A recently published Legal Notice (204 of 2023) has created the “Enforcement of the Rights of Data Subjects in relation to Transfers of Personal Data to a Third Country or an International Organisation Regulations” (Subsidiary Legislation 586.12). This marks the first time that an entirely new subsidiary law has been enacted under the auspices of the Data Protection Act (Chapter 586 of the laws of Malta), since June 2018, shortly after the coming into force of the GDPR. S.L. 586.12 resolves a long-standing lacuna in the field of Maltese data protection law. The scope and purpose of this new law…
On the 28th of February 2023, the European Data Protection Board (hereinafter referred to as the “EDPB”) issued its Opinion on the European Commission’s draft adequacy decision regarding the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. Whilst acknowledging the significant improvements made to the Data Privacy Framework such as the improved new redress mechanism under the Executive Order on Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities, the EDPB’s opinion also highlighted some issues of concern which had previously been raised so as to ensure that the new adequacy decision will be long-lasting. The principal issues of concern specifically relate to the data…
Following the successful uptake of a similar initiative in 2022, the European Commission has re-launched its fund to support small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) in safeguarding their intellectual property assets. The scheme, which will run from 23 January 2023 until 8 December 2023, will enable SMEs established in the European Union to recover up to 75% of eligible fees incurred in connection with trademark and design applications, at both EU and national level, up to a maximum of €1,000. This is welcome news, since it is estimated that over 99% of all businesses in the EU are SMEs and is…