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The subject of this study is the criminal law issue of exploiting prostitution practised by humanoid robots. Interest in this issue stems from two main reasons. Firstly, the development of new technologies, including artificial intelligence capable of self-education, analysis of the surrounding reality, and decision-making necessitates the consideration of its legal subjectivity. Secondly, the emergence of brothels employing humanoid robots prompts reflection on the criminal responsibility of those who benefit from the prostitution facilitated by them. This article aims to highlight the phenomenon of using humanoid robots in prostitution, offer a criminal law assessment of such behaviour from the perspective of Polish criminal law, and suggest the direction for the development of domestic criminal law to accommodate this phenomenon in the future. Additionally, it addresses the issue of criminal liability for harm caused by a humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence while providing sexual services. The article predominantly employs the dogmatic-legal method, performing an exegesis of the provisions of Article 204 of the Criminal Code in the context of the issue signalled. The analyses have concluded that this norm does not encompass in which the perpetrator facilitates, induces prostitution of a humanoid robot or derives financial benefits from such activities, despite such behaviour being detrimental to morality, the fundamental good protected under Article 204 of the Criminal Code. <italic>De lege lata</italic>, a humanoid robot may also not be subject to criminal liability if it harms a person using its sexual services, as such an ‘essence’ does not align with the current structure of crime and the concept of criminal punishment. However, the liability of manufacturers or users of such devices is not ruled out. It should be noted that as humanoid robots become more autonomous, holding producers or users criminally liable for damages they cause becomes less justifiable, and the applicability of artificial intelligence liability similar to the criminal liability of legal persons becomes more relevant.
</abstract>

Criminal Law Assessments of the Exploitation of Prostitution Practised by Humanoid Robots

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The authors of this publication have explored the importance of justifying fear and agitation underpinning the transgression of necessary self-defence. According to Article 25 § 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code, they identified five scenarios, differing in how a perpetrator’s mental state is determined, affecting the criminal law consequences of unlawfully infringing on or exposing the aggressor’s legal interests. The authors validated the preliminary hypothesis that the legislator assumed legitimate self-defence excess results from fear or agitation due to the circumstances of the assault, necessitating procedural confirmation. Their occurrence leads to the defender’s impunity, regardless of the type of legal interests infringed and the extent of legitimate self-defence excess. A shortfall in the mental state circumstances of a defender, as referred to in Article 25 § 3 of the Criminal Code in a specific factual state, opens the possibility of applying a general, complementary provision, i.e., Article 25 § 2.
</abstract>

Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia

Fear and Agitation as the Normative Elements of Legitimate Self-Defence Excess

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This article discusses the issue of so-called forced marriages, the criminalisation of which was introduced into Polish criminal legislation by the Act of 13 January 2023 amending the Code of Civil Procedure and some other acts. Introducing the provisions of Article 191b into the Criminal Code aims to fulfil the obligation arising from Article 37 of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence of 11 May 2011 (Journal of Laws of 2015, item 961). In addition to outlining the statutory features of new types of crimes, the article addresses issues such as criminal liability, the concurrence of regulations, and the issue of the so-called cultural defence.
</abstract>

Criminalisation of the So-Called Forced Marriage in the Polish Criminal Law

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The text analyses normative solutions concerning the right to defence in Polish proceedings in cases of offences. It discusses the formation of selected elements of the right to defence, from the pre-war solutions to modern times. The author highlights the autonomy of the solutions in force in the 2001 Code of Proceedings in Misdemeanour Cases, and their similarities to the right to defence in criminal cases, constituting the most comprehensive model of this right.
</abstract>

Formation of Some Elements of the Right to Defence in Misdemeanour Proceedings

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This article aims to delineate the boundaries of the evidence initiative of the Court of the First Instance, which bears the responsibility to fulfil the goals of criminal proceedings, as outlined in Article 2 § 1 item 1 and § 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, from the perspective of evidence reliability, an essential component of the fair criminal trial concept. The court’s evidentiary actions were thus examined through the lens of requirements stemming from Article 6(1) and (3) of the ECHR, especially the principles of independence, impartiality, adversarial process, immediacy, and access to criminal proceeding materials. The article adopts a dogmatic approach, building on an analysis of current national legal standards and the Rome Convention’s provisions, viewed through doctrine and jurisprudence of national courts and the Court in Strasbourg. This makes the publication relevant for both legal scholars and practitioners involved in criminal proceedings. The analysis suggests that the court’s initiative to introduce evidence, its methods of evidence gathering, and access to collected materials during proceedings must not curtail the rights of the parties, especially the accused, to conduct their evidentiary activities. Depriving the court of the primacy of independence and impartiality, restricting the parties’ capacity to engage in dispute in favour of an inquisitorial jurisdictional body violates the right to fair evidentiary proceedings. The court, in safeguarding the principle of material truth, must remember its role as a justice administrator and balance all arguments accordingly. Seeking evidence solely to establish the accused’s guilt contradicts the procedural function of adjudication and compromises the court’s neutrality, making it an extension of the prosecution. Hence, a thorough elucidation of case circumstances by the court should not disempower the parties, particularly regarding their initiative to present evidence.
</abstract>

