An important aspect that yacht design agreements should cover relates to intellectual property rights in the concept and in the designs. Is yacht interior design protected by IP laws? Yes. Architectural works (as referred to under Law 633/1941, the Italian Copyright Act) are protectable where they are endowed (among other requirements) with creative character. However, […]
A recent ruling by the Italian Supreme Court clarifies the requirements for the validity of technical expert assessments in healthcare liability cases. In judgment No. 15594 of 11 June 2025, the Court of Cassation reaffirmed a strict interpretation of Article 15 of the “Gelli–Bianco” Law (Law No. 24/2017), emphasizing that court-appointed medical expert assessments must […]
Recent guidelines issued by the Italian Ministry for Tourism and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport clarify how law provisions on holiday packages interact with those regulating yacht charters. The guidelines are relevant for the yachting industry, because they set the boundaries between maritime brokerage and travel organization. In addition, they have direct consequences for […]
Variations in Interior & Exterior Design: a shared challenge Within yacht projects, one of the most sensitive issues concerns design variations in interiors and exteriors. These are often not limited to minor tweaks. Indeed, they often entail rethinking concept design, layouts, materials, color combinations, style, furniture or finishes, or even restyling exterior features. What might […]
Introduction The EU Directive 2013/53/EU requires that all vessels between 2.5 and 24 meters shall comply with strict standards for stability, safety, structural resistance and environmental impact. Without CE marking, a yacht cannot legally be sold or used in EU waters. Therefore, CE requirements are not only a formality, but a real passport of legality […]
Introduction The regime of temporary admission is commonly used in the yachting industry, because it allows non-EU goods (i.e., yachts flying extra EU flags) to be introduced into the customs territory of the European Union for a limited period of time of eighteen months (the so-called “period of discharge”), with total exemption from import duties […]
For charters of pleasure yachts, the exemption from excise duty on fuel does not apply, since the vessel’s use by the charterer or lessee is recreational, not commercial. Italian Customs Agency clarification In Circular No. 26/2025, the Italian Customs Agency clarified that: The exemption from excise duty on fuel, pursuant to the Ministry of Economy and Finance Decree No. 225 of […]
Legal Framework and Competent Authorities Purchasing or selling an aircraft registered in the Italian Civil Aviation Registers requires an extensive knowledge of the Italian Navigation Code (“INC”) – which includes a specific section on navigation by air –, as well as of the special legislation at EU level and of the international conventions governing all […]
Selling a business aircraft in Europe or Monaco in 2025 involves a layered process that blends international tax and Customs planning with transactional discipline: title transfer, due diligence, payment structuring, and regulatory compliance must all be synchronized. From the aircraft’s location to the buyer’s tax status, each variable can materially affect the outcome. In this […]
A company sued its lawyer and its accountant before the Court of Rome, seeking a declaration of their professional liability for tax‑related advisory services and asking that they be held jointly and severally (or, in the alternative, pro rata) liable for the damages allegedly suffered. After reviewing all the documents filed in the proceedings, the judge […]
