This year’s Summer School was dedicated to one of the most topical areas of law in today’s digital society – copyright law in an era of rapid technological development, new forms of creating and disseminating content, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Over the course of the two-week interdisciplinary programme, participants had the opportunity to explore the relationship between copyright law, the media, creativity and new technologies through lectures, workshops and discussions with Croatian and international experts.

The first week focused on key aspects of the international and European copyright protection system, including:

• international and European copyright frameworks (the Berne Convention, TRIPS, WIPO, the InfoSoc Directive and the DSM Directive) (Professor Romana Matanovac Vučković)
• copyright law in the digital environment – from digital copying to genAI (Associate Professor Tihomir Katulić)
• the importance of copyright law in the 21st century (Professor Romana Matanovac Vučković)
• copyright as a human right and a cultural value (Professor Igor Gliha)
• CJEU case law on copyright – originality criterion and rights (Professor Stef van Gompel)
• copyright and related rights in Croatia (Professor Igor Gliha)
• copyright and media law: journalists’, publishers’ and broadcasters’ rights (Boris Trupčević and Professor Romana Matanovac Vučković)
• collective management of copyright from a comparative perspective (Professor Stef van Gompel)
• practical workshop: copyright challenges in the media (Boris Trupčević)

During the programme, participants also had the opportunity to discover Zagreb through an organised city tour. The social programme was further enriched by a welcome dinner at Restaurant Boban and a visit to the Museum of Broken Relationships.

The second week turned to the challenges posed by digital transformation and artificial intelligence for copyright law. Lectures and discussions explored the following topics:

• text and data mining in European and comparative law (Katarina Radić, Legal Adviser at HDS ZAMP)
• copyright and audiovisual works in the age of artificial intelligence (Uroš Ćemalović, PhD)
• the ethics of AI creativity (Aco Momčilović and Professor Romana Matanovac Vučković)
• cross-border enforcement of copyright (Professor Ivana Kunda)
• copyright enforcement and online piracy (Uroš Ćemalović, PhD)
• generative artificial intelligence from a legal perspective (Dino Gliha, PhD)
• exceptions and limitations to copyright in the European Union in the age of artificial intelligence (Antonija Ivančan, PhD)
• the music industry and the balance between authors, publishers, performers and record labels (Nenad Marčec, CEO of HDS ZAMP)

A special part of the programme consisted of the panel discussions “AI, Art and the Future of Creativity” and “The Future of Copyright in Europe”, during which lecturers and students discussed the future of creativity, the role of artificial intelligence and the direction of the European copyright system.

The programme concluded with a final examination, the presentation of certificates of participation, and a closing reception held at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb.

We would like to thank all participants for their engagement and contribution to the successful organisation of this year’s Summer School, as well as all lecturers for sharing their knowledge and experience. We extend our special thanks to this year’s programme sponsor, the Croatian Composers’ Society – ZAMP, and to the Programme Director, Professor Romana Matanovac Vučković, for her expert leadership and for shaping this year’s edition of the Summer School.

We look forward to future editions of the Summer School and to continuing our international academic cooperation.

IN THE MEDIA

At the invitation of the organisers, Professor Ivana Dobrotić presented the Croatian initiative’s experience during the plenary panel Finishing the Job: The Continued Fight for Free School Meals for All. The organisers recognised the Croatian initiative as a successful model for advocating universal free school meals and as a source of inspiration for the United Kingdom’s campaign to introduce free school meals for every child. Particular interest was shown in the initiative’s advocacy strategies, which presented access to a school meal as a universal right of every child, as well as in the arguments supporting the principle of universality over targeted models of support, including issues relating to funding and the prevention of stigma affecting children.

The conference brought together representatives of the education sector, researchers, policymakers and civil society organisations to exchange experiences, strengthen initiatives aimed at tackling child poverty and ensuring equal access to school meals for every child, and discuss the next steps in advocating the introduction of universal free school meals across the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, 6 June 2026, a cycling brevet was successfully held to mark the 250th anniversary of the continuous activity of the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb.

The brevet, organised by the organising committee of staff and students of the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, with the support of the faculty, symbolically linked the faculty’s major anniversary with the promotion of physical activity, healthy lifestyles, sustainable mobility, and the sense of community among students, staff, alumni, and friends of the faculty.

The participants set off on the 250-kilometre route (with 2,200 metres of elevation gain), covering the Zagreb–Varaždin–Zagreb route, at approximately 6.30 a.m. from the Faculty of Law building at Trg Republike Hrvatske 3, returning to the same location at around 8.15 p.m.

