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News
Report on the Evening Lecture: Prof. Dr. Lucia Reisch „Behavioural Public Policy for Sustainable Development – with a Focus on Climate Change“
On December 15, 2021, the second event of the series “Evening Lectures” in the winter semester 2021/2022 took place. The online event was once again hosted and moderated by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale). The renowned social scientist and economist Prof. Dr. Lucia Reisch, Director of the El-Erian Institute of Behavioural Economics and Policy, University of Cambridge, spoke on the topic of “Behavioural Public Policy for Sustainable Development – with a Focus on Climate Change” (© Julian Nigg).
A detailed report on the Seminar is available here.
Report on the conference on „Third party litigation funding – a necessity or deterrence of Justice?“ on 10.12.2021
On December 10, 2021, a conference on “Third party litigation funding – a necessity or deterrence of Justice?” was held, focusing in particular on the Directive (EU) 2020/1828 on representative actions for the protection of consumers´ collective interests (“Collective Redress”) and on the practical handling of the third-party litigation funding issue. The online event was hosted by the Austrian Hub of the ELI and moderated by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale), co-chair Austrian Hub. The keynote address was given by Prof. Judith Resnik, Yale Law School on the topic “The Need for and the Challenges of collective redress” (© Julian Nigg).
A detailed report on the Conference is available here.
Report on the Seminar Series – Current Problems of Private Commercial Law: MMag. Erika Ummenberger-Zierler, Austrian Federal Ministry for Digitalisation and Economic Location and Prof. Dr. jur. Ansgar Ohly, LL.M. (Cambridge), LMU Munich with the lecture: "UWG new - Effects of the New Deal for Consumers"
On 6 December 2021, the fourth event of the seminar series “Current Problems of Private Commercial Law” (also known as “Monday Seminar”) took place in the winter semester 2021/2022. The online event was organised and moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Prof. Dr. Alexander Schopper. The speakers MMag. Erika Ummenberger-Zierler, BMDW and Prof. Dr. jur. Ansgar Ohly, LL.M. (Cambridge), LMU Munich gave a presentation on the topic "UWG new - Effects of the New Deal for Consumers". The topic of the lecture was the implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/2161 on better enforcement and modernisation of consumer protection rules in the European Union ("Omnibus Directive") from an Austrian and German perspective (© Julian Nigg).
A detailed report on the Seminar is available here.
Report on the Conference on “Implementation of the Sale of Goods Directive and the Digital Content Directive in Austria and Germany” on 26.11.2021
On 26 November 2021, the second conference on the implementation of the Sale of Goods Directive and the Digital Content Directive in Austria and Germany, which dealt with the concrete implementation laws in both legal systems, took place. The online event was hosted by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Dean of Studies Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Koch, LL.M. (Michigan) (© Julian Nigg).
A detailed report on the Conference is available here.
Report on the Seminar Series – Current Problems of Private Commercial Law: Prof. Dr. Andreas Engert, LL.M. (Univ. Chicago), Free University of Berlin with the lecture: “Review of the Exchange Ratio and Severance Pay – Mobility Directive as an Impetus for Reform”
On 22 November 2021, the third event of the seminar series “Current Problems of Private Commercial Law” (also known as “Monday Seminar”) took place in the winter semester 2021/2022. The online event was organised and moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Prof. Dr. Alexander Schopper. The speaker Prof. Dr. Andreas Engert, LL.M. (Chicago) from the Free University of Berlin gave a lecture on the topic “Review of the exchange ratio and severance payments – Mobility Directive as an impetus for reform”. In the subsequent discussion Mag. Slavica Vanovac, an Austrian lawyer, shed light on the effects of the Mobility Directive concerning Austrian corporate law (© Julian Nigg).
A detailed report on the Seminar is available here.
Guest lecture by Dr. Marco Lettenbichler
On 16 November 2021, Dr. Marco Lettenbichler, post-doctoral researcher at the Chair of Company, Foundation and Trust Law, Institute for Business Law, at the University of Liechtenstein, gave a guest lecture on the Liechtenstein foundation and the Liechtenstein stock corporation as part of the course "Introduction to Liechtenstein Business and Company Law". Both legal forms are of outstanding importance in the Principality of Liechtenstein.
