated definition of gambling advertisement), and measures affecting service providers connected with the gambling industry and can be divided into the following sample groups: Advertisements ban For example: gambling advertisements on, among others, television, radio, newspapers and online media (including websites) have been totally
Kinstellar advised The Associated Press in the production of the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol
Kinstellar is honoured to have provided intellectual property and privacy-related advice to The Associated Press (AP) during the production of 20 Days in Mariupol, a feature-length documentary about the brutal Russian invasion and devastation of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in 2022. The documentary was recently honoured with an Academy Award for Best Documentary, adding to a growing list of accolades for 20 Days in Mariupol, including from Pulitzer, Sundance, BAFTA and the Directors Guild of America. The Oscar is a first for producer Mstyslav Chernov, a Ukrainian AP video journalist, the AP itself (as a 178-year-old news organization), and is also Ukraine’s first ever Oscar win! Ukrainian IP and privacy law advice
EUIPO offers SMEs trade mark and design grants of up to EUR 1,350 again in 2024, available also for Ukrainian SMEs
The European Commission and European Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”) have once again launched a small and medium-sized business fund (“SME Fund”) to provide reimbursement for trade mark and design application fees and pre-diagnostic services. The 2024 SME Fund is the third and last call of this initiative, following the 2022 and 2023 SME Funds. The grant scheme, designed to encourage SMEs to expand their intellectual property (“IP”) portfolios, has a budget of more than EUR 21 million, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The submission period for applications runs from 22 January to 6 December 2024. Read more in the brochure below: DOWNLOAD IN ENGLISH In case of
Google ends geofence warrants
Location data has become an integral part of everyday digital life, providing easier navigation through various digital tools, such as maps. Despite the importance of making navigation easier, the need to preserve data privacy, such as location data, has been cast to the shadows. In light of this misuse of our private data, Google is finally set to implement a ground-breaking update for its widely used mapping service, Google Maps. The update relates to a change in the way Google stores data: instead of on the cloud, data will be stored on users’ devices. The anticipated update aims to prevent authorities from accessing users’ location history data through geofence warrants, which have long been considered controversial