Lawyers VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne in the committee thesis “Databankenrecht” (Database Law)

Miriam den Boogert and Rogier Tacke, lawyers with VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne, were recently part of the evaluation committee of a thesis with the subject: Database Law. UNA law student Salina Helder defended her thesis with the title “Si of no? De implementatie van databankenrecht in Curaçao ten behoeve van een optimale kenniseconomie” (Yes or no? The implementation of database law in Curaçao for the benefit of an optimal knowledge-based economy). UNA dean Peter Klik and coordinator educational support and innovation Irwin Korstjens (both also Salina’s thesis supervisors) completed this committee. VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne was requested to participate in the evaluation committee because of its ample expertise on intellectual property.

Database law is a still unknown area of law in Curaçao, contrary to Europe and the United States, where this area of law has already attracted interest for quite some time. The major part of Salina’s thesis consisted of a comparison of Dutch law and United States law. The Netherlands have database law derived from European regulations, whereas the United States have protection of databases based on copyright, inter alia. The point of law that was the focus of Salina’s thesis is whether Curaçao benefits from database law related to European regulations. An original and difficult subject, the more so as nothing has ever been written about it in Curaçao before.

The committee members unanimously agreed that Salina’s thesis was well written, very complete, and unique in Curaçao as to its subject. Moreover, she was able to answer the questions the committee asked about her thesis properly; sufficient reason to reward her with the wonderful grade 9. Salina has meanwhile begun a doctoral program at UNA. 



Photograph: Salina Helder, surrounded by lawyers Rogier Tacke and Miriam den Boogert