IP | IT | Law

The 4th HÄRTING AI Day will take place in Berlin on 19 November 2026. The event will focus on current issues relating to artificial intelligence, the AI Act, data protection and the practical application of AI in businesses.

With the “Programme for Economic Recovery and Employment” adopted by the coalition committee, the Federal Government has announced numerous reforms to labour law. The aim is to ease the burden on businesses, make the labour market more flexible and reduce red tape. The announced changes are already attracting considerable attention. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that many of the proposals affect only a limited group of employers or can already be implemented to a large extent under current legislation. There is currently no need for businesses to make hasty adjustments. It is, however, advisable to monitor further legislative developments closely and, if necessary, to respond in due course.

On 11 September 2026, the 7th IT Women Lawyers’ Day will take place at HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte in Berlin. The BarCamp on digitalisation and the law is being organised by Marlene Schreiber of HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte and Nina Diercks of Diercks Law Firm. The IT Women Lawyers’ Day is not a traditional conference, but thrives on peer-to-peer exchange. Instead of rigid panel discussions, participants shape the day together: with their own topics, questions, experiences and perspectives. Through parallel sessions, this creates a bespoke programme covering IT law, data protection, AI, legal tech and other current topics in the digital legal world. The event is aimed at IT lawyers, data protection officers, IT security managers and anyone dealing with the legal aspects of digitalisation. The focus is on professional exchange, networking, visibility and mutual inspiration.

Artificial intelligence has long since found its way into many companies – including finance departments, for example in reporting, credit risk management or creditworthiness analyses. However, the use of AI raises numerous legal questions. In her article, Marlene Schreiber outlines the requirements companies must observe and explains why AI compliance is not merely a matter of the AI Regulation. The focus is particularly on data protection law, the AI Regulation, copyright law, employment law and the establishment of effective AI governance.

On 1 and 2 October 2026, the editorial team of the journal *Privacy in Germany* (PinG) is once again hosting a workshop for early-career professionals in data (protection) law in Berlin. The event will take place at the offices of HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte. The workshop is aimed at young academics, trainee lawyers, those starting their careers and anyone else interested in current issues relating to data (protection) law. The focus is on professional exchange, discussing current developments and the opportunity to present one’s own topics, theses or research questions. Anyone wishing to give a presentation to a young specialist audience, discuss theses from a doctoral project or further develop a research question for an essay is welcome to submit a contribution. We are happy to publish good contributions in PinG following the workshop.

This article examines key regulatory developments in technology law, with a particular focus on platform-based business models. Against the backdrop of the growing economic significance of digital platforms, it highlights how the originally liberal regulatory approach has gradually evolved into a significantly stricter legal framework. It addresses, in particular, new liability risks for platform and hosting providers, stricter duties of care towards commercial users, increasing data protection requirements, the implications of Schrems II, and the growing importance of cybersecurity.

The 2021 updated edition of *Responsible AI: A Global Policy Framework* further develops ITechLaw’s global framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. The publication explores eight key principles of responsible AI in greater depth – including ethical purpose and societal benefit, accountability, transparency and explainability, fairness and non-discrimination, safety and reliability, open data and fair competition, data protection, and intellectual property. The framework is complemented by a Responsible AI Impact Assessment Tool, which helps organisations assess risks and develop appropriate mitigation measures.

The Green Paper ‘Responsible AI: The EU AIA’ analyses the draft EU Artificial Intelligence Act from the perspective of responsible AI governance. The policy analysis, published by ITechLaw, compares the regulatory approaches of the EU AIA with ITechLaw’s Responsible AI Principles and assesses key requirements relating to transparency, risk management, accountability and compliance. The publication is the result of an international collaboration involving 34 lawyers from 32 law firms across 14 jurisdictions and provides a well-founded assessment of European AI regulation within a global context.

The Cross-Border Guide to ESG & Sustainable Finance provides an international overview of key regulatory developments in the field of ESG and sustainable finance. This digital publication by TerraLex covers more than 20 jurisdictions and addresses, amongst other things, statutory disclosure requirements, comparable regulatory initiatives, the rights and liability risks of shareholders and investors, ESG-related prohibitions and restrictions, tax and other benefits of sustainable investment decisions, and measures to combat greenwashing.