Gradient Legal Personhood for AI Systems—Painting Continental Legal Shapes Made to Fit Analytical Molds

What I propose in the present article are some theoretical adjustments for a more coherent answer to the legal “status question” of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. I arrive at those by using the new “bundle theory” of legal personhood, together with its accompanying conceptual and methodological apparatus as a lens through which to look at a recent such answer inspired from German civil law and named Teilrechtsfähigkeit or partial legal capacity. I argue that partial legal capacity is a possible solution to the status question only if we understand legal personhood according to this new theory. Conversely, I argue that if indeed Teilrechtsfähigkeit lends itself to being applied to AI systems, then such flexibility further confirms the bundle theory paradigm shift. I then go on to further analyze and exploit the particularities of Teilrechtsfähigkeit to inform a reflection on the appropriate conceptual shape of legal personhood and suggest a slightly different answer from the bundle theory framework in what I term a “gradient theory” of legal personhood.

Legal protection systems, corporate governance and firm performance: a cross-country comparison

Purpose This paper builds on the “Law and Finance” theory and aims to examine the effect of the legal and institutional environment on the governance–performance relationship in the context of non-US firms. More precisely, it examines whether and how the country’s legal system and the level of investor protection interact with the firm-level corporate governance and affect firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors used the “G-Index” governance score developed by the Governance Metrics International rating for a sample of 12,728 firm-year observations from 23 countries over the 2009–2016 period. Findings The results show that the interaction between the country-level institutions and corporate governance system significantly affect the firm performance. In particular, the findings indicate that firms operating in common law countries tend to exhibit a positive valuation effect and higher performance than firms with a comparable corporate governance level operating in civil law countries. More precisely, the authors find that in common law countries, higher investor protection with enhanced corporate governance is associated with better firm performance. However, firms operating in civil law countries with weaker investor protection and a comparable corporate governance level tend to experience a negative valuation effect. Originality/value The findings suggest that the institutional and legal environment is crucial and important in determining the value-maximizing level of good governance practices. Managers and regulators should carefully analyze the cost of these initiatives and should coordinate it with the needs of the country’s legal system. The challenge for the company will be how to adjust its corporate governance strategy according to the needs and demands of the country’s legal system in which the company operates to improve its performance. The regulators should ensure a fit between the specifics of the national legal and institutional environment and corporate governance standards and practices.

Compensating a Legal Person for Moral Damage in Jordanian Law

The issue of compensating the legal person for the moral damage it causes to it has raised a great argument of controversy in Jordan, especially in light of the refusal to recognize the rights attached to the natural person of the legal person. This research came to identify the legal nature of the legal personality and the moral damage and the position of the Jordanian law on it, and to determine the feasibility, adequacy and appropriateness of the legal texts contained in the Jordanian civil law in knowing the extent to which the legal person may be compensated for moral damage. Using the opinions of jurists and judicial and explanatory decisions, the researcher has found that moral damage has multiple forms, a research that arises from the act and assault carried out by the aggressor. As a result, it is not appropriate to limit moral damage to rigid legal texts based on what is stated in the legislation and decisions of the esteemed Court of Cassation, as the researcher recommends. The Jordanian legislator should include general provisions clarifying the civil liability of the legal person, and the researcher recommends a separate chapter in the civil law to talk about the moral damage and its multiple meanings and aspects and how to rule for compensation and claim it.

Increasing The Family Law Aspects Understanding For Depok City Community

Family law is part of the clump of civil law that discusses the problems of civil relations in a family, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, and so on. The purpose of this service is to provide an understanding of aspects of family law for the people of Depok. The method used in the implementation of the service is to provide counseling to the people of Kampung Pulo, Leurahan Beji Depok through the media zoom meeting. The results of community service show that some people in the city of Depok, especially in Kampung Pulo, Beji Depok Village, still do not understand the efforts that must be made when problems occur related to family law. Community Service Program activities are very helpful for the people of Depok to better understand the efforts that must be made when problems occur in family law.

AUTHORITY TO DISPOSE OF NATURE USERS: SOME PROBLEMS

The article analyzes the authority to dispose as an element of the subjective right to natural resources usage. The methods of disposal provided by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus are analyzed, such as voluntary refusal to exercise the nature usage right, restricting access to a natural resource plot provided for use, attracting other persons to use it on the basis of a civil law contract, providing land plots for lease or sublease, etc. It is concluded that it is necessary to systematize, within the framework of the sectoral nature resource legislation, the rights of users of natural resources to transfer part of their powers to other persons. The author notes that in the future it is not only possible, but also necessary to expand the authority to dispose of nature users, including through the development of the institution of secondary nature usage.