Research projects at the School of Law
COPY.AI: Preserving Intellectual Property and Cultural Diversity in the Age of Generative AI
The total duration of the project: 01.01.2026 − 31.12.2028
Financier: Eesti Teadusagentuur (ETAg), Põhjamaade teaduskoostöö toetused (NordForsk), 100 634 EUR
Focus area:
Description of the project
The project seeks to to investigate how intellectual property frameworks can be adapted to address the challenges posed by generative AI, particularly in relation to the fair use and compensation of copyrighted content used in model training. By integrating legal, economic, ethical, and technological perspectives, the project aims to develop mechanisms that recognize and remunerate content creators – especially those working in underrepresented languages and cultural contexts in the Nordic and Baltic regions – while supporting the responsible and culturally inclusive development of AI systems.
Project manager
The principal investigator is Aleksei Kelli, Professor; University of Tartu.
Project members, speakers and authors
Read more about program from website.
For further information please contact:
Aleksei Kelli
Professor
[email protected]
Legal solutions for overcoming bottlenecks in the multi-level decision-making and approval process in land consolidation
The total duration of the project: 01.01.2026–31.12.2027
Financier: Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications
Focus area:
Description of the project
The research focuses on analysing the legal framework and institutional organisation of land consolidation procedures, to increase procedural efficiency and reduce duplication between different institutions. The emphasis is on defining the roles and division of tasks between local governments, state authorities, and notaries in the decision-making process of land consolidation.
In current practice, the substantive assessment of land consolidation decisions occurs in parallel both at the local government level and within the Land and Spatial Development Board, leading to duplication and frequent delays. The study seeks to identify an optimal division of responsibilities between local and state authorities.
In addition, the 2025 ruling of the Supreme Court has altered the previous approval practice by requiring notarial certification, which makes the procedure more time-consuming and significantly more expensive for the parties involved. Moreover, such a complex process does not support using digital solutions or integrating registers.
Through comparative legal analysis, the study evaluates the possibilities of developing an alternative model suitable for the Estonian legal system, in which the notary's role would be limited or replaced by administrative procedures.
For both research questions, historical solutions from the first independence period of the Republic of Estonia are examined, and the applicability of international guidelines is analysed.
The goal is to develop legal and practical solutions enabling land consolidation to be implemented more quickly, in a more coordinated manner, and with lower administrative burden to improve land use efficiency. The study supports the development of a digital land operations platform and contributes to shaping a future-proof and purposeful land use system that serves both public and private interests.
Project manager
The principal investigator is Triinu Rennu, Junior Research Fellow University of Tartu.
Project members, speakers and authors
Andra Laurand
Marju Luts-Sootak
Kalev Saare
Read more about program from website.
For further information please contact:
Triinu Rennu
Junior Research Fellow
[email protected]
Analysis of the procedure for paying state legal aid fees to an attorney and reimbursing expenses
The total duration of the project: 04.03.2026–31.03.2026
Financier: Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, 29 900 EUR
Focus area:
Description of the project
The aim of the project is to analyse the current system for compensating fees and expenses paid to attorneys for providing state-funded legal aid, as well as its practical application, in order to identify the main issues, ambiguities, and necessary amendments in the regulation.
Project manager
The principal investigator is Priit Pikamäe, Visiting Professor, University of Tartu.
Project members, speakers and authors
Janar Jäätma
Triin Uusen-Nacke
Peeter Tarvis
Read more about program from website.
For further information please contact:
Priit Pikamäe
Visiting Professor
[email protected]
A science-based approach to fraud prevention in Estonia
The total duration of the project: 2025-2026
Financier: Ministry of the Interior
Focus area: Psychology, Law, Political Science and Administration
Description of the project
Fraud is a growing problem in Estonia, and preventing it requires a research-based, systematic, and coordinated approach.
Although efforts have been made to raise awareness, prevention activities have so far remained fragmented and often lack an evidence-based foundation. Increasingly sophisticated forms of fraud and changing patterns of victim vulnerability require a more thorough understanding and the development of target group-specific solutions.
The aim of this project is to develop suitable solutions for fraud prevention in Estonia, based on theoretical and empirical knowledge of fraud and involving systematic cooperation between different sectors and organizations. The project is divided into four stages.
The ultimate goal of the project is to create a practical and applicable model for cooperation in fraud prevention, which includes coordinated action by law enforcement, the private sector, and government agencies.
The results of the study will support Estonia's strategic capacity to reduce the damage caused by fraud and strengthen society's resilience to fraud schemes.
Project manager
The principal investigator is Anneli Soo, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Tartu.