The full 250-kilometre route was completed by four cyclists: members of the faculty staff, Prof. Ozren Pilipović and Nino Raspudić, together with friends of the faculty, Patrik Klasić and Mihael Lončar. They were joined and supported along part of the route by Judge Nikola Ramušćak, who completed 100 kilometres, and three students of the Faculty of Law, Mateo Kaloper Gjermek, David Ljubenko, and Borowit Kosjenc Piekutowski, who each rode 30 kilometres.

The route was designed to connect several sites of legal, institutional, and historical significance. Among other places, the participants visited the Croatian National Anthem Monument, Veliki Tabor Castle, and the Lepoglava Penitentiary. A particularly significant stop on the route was Varaždin, where the cyclists were welcomed by representatives of the media and by Miran Bojanić Morandini, Director of the City Museum Varaždin, who guided them through the Watchtower, the premises in which the first lectures of the then newly established law programme were held.

Upon their return to Zagreb, the cyclists were welcomed in front of the faculty by students, alumni, and staff of the Faculty of Law, led by Vice-Dean Prof. Elizabeta Ivičević Karas, bringing this sporting and symbolic event to a close in an atmosphere of community and celebration of the faculty’s important anniversary.

This commendable event celebrated the 250th anniversary of the uninterrupted activity of the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb in a truly symbolic and dynamic manner. The brevet successfully brought together the faculty’s rich history, its academic community, and physical activity, thereby embodying the profound symbolism of the number 250.

The Justitia Award is an international distinction presented by the Austrian Women in Law Initiative to women legal professionals from around the world whose work has made a significant contribution to advancing gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The award recognises professionals who have brought about meaningful change within the legal system through their work in academia, legal practice, the judiciary, public policy, activism and other areas of the legal profession.

The Academia category is dedicated to researchers and university academics whose research, teaching and public engagement have had a significant professional and societal impact.

The nomination for this distinguished international award, submitted by Professor Zlata Đurđević of the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, a previous recipient of the Justitia Award, particularly highlights Assoc. Prof. Antonija Petričušić’s scholarly, teaching and public contributions in the fields of women’s rights, gender equality and the protection of human rights.

We warmly congratulate Assoc. Prof. Antonija Petričušić on this outstanding international recognition and wish her every success in the final stage of the award selection process.

The International Network on Leave Policies & Research is an international research network that has brought together researchers and experts working on leave policies, care policies, and work–family balance since 2004. Since its establishment, the network has grown from around fifteen member countries to more than 50 countries worldwide, becoming a leading forum for the exchange of ideas and new research in this field.

One of the network’s principal activities is the preparation of the annual International Review of Leave Policies and Research, one of the most important open-access sources of data on leave and care policies. The rebiew is regularly used in analyses and databases maintained by international organisations such as the European Union, the OECD, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Professor Ivana Dobrotić has been actively involved in the work of the network for many years as the author of the Croatian country reports, a member of the editorial team of the annual review, and, in recent years, as its Editor-in-Chief. She also actively contributes to the network’s other publishing activities, including editorial projects.

Together with Professor Sonja Blum and Professor Alison Koslowski, she co-edited the Research Handbook on Leave Policy: Parenting and Social Inequalities in a Global Perspective (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2022), which brings together leading international experts in the field of leave and care policies.

Her election to the leadership of the network represents significant international recognition of her scholarly achievements and contribution to the advancement of research on leave and care policies. At the same time, this appointment confirms the international standing of the research conducted at the Department of Social Work and the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, while further strengthening their visibility and engagement within international research networks.

More about the network:

https://www.leavenetwork.org/introducing-the-network/history/

The assembled graduates were initially addressed by Professor Mirela Krešić, Vice Dean for Teaching, Mobility, Students and Study Programmes; Professor Gordana Berc, Head of the Social Work Study Centre; and Associate Professor Marko Turudić, Head of the Public Administration and Public Finance Study Centre. On that occasion, they welcomed all visitors and emphasised the importance of choosing a course of study in accordance with personal interests, as well as future professional development.

The study programmes delivered by the Faculty were presented: the integrated university study programme in Law, as well as the programmes in Social Work, Public Administration and Taxation. The graduates had the opportunity to learn more about the structure of the programmes, opportunities for professional placements, international exchanges, student associations, and extracurricular activities.

The practical experience that students acquire during their studies—through which they develop concrete professional competences and work with citizens under the mentorship of academic staff and experts—was presented by the Legal Clinic, HOME – Centre for Social Support and Innovation, and Administrative Compass.

Following the presentation of the study programmes, a panel discussion entitled “My Student Journey” was held, during which current students shared their own experiences of studying, adapting to university life, and the opportunities that opened up to them during their studies, such as participation in moot court competitions, i.e. simulated trial competitions. The graduates actively participated in the discussion, posing questions about the organisation of teaching, student standards, placements, and employment opportunities after graduation.

