Law & Tech

AI-Literacy: The ability to understand, evaluate and take advantage of AI systems. Art. 4 of the European AI Act defines this future skill „providers and deployers of AI systems shall take measures to ensure, to their best extent, a sufficient level of AI literacy of their staff and other persons dealing with the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf, taking into account their technical knowledge, experience, education and training and the context the AI systems are to be used in, and considering the persons or groups of persons on whom the AI systems are to be used.“ This also is one of the mayor goals of our Master’s Program.

Augmented Reality (AR): A technology that overlays digital content such as images, sounds, or information onto the real world through devices like smartphones or AR glasses. Many companies use AR to plan a wide range of projects,  from individual  work stations to entire  factories. So does Halocline.

CLAAS: A German agricultural machinery manufacturer known for producing advanced equipment like combine harvesters and  tractors. Also  a pioneer in smart farming technologies. The Claas Technoparc, located in the vicinity of Osnabrück, will open its doors for our Master students who choose Smart Farming as their elective.

Colloquium & Study Project: In the study project you are invited to come up with your own idea and develop it into a technically useful and legal compliant digital tool. Supported by an experienced patent attorney, Denis Träger, we will examine how an idea is turned into a marketable product, ensuring that best practices are followed (and worst practices are avoided).

Compliance by Design: An approach that integrates legal and regulatory requirements into the design phase of systems, processes, or products to ensure ongoing compliance from the start instead of treating compliance as an afterthought. A main focus of our program, “compliance by design” is the core task of the study project.  Is is better to know in advance, otherwise time can be  wasted  redesigning.

Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting systems, networks and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access and other cyber threats. Cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive data and information. Cybersecurity is a core competence for protecting your business and innovation. Learn the “how to” from an experienced former inspector at interpol and now associate professor, Svitlana Mazepa.

Data Law: A legal framework that governs the collection, storage, use and share of data. It consists of a number of different EU Regulations and Directives, such as the GDPR, the Data Act, Data Governance Act and the Open Data Directive. Our Introduction on Data Law sheds light on the different regulations, what they have in common and how they interact.

Data Science: An interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data. A core concept for every law & tech person and an introductory course for our lawyers. One must  know how it works, to know whether it is legal.

Digital Twins: Virtual replicas of physical systems or objects that use real-time data and simulations to monitor, analyse, and optimize performance. Digital twins can be adjusted  until they function correctly – and should be tested to ensure that  they comply with all legal requirements. One of our study projects in the winter term.

European Legal Studies Institute (ELSI): The ELSI is a research institute at Osnabrück University focused on comparative and European public & private law and harmonisation of laws. It’s international office, class-rooms, library and co-working space serve as the hub for the Master on EU Tech Law.

European Patent Law: The body of law governing the granting and enforcement of patents within the EU and other countries that have adopted the European Patent Convention (EPC). It includes national patent laws, the EPC and EU directives/regulations. The EPC establishes a harmonized  patenting system that grants European patents – which have the same effect in each designated EPC contracting state – after a single examination process. Starting in 2023 unitary patents are available in 18 EU member states as an alternative uniform IP title. A great means of protecting innvoation for SME.

Industry 4.0: The merging of the physical and digital worlds through the intelligent networking of machines, processes and information systems represents a fundamental shift from traditional manufacturing approaches. It leverages AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and robotics to create a connected and intelligent manufacturing ecosystem. Learn more about smart factories in our elective course.

Internet of Things (IoT): A network between physical objects that are connected to communicate and exchange data within the network. The devices are connected by sensors, connective technology and Clouds. They are able to share vast amounts of data, which may be used by manufacturers and service providers – provided they comply with the GDPR and Data Act.

Language Skills: The ability to efficiently interact with tools and devices to enhance language learning and communication. In our context “language” doesn’t just refer to German or English, but to Law & Tech!

Logistics: The planning, implementation, and management of the efficient flow of goods, services, and information from origin to consumption, profits enormously from current technology. For example AR can help workers more efficiently perform tasks such as  order selection, inventory checks, and stock audits  by providing real-time instructions and information directly within their field of view. For this reason  AR & VR are covered in the elective Logistics.

Master EU Tech Law: a specialized academic program focusing on the interplay of EU law and emerging technologies such as AI, AR, Digital Twins and Internet of Things.

Osnabrück: A city in Lower Saxony in northwest Germany. Osnabrück is known for its  thriving university – including the ELSI and the AI-campus – and its historical significance with regard to the Peace of Westphalia that ended the Thirty Years’ War.

Platforms: Digital or physical infrastructures that enable interaction between users, services, or devices, often facilitating commerce, communication, or data exchange. As platforms connect businesses and people, these virtual environments must  ensure accurate information and fair exchange (and return) policies. 

Schnellecke Logistics: A global logistics company based in Germany  specialised in the areas of logistics and transportation as well as production, particularly for vehicle construction. We are happy to announce that Schnellecke will host the workshop for our elective course Logistics.

Smart Farming: The application of information and data technologies to optimize complex farming systems. It involves using modern technology like the Internet of Things (IoT), AI and data analytics to improve efficiency, sustainability, and resource management in agricultural production.

Technology Transfer: The process of transferring technological innovations, knowledge, or processes from one organization or sector to another for commercialization or development. It seeks to employ Intellectual Property to generate profits and obtain access to technical knowledge, ideally allowing for further improvement and innovation.

