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The thesis has been written with a purpose to clarify, in the light of the legislative framework for the text and data mining (TDM), the conditions "commercial" and "non-commercial" to conclude whether "limitation to the non-commercial purposes" would be sufficient for the new TDM exception to the copyright infringements in EU. The classification of TDM as a subject to copyright law is not straightforward. In the traditional sense of copyright authors are protected from having their work copied by others. TDM presupposes the repeated copying of whole works, in this respect TDM is an exemplary prima facie case for infringement, on the other hand the purpose of reproduction for TDM is to extract information and this does not amount to an infringement in copyright law. TDM is considered ‘fair use’ in US, while in EU TDM is a prima facie case for infringement. The variables used for the legal analysis in the present thesis are: 1) the types of data, based on the different levels of access, which are of interest for TDM; 2) the technical process of TDM. The legal analysis is about the present TDM legal framework in the EU, particularly the reproduction rights and the exceptions to these (as in InfoSoc and Database directives ). The technical information (the variables) are used in assessing the applicability of the rights for TDM. Copyright is looked at in its broader sense, including also database sui generis protection. United Kingdom (UK) has implemented TDM exception in 2014 and it is a useful example for assessing whether the optional research exception provided for in the InfoSoc Directive gives enough leeway for the Member States for the adoption of TDM exception. The thesis gives an overview of UK TDM legal provisions and an analysis of the new TDM exception. Based on the analysis of the InfoSoc Directive a new mandatory exception for TDM is needed in EU. Based on the analysis of the UK mandatory TDM exception, which was introduced within the leeway provided for in InfoSoc Directive, the limitation to non-commercial purpose might not suffice. Therefore the thesis continues by listing economic and legal arguments for mandatory exception limited to “non-commercial purpose” and compares them with the arguments for a wide exception which would not exclude “commercial purpose”. The findings are: -in the context of TDM, using definitions "commercial" or "non-commercial purpose" would be causing legal uncertainty - when “lawful users” have access to the data, the users should generally be able to carry out the data analysis, without distinction between “commercial” and “non-commercial”. - both “commercial” and “non-commercial” researches are (either directly or indirectly) welfare-enhancing for society, and should not be discouraged by the IPR regime. - from the point of view of copyright law a solid exception with “commercial purpose" would generally not pass the copyright-exception-balancing free-step test. - to be able to withstand the changes in technology, it seems feasible in EU for the shorter perspective to have a mandatory exception with neutral provisions for the TDM, without excluding “commercial purpose”. - In a longer perspective the belonging of TDM under the copyright rules could be reviewed, in the sense that copyright is meant to protect expressive works.

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This paper analyses the legal and regulatory instruments available at the EU and national level and their role in fostering broadband rollout. For this purpose the thesis tries to assess the following aspects (i) how do the legal and regulatory instruments currently in place function in practice and whether in fact they tend to foster or rather hinder the future of broadband deployment (ii) how do the Member States stimulate technology development in their national legislation and policy and whether, based on national cases, a one single ideally functioning strategy for NGA rollout can be distinguished, which would fit for all Member States, (iii) whether the recently designed financial instruments and investment plans may contribute to technology grow. The author presents historical and regulatory context of the rapid development of telecoms markets in the recent years. This includes analysis of the implementation of the digital agenda targets by the Member States and assessment of the level of the broadband connectivity and coverage across the EU. The author further elaborates on the state of competition in the broadband sector and differentiate between service- and infrastructure-based competition in the light of the ladder of investment concept. The main part of the thesis focuses on assessment of case practice stemming from EU access- regulation, based on the Regulatory Framework for electronics communications and sector specific State aid rules and their role in stimulating NGA rollout. With regard to regulation, the paper provides analysis of notifications from National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), which were subject to in-depth investigations by the Commission based on insufficient justification of market definition or choice of pricing methodologies by the NRAs. Furthermore, the thesis includes examples of broadband State aid schemes which were approved by the Commission and which will enable faster broadband deployment in the relevant countries. Moreover, a short overview is given of national strategies in the broadband concept and the ways Member States influence NGA rollout through legislation and policies, with example of the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, the UK and Spain. Finally, the author draws attention to investment models and other financing tools which have recently been introduced and may provide for additional incentives for investment. As a conclusion, the author considers, that the access regulatory measures currently in place contribute to broadband rollout and are expected to do so in the future. However, more flexibility should be given to the national governments and regulators in establishing strategies which bet support broadband, taking into account specific characteristics of the national markets. Initiatives related to funding opportunities are welcome and are believed to have a potential to incentivise further technology rollout. However, public support schemes should carefully be designed on a case by case basis, bearing in mind that any public intervention should be limited to a necessary minimum and do not hamper competition on the market. A final conclusion can be drawn, that there is no single ideal approach for broadband rollout, which would function in every Member State. The successes of NGA development lies in tailor-made policies which take account of variety of nation or region-specific factors.

