Breaking news

Cyprus Eyes Schengen: Business Leaders Make The Case For Accession

by News Editor

April 10, 2025

Cyprus is accelerating its bid to join the Schengen Area—a move seen as a game-changer for investment, trade, and business mobility. Currently one of only two EU nations outside the passport-free zone alongside Ireland, the island is positioning itself for accession, with President Nikos Christodoulides setting a target for technical readiness by 2025.

For the country’s business community, this is more than a geopolitical milestone—it’s an economic imperative. Industry leaders argue that Schengen membership would remove barriers, enhance Cyprus’ competitiveness, and bolster its standing as a regional business hub.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

A Gateway For Investors And Entrepreneurs

Schengen membership is regarded as a pivotal step in strengthening Cyprus’s appeal as a business hub. The ability to move freely across European markets without additional visa requirements would provide a significant advantage for companies based on the island. This would facilitate investment, attract multinational corporations, and make Cyprus a more attractive destination for businesses seeking a strategic foothold in the EU.

Beyond simplifying travel for executives and professionals, accession would also enhance opportunities for non-EU nationals working in Cyprus. Gaining broader mobility across the Schengen area would improve Cyprus’s standing in the tech and startup ecosystem, making it easier for international talent to relocate and operate within the region.

Overcoming Hurdles, Unlocking Opportunities

Concerns over border management, particularly along the Green Line, have been a longstanding issue in Schengen discussions. However, improvements in security and regulatory compliance have positioned Cyprus closer to meeting Schengen’s technical criteria. Accession would further integrate the country into the European economic framework, reinforcing its alignment with EU standards.

Remaining outside Schengen presents a competitive disadvantage, making it harder to attract investors who prioritize ease of access within the EU. With competing jurisdictions offering seamless movement, Cyprus risks losing out on potential business and economic growth. Schengen membership would eliminate these barriers, enhancing the island’s attractiveness for companies looking to expand their European footprint.

The Path Forward

The message from Cyprus’ business leaders is clear: Schengen accession isn’t just a policy goal—it’s a necessity. As the government works to meet the technical criteria, industry stakeholders continue to push for progress, knowing that the island’s economic trajectory depends on it. With 2025 on the horizon, the race to join Schengen is not just about open borders—it’s about unlocking Cyprus’s full potential on the European and global stage.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.