A Warm Welcome to the Department of Civil Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Media Law
Prof. Dr. Maximilian Becker
Our department is dedicated to research and teaching in the field of business law. We are currently focusing in particular on the areas of data protection,
AI, and intellectual property law.
On this page, you’ll find information about our courses, our team, externally funded projects, and much more.
Third-Party Funded Projects
AntiScam Project
TheAntiScam research project focuses on combating modern forms of communication fraud—such as phishing, vishing, and social engineering—which are increasingly facilitated by artificial intelligence. The project’s goal is to better protect consumers from identity-related attacks and to strengthen their ability to respond to digital fraud attempts.
The project focuses on four key areas: analyzing current threats; developing explainable AI models for detecting and tracing fraud attempts; promoting consumer education through interactive learning opportunities; and conducting a legal analysis of existing protective mechanisms and potential regulatory needs. Through this interdisciplinary approach,AntiScam combines technical, legal, and social science perspectives to develop practical and holistic solutions.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for the period from October 2024 to September 2027. The University of Siegen serves as the project coordinator; other partners include Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences and open.INC GmbH in Siegen.
Together, the project partners are researching how consumers can be protected from and made aware of AI-powered attempts at deception—to foster greater digital security and trust in the communication spaces of tomorrow.
Project A07 “The Personal Data Industry”
Values.IT
We are currently seeing a flood of new mandatory guidelines with reporting and documentation requirements related to corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability reporting, and very specific accessibility requirements for products and services—in the form of EU Directive 2019/882 —are also coming into effect. Much of this involves obligations for companies, implementation deadlines, and legal consequences for noncompliance. Within the social component of these concepts, inclusion takes center stage—a term that must be brought to life so that it can have its full impact.
The WERTE.IT project provides information and advice on the implications—but above all on the benefits—of inclusion, and in particular digital accessibility, for your company.
DataWerKIOS
The goal of the DatenWerKIOS research project is to develop an open, publicly accessible platform that securely aggregates energy data from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and makes it centrally available. Using AI, the platform can, for example, identify consumption patterns and anomalies and provide recommendations for action. Initially, requirements will be gathered through interviews, workshops, and ongoing testing. Based on these findings, AI models will be trained, and the platform will be developed and optimized iteratively. At the same time, research will focus on networking between companies and non-commercial actors (e.g., municipalities) as well as factors that contribute to the platform’s appeal. The prototype will be developed in close cooperation with SMEs, beginning with a pilot group of selected industrial parks.
DATALE
The project team at “DATALE” is developing practical training materials and recommendations for handling personal data after death. Of particular importance are those working in end-of-life care and consumer protection: they are being trained as facilitators to promote greater data literacy. The project combines interdisciplinary research with participatory practice. Current studies, legal frameworks, and societal debates are systematically analyzed to establish a solid knowledge base. At the same time, direct dialogue with affected individuals, hospice facilities, and experts helps identify specific needs and challenges. Training modules and recommendations for action are developed in close collaboration with partners in the field. They are continuously tested, evaluated, and adapted to the needs of the target groups.
Our New Master's Program
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