Project members, speakers and authors
Other participants are:
Kristjan Kask, Associate Professor, University of Tallinn
Jaan Ginter, Professor emeritus, University of Tartu
Annegrete Palu, Junior Lecturer, University of Tartu
Anna Markina, Research Fellow in Criminology, University of Tartu
Heidi Reinson, Senior Specialist in Financial Behaviour Research, University of Tartu
Helen Urmann, Project Manager - Analyst, University of Tartu
Read more about program from website.
For further information please contact:
Anneli Soo
Associate professor
dr. iur.
Elaboration of radicalisation risk assessment tool suitable for Estonia
The total duration of the project: 2025-2026
Financier: Ministry of the Interior
Focus area: Psychology, Law, Political Science and Administration
Description of the project
The aim of the project is to develop a radicalisation risk assessment tool adapted to the Estonian context.
The target group of the proposed tool will be primarily adults, but given the trends in radicalisation, significant attention will also need to be paid to minors, presumably from at least the age of 13.
In view of Estonia's geographical location and history, it is important to take into account the influence of Russia, which is considered by most Estonian security experts as the greatest threat in the field of terrorism and violent extremism, when developing the tool. It is planned to develop a tool in both Estonian and Russian.
The finalisation of a radicalisation risk assessment tool suitable for Estonia will be carried out in two research phases.
The first phase will consist of an analysis of the scientific literature, which will be followed by a second phase of development based on the results of the first phase.
Based on the results of the first phase, it will be decided whether the second phase will adapt an existing tool or develop a completely new tool (questionnaire, interview) for the assessment of radicalisation in Estonia.
Project manager
The principal investigator is Anneli Soo, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Tartu.
Project members, speakers and authors
Other participants from the University of Tartu are:
Mari-Liis Mägi, Junior Lecturer;
Kariina Laas, Lecturer;
Karin Täht, Associate Professor;
Kristjan Kask, Associate Professor;
Valery Murnikov, Visiting Research Fellow;
Oksana Belova-Dalton, Research Fellow;
Helen Urmann, Project Manager - Analyst.
Read more about program from website
https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Projects/Display/85d8b982-ae26-4e53-9157-679339f8f87f
For further information please contact:
Anneli Soo
Associate professor
dr. iur.
The formation of the rule of law in the framework of Estonia’s restoration of independence (SSVOI24532, 5-1/127-2024)
The total duration of the project: 2024-2026
Financier: Estonian Academy of Sciences
Focus area: Law
Description of the project:
The project focuses on the reforms of the state and legal system during Estonia’s transition period. Along with studying the development of specific legal reforms, it analyzes how the rule of law was conceptualized in early transitional legal literature and legislative debates, and how these interpretations evolved over time. Additionally, the project examines the development of the separation of powers, the role of institutions in shaping the law, the Supreme Court’s constitutional review in establishing fundamental constitutional principles, and the influence of foreign countries.
Project manager
The principal investigator is Merike Ristikivi, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Tartu.
Project members, speakers and authors
Other participants from the School of Law are Prof. Karin Sein, Associate Prof. Katre Luhamaa, Associate Prof. Paloma Krõõt Tupay, and junior researcher Triinu Rennu.
Read more about program from website
https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Projects/Display/b827f8de-ae96-4745-a3e3-bbb475eaac02
For further information please contact:
Merike Ristikivi
Associate professor
dr. iur.
[email protected]
CV in Estonian Research Information System
Concluded projects
Fair MusE: Promoting Fairness of the Music Ecosystem in a Platform-Dominated and Post-Pandemic Europe
Project duration: 01.03.2023–28.02.2026
Funding programme: Horizon Europe. European Commission.
Fair MusE is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant agreement ID: 101095088.
The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Continue reading.
About the project
The overarching goal of Fair MusE is to promote fairness for music creators and stakeholders from an interdisciplinary perspective, thus leading to a more competitive and sustainable music ecosystem in Europe.
The project will provide an innovative and future-proof set of co-created responses and solutions aimed at promoting and enhancing transparency in music industry practices, standardisation in data collection, recommendations and awareness around risks created by the reinforced dominance of the largest online platforms.
FairMusE is a 3-year project funded by Horizon Europe. It aims to help the music ecosystem become more fair and transparent at a time it struggles with the over-dominance of social media platforms and streaming services in a post-pandemic Europe.
With a total budget of €3m from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and 11 partners from 9 different countries.
Our role - how is Fair MusE project related to the Faculty of Law of the University of Tartu?
This project includes Estonia as one of the countries to be covered in its analysis. The project aims to identify how the Copyright Directive is implemented at national level and how national rules materialise the rights of music creators.