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Going abroad for business or leisure can be very nerve-racking for some people since they know in advance they are left with the dilemma of either not give up the beloved functionalities of their smart phone or either go into a technological detox for a while. The origin of this dilemma are those accursed roaming tariffs causing some prudence to a lot of customers. A lot of them uses an intermediate solution in the sense that they switch of data roaming while being abroad and use a local Wi-Fi network now and then in order to ascertain that they don’t miss vitally important profile updates from friends and family. A popular statement is therefore that it should be better to abolish roaming tariffs because it is believed that this would be beneficial for both economic and social reasons. The latter statement is obviously a bit too short sighted and needs some support. At first, research needs to be done in order to determine the origin of international roaming tariffs, next a look at the price level of them compared to domestic rates is needed and only afterwards the possibility to abolish roaming tariffs can be considered. Since roaming is a complex problem with a lot of players involved, a straightforward question for indeed such a possibility is however excluded. An option could be to look at alternatives such that customers don’t have to roam at all and just make use of a foreign network as if he or she is just a home customer. In order to do so, a possible solution is the use of reprogrammable SIM cards, eSIM cards, and let customers break out locally. Hence, in this master thesis such an alternative is investigated. This is done by discussing technical aspects of mobile telephony, looking at European roaming regulation and commenting business strategies of this potential change-over. It is shown that the roaming problem is more complex than it might be perceived at first sight and that there is no one comprehensive solution to provide a nice consensus to all players involved, even with the introduction of eSIM cards.

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Abstract master thesis Thierry Van Ransbeeck BACKGROUND Conception of EU trade mark system in 1980’s: graphical representation considered obvious. BUT 21st century: outdated (as shown in Max Planck Institute study), because: -

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Le présent travail examine le régime et les difficultés posées par la mise en gage d’une marque sur la base des dispositions de la loi du 13 juillet 2013 modifiant le Code civil en ce qui concerne les sûretés réelles mobilières, qui entrera en vigueur le 1er janvier 2017. Les dispositions actuellement applicables au régime général du contrat de gage datent pour la plupart de l’entrée en vigueur du Code civil. Plus de deux cents ans après l’adoption de ces dispositions, il n’est plus nié que le système se trouve à ce jour globalement insatisfaisant. Il ne répond pas aux impératifs d’efficacité et de rapidité qui caractérisent le monde économique actuel. Pourtant, les entreprises sont guidées par un besoin toujours plus grand en matière de crédit. Comment concilier ces deux données ? Le législateur s’y est attelé et y est parvenu en adoptant la réforme des sûretés réelles mobilières contenue dans la loi du 11 juillet 2013 précitée. En ce qui concerne le gage, cette réforme apporte des innovations fondamentales. L’article 2 du nouveau chapitre du Code civil qui lui est dédié énonce que le gage est un contrat consensuel. A compter du 1er janvier 2017, il ne sera donc plus nécessaire pour le constituant d’un gage de se déposséder du bien grevé au profit du créancier gagiste. A l’article 7 du nouveau chapitre dédié au gage, est posé un principe nouveau selon lequel tout bien mobilier, qu’il soit corporel ou incorporel – en ce compris des actions ou des droits de propriété intellectuelle -, ainsi que tout ensemble déterminé de bien peut être grevé d’une sûreté réelle. La réforme se montre également plus dynamique dans la nouvelle procédure de réalisation du gage, qui ne nécessitera plus l’intervention préalable du juge (articles 46 et s.). Ces modifications suscitent sans conteste la curiosité de celui qui est familier aux droits intellectuels. Ce dernier avait en effet du renoncer à la mise en gage d’une marque en droit belge, vu l’unique condition de validité du contrat : la dépossession du bien grevé. C’est ainsi que nous efforçons, dans le présent travail, d’appliquer les nouvelles dispositions instaurées par la réforme des sûretés réelles mobilières au gage constitué sur une marque, qu’elle soit enregistrée sur le territoire Benelux ou sur le territoire de l’Union européenne. Nous avons également tenté d’en dégager diverses recommandations. En ce qui concerne la constitution du gage par exemple, l’article 6, alinéa 1er du nouveau chapitre dédié au gage impose que le constituant dispose des droits d’engager le bien. Quid, dès lors, lorsque le constituant du gage est porteur d’une licence ou est un co-titulaire de la marque ? De même, le sort du contrat de gage en cas de disparition de la marque, la procédure de réalisation et la situation de la faillite du débiteur ont retenu notre attention. Nous avons tenté de répondre à ces questions, en insistant sur l’intérêt qu’ont les parties d’en disposer contractuellement. L’analyse du régime applicable au contrat de gage constitué sur une marque se précisera inévitablement au fil du temps par le recours des entreprises et des banques à ce type de contrat. C’est donc uniquement la pratique qui révélera si le nouveau système répond réellement aux différents objectifs qu’il sous-tend, qui l’adaptera aux caractéristiques économiques de notre époque pour favoriser l’octroi de crédit, renforcer l’économie et rééquilibrera les intérêts des parties au contrat.