Information and Communication Technology
ALTIUS’ ICT team is headed by Gerrit Vandendriessche and assists hardware manufacturers, software developers, system integrators, ecommerce players, telecommunications operators and suppliers of other ICT-related services, such as consulting, support and maintenance services. The team regularly advises on data protection, e-commerce, digital signatures, trade practice matters, including (on-line) advertising, and general commercial law. Our ICT experts also conduct ICT-related litigation, represeting several clients in disputes regarding software development contracts and advising important search engine operators.
The ICT team has developed a particular expertise in privacy and data protection and regularly assists clients in their compliance with Belgian data protection (privacy audits and EU-wide data protection compliance), e-commerce and electronic communications law. The team frequently carry out compliancy projects and provide day-to-day advice for major multinational corporations and organisations. The team also advises several spin-offs active in the IT sector with the legal issues relating to their portfolio of services and products.
Advice / contract drafting and negotiation:
- drafting software licence agreements, software development agreements, software transfer agreements, ICT consultancy agreements, outsourcing agreements, maintenance agreements, support agreements and escrow agreements;
- providing advice regarding the application of general Belgian contract law to agreements (warranty regime, limitation of liability, termination, etc.);
- localisation of standard ICT agreements to reflect Belgian law;
- assisting clients in preparing bids for IT-related public tenders;
- assisting clients in their compliance with Belgian data protection law, e.g. by conducting privacy audits;
- assisting clients in their compliance with the rules applicable to e-commerce rules; and
- assistance to several spin-offs active in the software sector regarding the legal framework of their services and products portfolio.
Litigation:
- representing and providing (litigation) advice to Internet search engines;
- representing a major Belgian bank in respect of a software licence dispute;
- advising a public authority on a potential ICT litigation regarding the defective implementation of an integrated software and hardware system;
- representing a leasing company regarding the termination for cause of a software development agreement.
Contact: Gerrit Vandendriessche (gerrit.vandendriessche@altius.com)