Being a research focused on digitalization, the project and its members at the University of Tartu are connected to the School's IT law programme.
Prof Marta Cantero Gamito, PI of the project, and Prof Aleksei Kelli, Professor in IP Law, will investigate how regulation contributes to the fair remuneration of music creators.
The consortium is composed of several universities and industry partners, facilitating cooperation among higher education institutions and establiushing connections outside academia.
This project will produce policy-oriented research. The overarching goal of Fair MusE is to promote fairness for music creators and stakeholders from an interdisciplinary perspective, thus leading to a more transparent, competitive and sustainable music ecosystem in Europe.
Fair MusE focuses specifically on the domination of online platforms and their algorithms and will investigate:
- (i) the legal responses that have been proposed in the EU;
- (ii) the changes these platforms have brought to the music industry and music professionals; and
- (iii) the impact of such algorithms on music consumption.
Fair MusE will provide an interdisciplinary analysis of fairness in the music industry involving music creators and stakeholders in the research; promote and enhance transparency concerning music industry practices and standardisation in data collection in the European music ecosystem; and assess the risks created by the reinforced dominance of the largest online platforms prompted by COVID 19 as well as making policymakers, stakeholders and the general public aware of such risks.
To do so, Fair MusE will provide an innovative, strong and future-proof set of co-created responses and solutions:
- the 'Music Copyright Infrastructure', a data-sharing model agreement enhancing transparency;
- a 'Music Data Dashboard' of statistical indicators on the economic and societal value of the European music sector;
- the 'Fairness Score', a tool to assess music services and social media in terms of fairness’ multiple facets;
- and a ‘White Paper’ embodying policy recommendations to enhance competitiveness, sustainability, transparency and fairness of the EU music ecosystem.
Our consortium is a carefully designed interdisciplinary group of academic and industry partners with strong expertise in the fields of law, economics, political science and computer science, supported by an Advisory Board composed of a highly qualified and broadly representative group of industry experts.
Contact: Marta Cantero Gamito, [email protected]
Legal Analysis: Smoking in Prison
Project duration: 05.01.2026–14.01.2026
Funding programme: Other
About the project
The aim of the work is to prepare a legal analysis on the lawfulness of the complete smoking ban in Estonian prisons from the perspective of private autonomy. The analysis must assess whether the reasons for the ban outweigh the right of smoking inmates to free self-determination, taking into account the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (Vainik and Others v. Estonia), the Imprisonment Act, the Tobacco Act, occupational health and safety requirements, and the Constitution.
Contact: Aleksei Kelli, [email protected]
Project: Public administration vs public procurement: legal aspects of a "make or buy" decision
Project duration: 2022 - 2025
Funding programme: Estonian Research Council. Personal research funding
Personal research grants are funding allocated for a high-quality R&D project carried out by a person or a research group working at an R&D institution.
This project aim is to increase legal clarity about the freedom to "make or buy" and give guidance for public authorities, policy makers and legislators on such choices.
In order to fulfill its duties to the society, publi sector needs sufficient resources and means. In particular, making rapid and sufficient purchases become critical in crises situations. Before acquiring stocks and resources, building relevant structures or designing necessary services, public sector can from time to time face the choice of weather to make itself or buy from economic operators on the market. This research project analyses what are the legal rules and restrictions concerning the make or buy decisions:
- What guidance is provided under the EU and Estonian case-law?
- How to guarantee that decision making relies on proper legal considerations?
- Which duties of diligence is the decision-maker subject to?
- Which legal rationale should the policy-makers and legislators follow?
By finding these answers, we increase legal clarity about the freedom to "make or buy" and we can provide guidance for public authorities, policy makers and legislators on such choices.
The principal investigator is University of Tartu, School of Law's associate professor Mari Ann Simovart.
Other research staff are associate professor Carri Ginter, Chairman of the Administrative Law Chamber and associate professor Ivo Pilving and recent PhD Kadri Härginen. In addition, PhD students of School of Law contribute to the project.
Read more from Estonian Research Information System homepage.
Legal Analysis of Proposed Service Changes in the Field of Volunteering
01.05.2025–26.09.2025
Principal investigator: Paloma Krõõt Tupay [email protected]
Read more from Estonian Research Information System homepage.
Protecting consumers against abusive debt recovery practices: lessons from Germany and the Baltic States
The total duration of the project: 01.06.2024-15.11.2024
This project of the Baltic-German University Liaison Office is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic Germany.
The countries and institutions involved in the project:
1. Estonia, University of Tartu
2. Latvia, University of Latvia
3. Lithuania, University of Vilnius
4. Germany, University of Oldenburg
Description of the project:
Abusive debt recovery practices are one of the most concerning problems for the Baltic consumers.