© Univ.-Ass. Mag. Patrick Raschner
Prof. Augenhofer at the Conference for lawyers in Hannover
On 12 November 2021, Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) gave a presentation at the conference "Anwaltschaft im Blick der Wissenschaft", which was hosted by the German Federal Bar Association (Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer) and the Institute for Procedural and Bar Law of Leibniz University Hannover. Her speech formed part of a unit on "Legal Protection for multiple parties" and dealt with various forms of collective actions in Germany and Austria. Besides, Prof. Augenhofer considered upcoming changes brought about by the Directive 2020/1828/EU.
Please find more information here:
Report on the seminar series - Current Problems of Private Commercial Law: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Walter Doralt, University of Graz with the lecture: "(Total) Reform of Austrian (Capital) Company Law? - Remarks on the current work around an Austrian Limited"
On October 18, 2021, the first event of the seminar series "Current Problems of Private Commercial Law" (also known as "Monday Seminars") in the winter semester 2021/2022 - hosted and moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Prof. Dr. Alexander Schopper - took place. The speaker Prof. Dr. Walter Doralt gave a lecture on the highly topical subject "(Total) Reform of the Austrian (Capital) Company Law? - Remarks on the current work around an Austrian Limited". In the subsequent commentary on the lecture, Prof. Dr. Jessica Schmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham) from the University of Bayreuth offered her insights on the reform from the perspective of comparative law. (© Leon Bergmann)
A detailed report on the Evening Lecture is available here.
Guest Lecture by Prof. Augenhofer at the University of Oxford
On 27 October 2021, Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) followed an invitation from the Faculty of Law of the University of Oxford to give a talk on “The Representative Actions Directive for the protection of the collective interests of consumers – one step forward, two steps back?”. The event took place as a hybrid event at Brasenose College, University of Oxford. In her talk, Prof. Augenhofer focused on the consequences of the directive and its defects, comparing them to the UK system of collective actions.
To find more information, please use the following link:
Report on the Evening Lecture "The ultra vires doctrine of the German Federal Constitutional Court - crisis or opportunity for Europe?"
On October 13, 2021 the first Evening Lecture of the winter semester 2021/2022 took place. Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Dieter Grimm, LL.M. Humboldt-University Berlin explored in this hybrid event the importance of the ultra vires doctrine practiced by the German Federal Constitutional Court for the European Union. The lecture was commented by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Walter Obwexer, Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University and Professor of European Law.
(© Julian Nigg)
A detailed report on the Evening Lecture is available here.
Welcome and farewell to professors
On 1 October 2021, professors recently appointed to the University of Innsbruck were welcomed to the Faculty of Law. Among the newly appointed professors was Professor Augenhofer, who took over a chair at the Institute of Business and Tax Law on 1 January 2020. The Faculty of Law also bid farewell to those professors who have left the University of Innsbruck – among them Professor Eckert, who has accepted a call to the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Professor Augenhofer appointed as a member of ASCOLA
In September 2021, Professor Augenhofer was appointed as a member of the Academic Society for Competition Law (ASCOLA). For more information on ASCOLA, please click here.
Professor Augenhofer appointed as
ELI Council Member
In elections held on 8 September 2021, Professor Augenhofer was appointed to the Council of the European Law Institute (ELI). For more information on the Council Elections, please click here.
Save the Date: Friday, 10 December 2021
Conference on: Third party litigation funding – a necessity or deterrence of Justice? Online Event
Professor Augenhofer appointed as Senior Research Scholar at Yale Law School
In July 2021 Professor Augenhofer was appointed as Senior Research Scholar at Yale Law School for the academic year 2021/22. For more information, please click here.
Study for the preparation of an implementation report on the General Product Safety Directive
On 30 June 2021 the European Commission has published a study for the preparation of an implementation report on the General Product Safety Directive. The study consists of a main part and a second part with country reports on the implementation of the Directive. Professor Augenhofer feels honoured to have contributed the country report for Austria.
Links to the studies:
Digital Conference "Drei-Länder-Treffen 2021"
On 17 and 18 June 2021 the conference “Drei-Länder-Treffen 2021” hosted by the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Recht und Informatik” (DGRI) took place online. Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) presented the Austrian implementation draft of the Sale of Goods Directive and the Digital Content Directive.
(@ Hans Strasser)
The complete report can be found here.
Evening Lecture „The Digital Markets Act
– a games changer?” (09.06.2021)
On Wednesday, 09 June 2021, the fourth Evening Lecture of the spring semester 2021 took place online. Giorgio Monti, Professor of Competition Law at Tilburg Law School and part-time professor at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute, gave his second lecture in this seminar series.
(© Johannes Giacomuzzi)
The complete report can be found here.
