Digital and social

ASA rulings—21 May 2025

Two complaints were received by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regarding promotional pricing claims made by Vodafone Ltd on its website. The complaints concerned misleading savings claims and promotional pricing practices. The ASA upheld both complaints.

IAB releases advertising agreement terms for member comment

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released its General Terms for Advertising Agreements for member comment on 20 May 2025. The terms establish baseline contractual provisions for advertising transactions and platform agreements between buyers, sellers and technology providers. The framework covers ad serving, measurement, verification, data-sharing, programmatic transactions and direct buys. When combined with forthcoming transaction addenda, the terms aim to create standardised agreements across all types of advertising and marketing arrangements.

EUIPO releases study examining GenAI copyright implications under EU law

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has published a study on 12 May 2025 examining the legal implications of using copyright-protected works to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The study analyses current EU legislation, including the Copyright in Directive (EU) 2019/790 (Single Market Directive) and anticipated provisions of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act 2024, focusing on three areas: assessing the legal status of using copyright-protected material for AI training, evaluating rights protection mechanisms, and addressing challenges associated with the regulatory framework for AI-generated content. The report also considers the economic impact of copyright-intensive sectors and potential revenue opportunities from an emerging market for AI training data. The EUIPO has also announced plans to launch a Copyright Knowledge Centre in November 2025 to provide centralised copyright services and policy guidance.

Commission opens call for evidence on European Business Wallet

The European Commission launched a call for evidence regarding its planned European Business Wallet regulation. The initiative aims to establish an EU-wide system for secure digital identification, data sharing and legal notifications for businesses. Building on the European digital identity framework, the proposal intends to reduce administrative burdens and enhance cross-border operations. The Commission is planning to adopt the final regulation in Q4 2025. The call for evidence runs until 12 June 2025.