They stem largely from the fact that the legal regulation of these activities has been very limited, and the question of regulatory choices has just started in the Baltic states.
The participants of the project will gather comparative knowledge on the debt recovery practices in Germany and Baltics and discuss solutions that are available (or missing) in respective jurisdictions.
Among others, it is analysed how unfair commercial practices and data protection rules can be utilized to protect consumers against abusive debt collectors.
Public events
Seminar “Abusive debt recovery practices: lessons from the Baltic States and Germany” to be held in Tallinn, Kaarli pst 3, Estonia on 19 September 2024.
Additional information about the program is here.
Project manager
Prof Karin Sein, Professor, University of Tartu
Project members, speakers and as the authors of the country report
Peter Rott, Professor, University of Oldenburg
Vadims Mantrovs, Associate Professor, University of Latvia
Laurynas Didžiulis, Associate Professor, University of Vilnius
Read more about program from website
The Baltic-German University Liaison Office
For further information please contact:
Karin Sein
Professor in Civil Law
dr. iur.
Kaarli pst 3-413, Tallinn
[email protected]
CV in Estonian Research Information System
iProcureNet: Innovation by developing a European Procurer Networking for security
research services
Project duration: 01.05.2019–30.04.2024
Funding programme: Horizon 2020. European Commission.
Project home page.
The iProcureNet project aims to build an EU network of organisations centred on the procurement of security solutions, together with a larger community of experts.
Via the established Network+Community, iProcureNet will facilitate collaboration and dialogue among procurers, enabling:
- i) coordinated sharing and analysis of procurement trends,
- ii) development of common and standardised practices from the technical, legal and financial perspectives, and
- iii) establishing pathways for joint procurement of innovative and new to market solutions, research services, and commercial off-the-shelf products in the field of security.
iProcureNet
- will develop the iProcureNet Toolbox including a comprehensive methodology, guidelines and a knowledge database of current procurement practices and processes in Europe;
- and will create a firm foundation for the set-up of Established Buyers Groups.
Ultimately, iProcureNet, will aim to create a stepping stone to future collaboration in the form of a future investment plan for collaborative procurement actions, and to develop detailed pro-innovation procurement strategies.
The Network+Community will be supported by
- i) the iProcureNet Online Platform (IPOP) enabling professional social networking and online dialogue on good practices and procurers’ needs;
- ii) a sustainable organisational set-up composed of well organised bodies and processes, and
- iii) appropriate communication and dissemination activities iincluding Annual Conferences, trainings and workshops.
The consortium includes 15 partners, out of which 10 are procurement agencies.
MSVOI19317R "Innovation by developing a European Procurer Networking for security research services" (1.05.2019−30.04.2024);
Principal Investigator: Mari Ann Simovart [email protected];
University of Tartu, Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Law (partner);
Financier: European Commission; Financing: 62 750 EUR.
Restoration of the rule of law: reforming the constitutional and administrative law and judicial system after the re-independence of the Republic of Estonia (SSVOI21349)
Project duration: 2021-2023
Project home page https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Projects/Display/c46b01f2-5611-4b98-a93b-d2abd84c22db
Funding programme: Estonian Academy of Sciences
The aim of the project is to document and provide a scientific analysis of the legislative, judicial system, and judicial registry reforms that took place in the Estonian Ministry of Justice between 1992 and 2002 through the collaboration of the University of Tartu and the Ministry of Justice, as well as to publish and print it as a monograph in Estonian.
Grant holder: Merike Ristikivi
UproEU – „Engaging young talent to promote comprehensive understanding of EU law“
Project duration: 2019-2022
Project home page: https://sisu.ut.ee/uproeu/avaleht
Funding programme: European Commission
The general objective of the UproEU project is to advance the comprehensive studies of EU law. Taking into consideration the corner stone of the project UproEU – engaging young talent to promote comprehensive understanding of EU law – we are engaging current law students and recent graduates in organizing and teaching courses, coaching mooting teams, researching and writing publications on EU law. We believe that this approach of engaging our young professionals guarantees a much wider impact on the students, the legal market and the community. Young EU law professionals develop organically with the project. With this we engage young talent to promote comprehensive understanding of EU law – youth with a professional EU law attitude – UproEU.
Grant holder: Carri Ginter
I.N.T.I.T – Integrated Trauma Informed Therapy for Child Victims of Violence
Project duration: 2020-2022
Funding programme: Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme. European Commission
The project aims to map the best practices in integrated trauma informed therapy for child victims of violence, to develop a training programme for professionals and to teach trainers. The project also aims to raise the awareness among law enforcement professionals, and improve the availability of trauma-aware therapy in partner countries.
