The violation of sanctions (“embargo violation”) is punishable by considerable sanctions – and especially in the past months it is by no means such an exotic violation that one should not have it on one’s radar. In recent months, our law firm has been confronted mainly with requests for advice in the area of software and technology goods, where the question of import or export arises via quite tricky detours.
Tag: criminal tax law
The fact that criminal proceedings arise in Germany because of cryptocurrencies has long since ceased to be a peculiarity. Many tax advisors take on the topic and solicit clients – but those who only think with the view of tax law can cost their clients a lot of money. In recent years, as a German criminal defense lawyer, I have regularly acted as a defender in criminal proceedings concerning cryptocurrencies – and can only urge caution.
Search by the tax investigation office in Germany: When the tax investigation office arrives on the doorstep, panic is rife – and it’s deliberate. In many scenarios, it’s part of the process to deliberately increase stress and pressure in an already oppressive situation. The hope of sparing oneself embarrassment and annoyance through supposed explanations then does the rest. And it is precisely here that this applies: The surprise visit of the tax investigation is reason enough to keep calm and to realize that from now on the time for one’s own defense has come.
Computer gaming has changed considerably in recent years: Where floppy disks and CDs were common in the past, sometimes in combination with obscure-looking copy protection measures (I like to remember the Mix’n’Mojo hub at Monkey Island,which, by the way, is also available online today), not only downloads prevail today, but also completely new gaming cultures that have partly shifted completely to the online realm.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) have heralded a real cultural change in this respect – and also completely new legal issues: Whereas people used to be most concerned about how best to copy games, other desires prevail today. At a time when accounts cost money and virtual goods have a real market value, cheating in games is valued very differently. This is also reflected in current court decisions. Attorney Jens Ferner, active in the field of software law including the legal issues of online games, gives an overview of the legal situation in Germany.
Note: In our law firm by specialist lawyer for IT law Jens Ferner the creative industry is represented in the field of software law – especially game developers and software houses. No activity for consumers / private individuals!