Internet of Things and Industry 4.0
The vision of the smart home has become reality: From self-regulating home technology to intelligent wearables and self-driving cars, the Internet of Things has found its way into everyday life. The virtual and real worlds are also merging in business under the Industry 4.0 banner: M2M (machine-to-machine) communication and digital twins represent a technological revolution and AI agents are taking over the conclusion of contracts.
Technical progress raises legal questions
The legislature is often unable to keep up with the rapid pace of technological development. The Internet of Things raises legal questions that existing laws are not yet able to answer in detail. The same applies to Industry 4.0, where the division of labour between humans and machines and between machines themselves needs to be redefined and reassessed from a legal perspective.
The legal issues surrounding Industry 4.0 relate, for example, to:
- Competition law: How can trade secrets and sensitive company information be protected when machines communicate with each other?
- Open source and data utilisation: How can the comprehensive use of available data be ensured on a legally secure basis?
- Data protection: How can it be ensured that data protection requirements are also met in the Internet of Things and in M2M and AI2AI communication?
- What should be considered overall when using Artificial Intelligence and in virtual worlds?
- IT security: How can increasingly automated systems be protected against cyberattacks, hacker attacks and other unauthorised access? What obligations do companies have in the event of a data breach?
- Liability: Who is responsible when errors occur in fully machine-based or self-optimising processes?
- Consumer protection and sales law: What are the requirements for the conclusion of contracts and consumer protection in machine-based business models?
The lawyers in our interdisciplinary team will provide you with answers and legal advice relating to your specific concepts and business processes in connection with Industry 4.0.
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We provide future-facing legal advice to help your organisation thrive. Combining local market knowledge and a global perspective, and with lawyers in locations worldwide, your organisation benefits from the expertise it needs, even across borders.
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