HORAK. RECHTSANWÄLTE · LAW AND TECHNOLOGY
Connected technology needs connected legal advice.
A smart machine combines mechanics, electronics, software, connectivity and data. We assess the interaction between contractual duties, product regulation and the operation of the connected system.
Software and electrical interfaces
We advise on development and licence agreements, source-code access, open-source compliance, integration, testing and acceptance. Specifications should identify the division of responsibility between hardware, firmware, cloud services and customer systems.
Maintenance, remote access, support and updates need clear arrangements for availability, access rights, security, change management and the end of support. Particular care is needed where a change can affect a safety function.
Industrial data and cybersecurity
The EU Data Act can create data access and sharing obligations for connected products and related services. The assessment depends on the data, the parties’ roles and the relevant transitional provisions; trade secrets and contractual confidentiality require careful handling.
The Cyber Resilience Act introduces requirements for products with digital elements, with staged application dates. We help businesses assess scope, supply-chain terms, vulnerability handling and the relationship with existing product-safety requirements.
Artificial intelligence in industrial systems
The AI Act uses a risk-based framework. Whether an industrial application is high-risk depends on its intended use and the applicable legal criteria, rather than the presence of AI alone. Product-related high-risk systems require particular attention to the relevant transition timetable.
We advise on responsibility for training and operational data, documentation, human oversight, supplier assurances and liability clauses. For a concrete deployment, the current legal position and any legislative changes must be checked against the intended use.