Guest Lecture by Prof. Susanne Augenhofer at the University of Tilburg
On Wednesday, 12 May 2021, Prof. Dr. Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) held a guest lecture at the University of Tilburg. Within Professor Giorgio Monti’s competition law lecture, professor Augenhofer spoke about collective redress in consumer law, in particular the new Representative Actions Directive. In her presentation, she gave students an overview of the main enforcement mechanisms in consumer and competition law, as well as a comparative review of the main collective redress mechanisms. Professor Augenhofer especially pointed out how the various choices made by the legislator in the context of collective redress each have their pros and cons. Opt-in or opt-out mechanism, types of redress measures and funding were discussed in this context.
After her presentation Professor Augenhofer engaged in a lively Q&A with the students to answer unresolved questions and discuss the new Directives main features.
Evening Lecture “Essential Platforms” (19.05.2021)
On Wednesday, 19 May 2021, Dr. Nikolas Guggenberger, LL.M. (Stanford) from the Information Society Project at Yale Law School gave the third evening lecture of spring term 2021. The lecture was organized and moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale).
(© Hans Strasser)
The complete report can be found here.
Guest Lecture by Prof. Susanne Augenhofer at the University of Tilburg
On Wednesday, 12 May 2021, Prof. Dr. Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) held a guest lecture at the University of Tilburg. Within Professor Giorgio Monti’s competition law lecture, professor Augenhofer spoke about collective redress in consumer law, in particular the new Representative Actions Directive. In her presentation, she gave students an overview of the main enforcement mechanisms in consumer and competition law, as well as a comparative review of the main collective redress mechanisms. Professor Augenhofer especially pointed out how the various choices made by the legislator in the context of collective redress each have their pros and cons. Opt-in or opt-out mechanism, types of redress measures and funding were discussed in this context.
After her presentation Professor Augenhofer engaged in a lively Q&A with the students to answer unresolved questions and discuss the new Directives main features.
Digital Conference “Marktermöglichung durch Recht im Digitalen Zeitalter“
On Friday, 7 May 2021, the conference “Marktermöglichung durch Recht im Digitalen Zeitalter“ hosted by the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg took place online. Among the speakers was Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale), who held a presentation on consumer law enforcement and algorithm control by the German Competition Authority. In her presentation Professor Augenhofer contributed to the ongoing discussion on expanding the Competition Authority’s competences with regards to consumer rights enforcement. According to Professor Augenhofer, the Authority should be designated to enforce consumer rights. Faster and more resource efficient enforcement, in-house expertise and experience with the sanction system of the German Competition Act are the main supporting factors.
Following the panel meeting, Professor Augenhofer engaged in a lively discussion with the audience.
More information about the conference can be found here.
Guest Lecture by Mag. Hannes Seidelberger
On Tuesday, 11 May 2021, Mag. Hannes Seidelberger gave a guest lecture as part of Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer’s competition law course. Based on numerous cases from daily practice, Mag. Seidelberger presented the work of the Association against Unfair Competition (Schutzverband gegen unlauteren Wettbewerb). The exciting lecture was followed by a lively discussion.
Evening Lecture „Mergers and Merger Control in Digital Markets” (28.04.2021)
On Wednesday, 28 April 2021, Prof. Dr. Tomaso Duso from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) was welcomed virtually to Innsbruck for the second "Evening Lecture" of the Spring Term, hosted and moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale). As a renowned researcher for, among other things, digitalization, competition policy and empirical industrial economics, he gave a lecture on mergers and merger control for big tech firms in digital markets.
(© Rebecca Küter)
The complete report can be found here.
Evening lecture “Controlling Power in the Digital Economy: The Role of Antitrust” (14.04.2021)
On Wednesday, 14 April 2021, the first evening lecture of the spring term 2021 took place virtually. The lecture was held by Prof. Eleanor Fox, the Walter J. Derenberg Professor of Trade and Regulation at New York University School of Law and was moderated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale). Professor Fox discussed the role of antitrust law in regulating Big Tech companies. She started her presentation by introducing the audience to the status quo of antitrust law in the United States and in the EU, as well as current developments, also in China. She further explained how the “GAFA” (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon) use their economic power to stifle competition. After comparing the systems of either side of the ocean, she presented recent case law from both continents aimed at comparing the different approaches taken. Notable cases include, amongst others, the Google cases both in the EU and the U.S., the Facebook case in Germany and the Apple v. Epic case in the U.S. Her analysis led to the conclusion that the U.S. is lagging far behind the EU in terms of antitrust regulation and enforcement and that stricter regulation is needed. Prof. Fox concluded her presentation by inviting the audience to reflect on the global governance gap in antitrust regulation and possible remedies for taming Big Tech. Due to these firms having their statutory seat in the U.S., it is difficult for the EU to intervene effectively. With regard to possible remedies, she examined pros and cons of breakups and of behavioural regulation. The presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session, where Professor Fox engaged with questions from the audience – which included students, academics as well as practitioners – on these topics.