After the programme, students had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the work of student associations operating at the Faculty and to learn more about their activities and opportunities for involvement in student life.

Law students from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Tena Đapić and Mihaela Geber, have won first place at the prestigious global client consultation competition, the Brown Mosten International Client Consultation Competition (BM ICCC), which was hosted in Zagreb this year.

This marks the first such achievement for Croatia since the competition was established in 1972. The event brings together law students from across the world and is based on simulated client consultations, in which participants develop key competencies such as identifying legal issues, structuring legal advice, and communicating effectively and clearly with clients.

The success of the Zagreb students is the result of systematic preparation and dedicated mentorship provided by Dr Juraj Brozović from the Department of Civil Procedure. Former semi-finalist Nikolina Filipović also contributed to the team’s preparation, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and experience to a new generation of students.

In addition to the competitive achievement, the organisational success of this year’s edition also deserves particular recognition. The Faculty of Law in Zagreb hosted more than 30 students from across Europe and beyond, thereby reaffirming Zagreb’s role as an important centre of international legal and academic cooperation. The highly positive feedback from participants and experts alike confirms the high standard of organisation and hospitality.

This achievement is the result of the joint efforts of the Faculty, its students, mentors, alumni and partners, as well as sustained investment in the development of clinical legal education and the transfer of knowledge across generations. Special thanks are extended to the judges and actors for their contributions, as well as to the donors and partners whose support made the competition possible:

• Uitgeverij Gianni
• Ante Kožul (Kožul & Petrinović)
• Fijačko & Barović Law Firm
• Hanžeković & Partners Law Firm
• Babić, Brborović & Partners Law Firm
• Ilić & Ilić Law Firm
• Alan Kubat Law Office
• Žurić & Partners Law Firm, in cooperation with Kingstellar
• Ilej & Partners Law Firm
• Šavorić & Partners Law Firm
• Divjak, Topić, Bahtijarević & Krka Law Office
• Vlašić Posavec & Mećar Joint Law Office
• European Network for Clinical Legal Education (non-financial partner)

By winning first place and successfully organising an international competition, the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb has further strengthened its international standing and reaffirmed the importance of practice-oriented skills development in legal education.

Zagreb, 29 November – The Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb, an institution with 249 years of continuous tradition and one of the oldest faculties of its kind in this part of Europe, held a degree ceremony for 166 new Masters of Law, 61 Bachelors and 46 Masters of Public Administration, and 116 Bachelors and 93 Masters of Social Work or Social Policy in the building of the University of Zagreb.

On his own behalf, on behalf of the faculty, employees and members of the board, Dean Ivan Koprić addressed the audience, emphasizing that the faculty wants and needs dialogue with students, but also with the wider community in order to further strengthen its status as a centre for legal experts.

“We want to be a professional focal point, a place of learning, a place of meeting, exchange and discussion, and even a safe place for all our former students. Together with you, we are a community that will command everyone’s respect, not because it will be large and filled with people on important positions, but because it will have the capacity to solve important social issues. While I believe that we have equipped you well with knowledge, skills and competencies, and raised you in the spirit of positive values, please stay in touch. We will seek your cooperation and ask for your feedback on how well our study programmes have equipped you for work in various institutions and sectors, on the need for lifelong learning programmes and various other topical issues. The faculty wants and needs a dialogue with everyone. The need for lawyers will never end,” said Koprić.

The Faculty of Law independently runs 21 study programmes, and together with other domestic and foreign higher education institutions, an additional eight studies, which are attended by a total of more than 4,700 students, of which 456 are in postgraduate specialist and doctoral studies.

The dean is also aware of the importance of studies that keep pace with the times and offer practical knowledge and the possibility of training abroad, stressing that this is one of the set goals of the Faculty.

“The key development projects in this period are the construction of a new library and reading room, the continuation of accelerated internationalization, the completion of the complete renovation of all faculty buildings, and the modernization of study programmes of all our studies and their enrichment with practical content, clinical approach, mentoring and other forms of connecting the faculty with legal practitioners. Achieving these goals is a prerequisite for the creation of an excellent, modern and socially responsible Faculty of Law, a faculty that is one of our three oldest faculties, along with the Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities and the Faculty of Theology of the University of Zagreb,” said Koprić. The well-deserved diplomas were presented to the students by Dean Koprić, Vice-Dean for Teaching, Mobility, Students and Study Programmes Prof. Mirela Krešić, Head of the Study Centre for Public Administration and Public Finance Assoc. Prof. Marko Turudić and Head of the Study Centre for Social Work Assoc. Prof. Gordana Berc.