Legal articles and news for companies
I paid an architect for a project – can I build from it and change it? What does the Supreme Court say?
You paid an architect for a study or a project – and now you are wondering whether you can build from it, alter the design and hand it over to an authority or another company without their further consent? This is exactly the everyday situation the Supreme Court dealt with in judgment No. 27 Cdo 2857/2019. We explain what the client may do with an architectural work even without a separate licence, where the limit lies, and why the architect cannot charge extra afterwards (for instance through a reservation on an invoice).
Renovating a property as a change to a copyrighted work: when you need the architect's consent
Renovating a property can, under the Copyright Act, be an interference with an architectural work. When can you carry out a conversion, an added storey or a facade change even without the architect's consent thanks to the statutory licence under Section 38d, and when must you ask for consent in advance? And why may it determine whether the architect sues you to have a finished conversion removed?
Which buildings are copyrighted works? When is architecture protected by copyright?
Not every building is a copyrighted work. Which buildings and architectural designs does the Copyright Act protect, what does the condition of uniqueness and creative activity mean, and when does a building enjoy no copyright protection at all?
Transferring property to your children without future disputes between siblings
Giving a house to one child doesn’t have to lead to a dispute with siblings. In this article, we’ll explain how to use a combination of a gift deed and a purchase agreement to settle matters with siblings fairly, legally soundly, and without unnecessary taxes—and why the money should be held in escrow.
Family and good relationships are paramount - prevent disputes.