Applying traditional legal doctrines to that matter often turns out to be unsatisfying, both in principle and practice. In particular, the prevailing distinction on whether a defendant has simply discontinued delivering goods or services, or whether he has trespassed to another’s goods appears to be rather the expression of a topsy-turvy legal history than the result of a deliberate decision of legislators and courts. This state of legal uncertainty reveals an urgent need for clarification.

The proposed project will be approaching these issues with a realistic understanding both of the technical obstacles and the legal challenges they pose. Its aim is to elaborate how the existing law of is to be properly understood to deliver methodologically sound results whilst at the same time being capable of handling the challenges the digital transformation brings with it. In doing so, the project will help businesses, consumers and other stakeholders in evaluating their available options when it comes to enforcing rights in or through the Internet of Things.