AI-Act: The use of artificial intelligence in the EU is regulated by the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI law, which seeks to foster the use of AI, but at the same time protect societal values and its citizens. Notably it is the basis for liability rules for AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making or translation between languages. AI plays a role in many courses, in particular in “Data Governance & AI”.

Blockchain: A special technology for data storage in decentralized distributed networks. Blockchain makes it possible to verify transactions transparently and with confidence without a central authority. This  is utilised  for smart contracts – which, it should be noted, are not legal agreements, but agreements executed automatically by a transaction protocol and are a recommended tool for auditing  data use under the Data Act.

Cognitive Science: An interdisciplinary study of the mind and intelligence, combining psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, philosophy, computer science, and anthropology. It is at the heart of human-computer interaction and AI. The reason  why Introduction to Deep Learning is one of the professional development courses  we offer for our lawyers.

Competition Law: The legal framework  to ensure fair competition between businesses and prevent anti-competitive practices. Its  focus is on regulating agreements between companies or  abuses of market power in order to maintain market competition and protect consumers. Data sharing can be beneficial, but there are also risks associated with the abuse of a dominant position. The Data Act addresses this challenge.

Contract Law: A body of law that governs agreements between parties and outlines obligations and responsibilities. It ensures that agreements are legally binding and enforceable, with remedies available if a breach occurs. Innovation requires cooperation. Cooperation is based on contracts. Drafting Contracts is a part of Module 2.

Data Governance: The framework of policies, procedures, and standards that ensures the effective management, quality, and security of data within an organization. In the context of AI, it  essentially focuses on ensuring that AI systems are developed and deployed responsibly and ethically, addressing issues like data quality, bias, security, and compliance. Learn first-hand how to manage data as a valuable asset from Jasper Siems in Data Governance & AI

Data Protection: The legal and technical measures which are designed to protect personal data from misuse, ensuring privacy and individual rights. Whether the strict EU rules contained in the GDPR on data protection are effective or overly broad is one of many open issues to be discussed in Data Protection.

DFKI (German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence): A leading research institute in Germany focused on innovative AI technologies and their practical applications across industries. The Osnabrück branch of the DFKI (Research Department Cooperative and Autonomous Systems) will host our lecture series on European Law & Technology.

European Copyright Law: A set of legal rules within the EU that protects creators' rights over their original works while balancing access and use across member states. Initially pertinent to movies and music, it is also related to  law & technology, as  copyright protection extends to software, databases and covers similar technology concepts, such as text and data mining.

European Union (EU): The EU is a political and economic union of currently 27 European countries which was established as the European Economic Community in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome. The member states collaborate on laws, trade, policies, and human rights to promote integration and stability. The European Single Market encompasses a population of 449 million citizens.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): The EU's legal framework  focusing on the protection of personal data. It aims to provide individuals more control over their personal data.

Intellectual Property (IP): IP rights are legal rights protecting creations of the mind – such as technical inventions, literary works, designs, and trademarks. IP ensures that those who make the intellectual achievement are rewarded and can control their use. But IP also allows for technology transfer and the division of labour along the distribution chain. Why send a spare-part around the world, if you can print it 3D?  Of course, IP is also an important driver of the digital economy.

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): The Internet of Things can also be used in industrial settings to enable a smart communication between machines and industrial devices. In a Smart Factory this will help to make the production more efficient and, by that, less expensive. IIoT applications are often more elaborate from a technical perspective, but less complicated from a legal perspective, because they only use machine generated data.

Liability. The development and market launch of digital applications, especially AI, robotics and autonomous systems, requires clarity regarding whether manufacturers, operators or users are liable for any damage. Liability for algorithms explains the rules that exist for this under European and national law and shows strategies for taking liability issues into account already at the development stage.

Machine Data: Information generated by machines, devices, or systems during operation. The information is often used for monitoring, analytics, or automation. The EU has enacted a new regulation on machine data, illustrating that the Data Act not only plays a central role  in our Introduction to Data Law course but also in practice.

Master’s Thesis: An academic paper which is written as part of the requirements for completing a master’s degree. The interplay between  law & tech can also be seen here as we allow two students with different backgrounds to submit a joint master’s thesis.

Personal Data: Any information relating to an identified or identifiable living individual. This includes information that can directly identify someone, like their name or address, or indirectly identify them when combined with other data.

Robotics: An interdisciplinary field that focuses on the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. Machines that can perform tasks (semi-)autonomously are an important building block for smart factories, but of course pose risks – and may give rise to liability.

Smart Cities: Urban areas that use digital technologies and data-driven systems to improve infrastructure, services, sustainability, and quality of life for residents. Osnabrück is of course a smart city, which  sounds great. Nevertheless  the use  of extensive personal data gives rise  to a number of questions, including how one should  balance the efficient use  these resources with individual freedom and data protection.

Standard Terms and Conditions: Pre-drafted contractual provisions that apply to transactions, outlining parties' rights and obligations without the need for individual negotiation. When done well,  they make contract drafting more efficient. When done poorly  they cause numerous and potentially costly  problems.

Virtual Reality: An immersive digital environment created through computer technology, often experienced via headsets or helmets. It simulates real or imagined worlds. VR can be used to plan and test new factories, or to service existing machines remotely via the Internet. It is particularly helpful to enhance smart logistics.