The treatment needs of child victims of violence are an important issue as it is estimated that more than 100 million children in the European Union experience some form of violence. At the same time, participation in criminal proceedings, taking into account its needs, can contribute to re-victimization and hinder the treatment process.
Consequently, it is necessary to implement trauma-informed therapy and services for child victims, which, in accordance with European Union directives, protect the rights of the children and at the same time ensure the integrity of court proceedings.
The project partners are from Italy, Cyprus, Spain and Germany, and the main coordinator is the Psychoanalytic Institute for Social Research from Italy. In Estonia, the project is implemented by the School of Law of the University of Tartu.
Grant holder: Anna Markina
Recording and scientific analysis of the reform of legislation, the judiciary and judicial registers in the Ministry of Justice, 1992-2002 (SSVOI20043)
Project home page: https://www.etis.ee/Portal/Projects/Display/f656e8fb-9641-4e27-a23a-c3adba1676c8
Project duration: 2020-2022
Funding programme: Ministry of Justice
The restoration of the Republic of Estonia in 1991 brought about a major change in the state and legal life. After the Soviet period, the principles of Western legal culture were once again looked upon, and very effective and fundamental legal reforms were carried out in a very short time in the context of Europe and the rest of the world. The main goal of the reform laws was not only to change the organization of individual spheres of life, but also to influence the whole society and to restore the values and traditions inherent in the rule of law. The project focuses on the questions of whether and what has been the role and value of the Constitution after regaining independence, what was the implementation of the rule of law in Estonia's transition, how the rule of law was understood in legal literature and legislative debates, and what were the institutional and legal challenges.
Grant holder: Merike Ristikivi
Protection of consumer rights in the Digital Single Market - Contractual Aspects
Project duration: 2018-2021
Funding programme: Personal Research Grant. Estonian Research Council
The project analyzes the contractual aspects of consumer protection within the Digital Single Market initiated by the European Commission. The study concentrates on four main areas: 1) contractual aspects of platform economy, 2) contractual standards of digital content and consumer’s remedies for defective digital content; and 3) transposition of the proposed Directive on digital content contracts into national law and 4) certain other legislative initiatives of the Digital Single Market concerning contractual consumer rights, eg Geoblocking Regulation. Special focus will be set on modern business models where counter-performance of the consumer is not in money but rather in providing his personal data. It might be that in those cases different consumer protection rules are needed to find a balance between the rights of the supplier and consumer and to foster data-driven innovation. Certain connections between contractual consumer rights and copyright law will also be addressed.
Grant holder: Karin Sein
SeRV – Services and Rights for Victims of Crime
Project duration: 2019-2021
Funding programme: European Union's Justice Programme
Project home page https://sisu.ut.ee/serv/
Services and Rights for Victims of Crime project participants are six countries that present different victim support models and victim protection cultures. The countries include Italy, Spain, Romania, Germany, Estonia, and Portugal, all presenting highly qualified expertise. The University of Tartu (Estonia) is the main SeRV project coordinator.
Project activities include Research and Analyses, Strategic Plan Development, Model Identification and Transnational Exchange.
Project outcomes include more cooperation, best practice exchange and better service provision henceforward on different levels, such as: for victims, for service providers, for policy makers on national and EU level and for general public.
Grant holder: Anna Markina
Sovereignty and the Right to Regulate (2017-2020)
Funding programme: Horizon 2020. European Commission
Grant holder: Hent-Raul Kalmo
FLOW - Flows of Illicit Funds and Victims of Human Trafficking: Uncovering the Complexities (2018-2020)
Funding programme: Internal Security Fund – Police. European Commission
Grant holder: Anna Markina
PROMISE - Promoting Youth Involvement and Social Engagement: Opportunities and Challenges for 'Conflicted' Young People Across Europe (2016-2019)
Funding programme: Horizon 2020. European Commission
Grant holder: Anna Markina
Integrated Baltic Offshore Wind Electricity Grid Development (2016-2019)
Funding programme: Interreg Baltic Sea Region. European Commission
Grant holder: Hannes Veinla
The Evolution of Human Rights Law and Discourse in the Russian Federation and its Interaction with Human Rights in Europe and the World (2014-2019)
Funding programme: Institutional research grant. Estonian Research Council
Grant holder: Lauri Mälksoo
Protection and Use of Industrial Property in Estonia: Economic and Legal Perspectives (2017-2018)
Funding programme: RITA4. Estonian Research Council
Grant holder: Aleksei Kelli
