Recently, non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) have become the subject of significant public attention, primarily due to the high amounts of money allocated for their purchase. For example, it is estimated that the worth of the global NFT market in 2021 was about 41 billion dollars, which is more than the value of the market of classical works of art. For the sake of comparison, that is approximately twice the amount of the budget of the Republic of Serbia for 2022. Bearing in mind the nature and manner of functioning of NFTs, the nature of things raises the question of their relationship with intellectual property law, and above all, the relationship with trademark law​.

Former Partner and Co-Head of the Real Estate and Construction practice Ksenija Golubovic Filipovic has left Zivkovic Samardzic, as of August 1, 2022, to establish her own practice. She will continue to cooperate with the firm as a Consultant. Partner Uros Djordjevic will continue to lead the firm’s Real Estate and Construction practice.

NKO Partners has advised CTP on yet another acquisition of land in Novi Sad, this time from the City of Novi Sad itself.

Zivkovic Samardzic has advised Serbia’s commercial broadcasters Prva, B92, and Play Radio on obtaining national broadcasting licenses from Serbia’s regulatory authority for electronic media.

Despite being already recognized as one of the leading European countries regarding foreign investments, the Republic of Serbia continues its active policy of attracting foreign investors. The direct consequence of the substantial increasement in investments in a plethora of different fields is the fact that there are even more and more foreign natural and legal persons willing to invest in producing audiovisual works on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Serbia recognized this trend and took measures to improve the environment for investing in audiovisual works within the so-called creative industries (e.g. films, short films, TV shows, documentaries, animated films, etc. ‘’Industry’’).

During 2020, the Regional Court of Itzehoe (Germany) enacted a judgment in case no. 10 O 84/20, under which “Google” has a legitimate interest by virtue of Article 6(1)(f) GDPR to publish images of personal property for the needs of its services “Google Maps” and “Google Earth”.

Preparedness and adaptability are the Serbian keys to doing business in a changing and challenging environment, according to Partner Andjelka Todorovic of Law Office Miroslav Stojanovic, in cooperation with Wolf Theiss.

The Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia (“AERS”) adopted three decisions on amendments of the following methodologies, on its session held on 7 July 2022:

Schoenherr has advised Banca Intesa Beograd on providing EUR 26 million loans to Israeli Big Group company Minel Kotlogradnja Real Estate.

Today, perhaps more than ever before, commercial use of Software is of great value and many Software developers design and develop Software for licensing or sale to end users, or those serving a commercial purpose in an ever-growing market.

NSTLAW has represented Molson Coors Group members Apatinska Pivara and Trebjesa on obtaining a competition exemption for a distribution agreement of Guinness beer.

Batarelo Dvojkovic Vuchetich and Bojovic Draskovic Popovic & Partners have advised Infobip on its acquisition of Netokracija.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and BDK Advokati have advised One Equity Partners on its acquisition of the Fortaco Group from Nordic investor Capman. Reportedly, Krogerus advised One Equity Partners in Finland.

At the end of 2021, a public debate was held in the National Assembly on the Draft Law on Work Practice. The Draft itself is a reaction to relatively unfavourable basic labour market indicators, which predict that young people in Serbia lag behind their peers in the EU by 10%.

BDK Advokati has advised Epam Systems on the acquisition of IP assets and takeover and integration of employees of Serbian IT company Vivify Ideas. Drazic Beatovic & Stojic reportedly advised sellers Goran Prijic, Nedeljko Damnjanovic, and Milos Janjic on the deal.

Regulation on Amendments to the Regulation on Establishing the List of Technical Devices and Objects subject to Mandatory Payment of Special Fee to Holders of Copyright and Related rights was published in the Official Gazette of RS no. 49/2022 from 21 April 2022, and it entered into force on 29 April 2022. The respective piece of regulation has extended the list of technological devices for reproduction of audio and visual contents from the domain of copyright and related rights, i.e., for which, upon their purchase, a certain fee shall be paid (“the Regulation”).

The Government of the Republic of Serbia enacted the Decree on Establishing the Investment Program “Recovery and Development” (the “Program”) to establish a new credit line for the allocation of favourable credit funds to entities for the implementation of new investments, which will accelerate the recovery and growth of economic activity in the Republic of Serbia in difficult economic conditions caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Srdjan Sisic has relocated to Montenegro to join One Crna Gora as its Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.