European Law Institute - Austrian Hub
Professor Augenhofer was appointed to chair the Austrian Hub of the European Law Institute together with Professor Doralt (University of Graz) and Professor Koller (University of Vienna). More information can be found here.
Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) in the CPAG
Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) is feeling very honored to be elected by the European Commission to the new Consumer Policy Advisory Group (CPAG) and to be able to contribute to the implementation of the New Consumer Agenda in the green and digital transition. More information can be found here.
Current Problems of Private Business Law
General Information on the Event Series "Current Problems of Private Business Law"
Evening Lectures
General Information on the Evening Lectures
The event series takes place in cooperation with the Austrian Hub of the European Law Institute (ELI).
Winter Semester 2021/22
Date: 13.10.2021
The ultra-vires-doctrine of the Federal Consitutional Court
– crisis or opportunity for Europe?
Lecturer: Prof. em. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Dieter Grimm, LL.M., Humboldt University Berlin
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the evening lecture will take place as a hybrid event in autumn 2021.
Date: 15.12.2021 online
Behavioural Public Policy for Sustainable Development
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Lucia Reisch, University of Cambridge
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the Evening Lecture will take place online.
Summer Semester 2021
Date: 14.04.2021
Controlling Power in the Digital Economy:
The Role of Antitrust
Lecturer: Eleanor Fox, Walter J. Derenberg Professor of Trade Regulation, NYU School of Law
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the Evening Lecture will take place online.
Date: 28.04.2021
Mergers and merger control in digital markets
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Tomaso Duso, DIW Berlin
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the Evening Lecture will take place online.
Date: 19.05.2021
Lecturer: Dr. Nikolas Guggenberger, LL.M., Information Society Project at Yale Law School
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the Evening Lecture will take place online.
Date: 09.06.2021
The Digital Markets Act – a game changer?
Lecturer: Prof. Giorgio Monti, Tilburg Law School / European University Institute
Abstract: "This is a collection of recommendations and discussions on the European Commission proposal for a Digital Markets Act. My contribution is on the Institutional Issues."
The research report on the Digital Markets Act can be found here
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the Evening Lecture will take place online.
Winter Semester 2020/21
Date: 03.11.2020
Antitrust in the age of digitalization
Lecturer: Prof. Giorgio Monti, Tilburg University
Note: Due to the current situation (COVID-19), the Evening Lecture took place online.
Conferences
Report on the conference on „Third party litigation funding – a necessity or deterrence of Justice?“ on 10.12.2021
On Friday, December 10, 2021, a conference on “Third party litigation funding – a necessity or deterrence of Justice?” was held, focusing in particular on the Directive (EU) 2020/1828 on representative actions for the protection of consumers´ collective interests (“Collective Redress”) and on the practical handling of the third-party litigation funding issue. The online event was hosted by the Austrian Hub of the ELI and moderated by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale), co-chair Austrian Hub. The keynote address was given by Prof. Judith Resnik, Yale Law School on the topic “The Need for and the Challenges of collective redress”.
A detailed report on the Conference is available here.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Koch, LL.M. (Michigan)
The Implementation of the Directive Concerning Contracts for the Sale of Goods and the Digital Content and Digital Services Directive
On Friday, 26 November 2021, the second conference on the implementation of the Sale of Goods Directive and the Digital Content Directive in Austria and Germany, which dealt with the concrete implementation laws in both legal systems, took place. The online event was hosted by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Dean of Studies Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Koch, LL.M. (Michigan).
A detailed report on the Conference is available here.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Augenhofer, LL.M. (Yale) and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Koch, LL.M. (Michigan)
The Implementation of the Directive Concerning Contracts for the Sale of Goods and the Digital Content and Digital Services Directive
The conference „The Implementation of the Directive Concerning Contracts for the Sale of Goods and the Digital Content and Digital Services Directive” took place on 27 November 2020 under the direction of Professor Susanne Augenhofer and Professor Bernhard Koch. At the same time, the conference served as a kick-off event for the relaunch of the Austrian Hub of the European Law Institute (ELI). The conference report can be found here.
