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Is the European "Decline" a Statistical Illusion? For some years now, a figure has circulated like a mantra at economic conferences and in political speeches: from 2000 to today, the eurozone's per capita GDP would have grown at roughly half the rate of that of the United States. This is the number that US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick brandished at Davos this past January to brand Europe as a continent in structural economic decline, unable to keep pace with American

When a taxpayer owes a debt to the Italian tax authorities — for instance, an unpaid tax collection notice ("cartella di pagamento") — the Italian Revenue Collection Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate Riscossione) may choose not to act directly against the debtor, but instead against a third party who owes that debtor money: a bank holding a current account, an employer, a client, or a tenant liable for rent payments. The instrument used in these cases is garnishment of third-part

Anyone who buys a home at a judicial auction relies, first and foremost, on one document: the valuation report drawn up by the court-appointed expert. That is where you find the square footage, the condition of the property, any building irregularities, and the estimated market value. Buyers decide whether to take part in the auction, and how much to bid, on that basis. But what happens when that report turns out to be seriously wrong? A recent order of the Italian Supreme Co

An estate agency based on Lake Garda sells a villa to two German nationals. The sale is completed without issue, but the agreed brokerage commission is never paid. The agency brings proceedings in Italy and prevails at first instance; on appeal, however, the defendants raise an objection as to the jurisdiction of the Italian courts, arguing that the dispute must be decided in Germany, the place of their domicile. The Court of Appeal upholds the objection, and the Italian Supr

The case A hotel company based in the province of Viterbo brought proceedings before the Court of Viterbo against its electricity supplier, complaining of an unjustified increase in billing costs. The defendant supplier raised a plea of lack of territorial jurisdiction, invoking a clause contained in the general terms and conditions that conferred exclusive jurisdiction on the Court of Rome. The contract had been concluded electronically by means of a double click on a checkb

La tutela del consumatore che acquista casa dal costruttore. Differenza tra clausola penale e caparra confirmatoria.

The recent judgment of the Italian Supreme Court, No. 12783 of 5 May 2026, marks an important development in trademark law because it extends the principle of acquiescence by coexistence to so-called trademark families, or serial trademarks. The significance of the decision is not merely procedural or case-specific, but systemic: the Court makes clear that a long and peaceful coexistence on the market may affect not only an individual sign, but also the distinctive core that

The recent Italian Supreme Court order no. 20023/2026 sheds light on a crucial issue for hospitality operators: when a ruined holiday stems from the hotel’s negligent non‑performance, the resulting damage may fall within the scope of the hotel’s liability insurance (RC), unless the policy expressly and specifically excludes that type of risk. The ruling is noteworthy not only for the relationship between hotel and insurer, but also for how it clarifies the boundary between co

1. INTRODUCTION: THE CONCEPT OF TAX RESIDENCE 1.1 Criteria for Determining Tax Residence For income tax purposes, tax residence in Italy is governed by Article 2(2) of the TUIR (Consolidated Income Tax Act), according to which individuals are considered resident if, for most of the tax period (at least 183 days, including fractions of a day): they are registered in the registry of the resident population; or they have their residence in the territory of the State under the Ci

The new European and Italian rules against greenwashing mark a paradigm shift for the entire fashion system: it is no longer a matter of “communicating well”, but of proving , with verifiable evidence, every environmental claim. Fashion — by its nature exposed to statements on sustainability, materials, supply chains and impacts — is one of the sectors most directly affected. Changing Regulatory Landscape: EU, Italy and International Standards 1) The new EU framework Directiv

The starting point for this analysis is the article published by The Fashion Law, “From Dupes to Disclosure: How the Law Is Catching Up with Influencers” (February 11, 2026), which offers a clear overview of the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding dupe culture and the growing role of influencers in shaping consumer choices. The article highlights how the promotion of “dupe” products—low‑cost alternatives to luxury goods—is drawing the attention of European and U.S. regu

In today’s debate on the protection of innovation, the industrial trade secret is gaining renewed centrality. In a digital ecosystem where software, algorithms, processes and data have strategic value, many companies choose trade secrets as an alternative or complementary protection tool to patents. Under Article 98 of the Italian Industrial Property Code , a trade secret consists of information that is not generally known or readily accessible to experts in the field, has e

The fashion supply chain is a complex ecosystem: fabric manufacturers, workshops, subcontractors, brands, distributors, showrooms, retailers. In this context, a commercial claim is not just an accounting entry—it is the fuel that keeps the entire system running. When a client fails to pay, the whole production cycle risks grinding to a halt. This is why it is essential to understand how to pursue judicial debt recovery , combining fast-track tools, protective strategies, and

Real estate auctions in Italy are procedures organized by the Court to sell, at the best possible price, a property subject to foreclosure by the owner's creditors, or resulting from a company bankruptcy, or from an inheritance when the co-owners cannot reach an agreement on management or sale. The procedure involves the appointment of a Custodian, who manages the property during the process and, if necessary, clears it of any occupants, and a consultant who prepares an appra