Limits of the Evidence Initiative of the Court of First Instance and the Reliable Evidence Procedure

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The article presents a model of judicial management of the evidence-taking proceeding in the Italian civil procedure following the reform introduced by Law No. 206 of 26 November 2021, implemented, inter alia, on 28 February 2023 and 30 June 2023 by means of Legislative Decree No. 149 of 10 October 2022 (the reform was named <italic>riforma Cartabia</italic> after its author, former Minister of Justice, Marta Cartabia). Post-reform, the model has become significantly formalised and more detailed, limiting the judge’s decision-making freedom in organising proceedings. From the perspective of the principle of procedural material concentration and judicial management of the evidence-taking proceeding, the preliminary stage is critical: from the plaintiff’s summons of the defendant to court (<italic>in ius vocatio</italic>), which is essentially a lawsuit, to the hearing for the first appearance of the parties and case verification. At this stage, parties are required to present facts, legal elements of a claim, means of evidence, and all defence arguments in their pleadings within statutory deadlines. The subsequent stage of collecting procedural material important for the case resolution is a hearing scheduled for the first appearance of the parties and verification of the case (often termed ‘a preliminary hearing’). Here, the judge freely questions the parties and, based on the presented facts, clarifies matters necessary to resolve the case. After questioning the parties, the court may decide to conduct a conciliation proceeding. If not, the judge rules on the parties’ evidence-related motions and, considering the nature, urgency and complexity of the case, sets a timetable for subsequent hearings and specifies actions to be taken at each. A hearing intended for the taking of evidence must be scheduled within 90 days. The court may also rule on taking evidence <italic>ex officio</italic>. Then, according to the timetable developed, the judge takes evidence. The final stage of an ordinary proceeding occurs when the judge determines that the case is mature enough for resolution because it has been appropriately and definitively prepared, and the necessary evidence has been collected, or there is no need for further evidence collection. One tool for managing an evidence-taking proceeding may include the so-called abuse of procedural law. The Italian civil procedure does not explicitly regulate this issue. The concept of abuse of procedural law has been defined in case law and doctrine. However, procedural regulations mandate acting in court according to the principle of honesty and loyalty, with various sanctions stipulated for conduct that violates this rule, such as the obligation to pay compensation, reimburse trial costs, or imposition of a fine.
</abstract>

Model of Judicial Management of Evidence-Taking Proceedings in the Italian Civil Trial (Cartabia Reform)

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The aim of this article is to determine the status of citizen’s rights to ‘a clean environment’ and their obligations towards the environment under sustainable development conditions, considering international and domestic regulations. It analyses three interlinked aspects: human rights to a clean environment, obligations of citizens and public authorities towards the environment, and environmental protection in accordance with the principle of sustainable development. Human rights to ‘a clean environment’ are enshrined in the Constitution, drawing on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rio de Janeiro ‘Environment and Development’ Declaration. These rights are implemented by public authorities through ensuring ecological safety and the use and protection of environmental resources, adhering to the sustainable development principle. In addition every citizen has obligations towards the environment, because he should take care of environmental resources and use them in accordance with the principles of environmental protection law. The analysis of legal doctrine and legislation highlights a clear relationship between the necessity for public authorities to ensure constitutional rights to a ‘clean environment’ and their obligations towards the environment through the protection of environmental resources in line with the sustainable development principle. This entails balancing the human right to a ‘clean environment’ against the environmental right to the continuity and sustainability of resources (natural balance), while also ensuring economic growth. An example of these principles in action is Agenda 2030, currently being implemented in Poland and other EU Member States.
</abstract>

Constitutional Rights and Obligations of Citizens Towards the Environment Under the Conditions of Sustainable Development

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The article, original in nature, was devoted to the issue of awards and prizes for e-sports players. The motivational financial instruments in question are regulated in the Sports Law, specifically in Article 31. The author has attempted to solve the legal problem of finding an answer to the question of the legal possibility for municipalities to establish and finance prizes and awards for e-sports players under Article 31 of the Sports Law. Due to the singular and causal works in the field of e-sports funding, which do not address the issue of establishing and funding prizes and awards for e-sports players under Article 31 of the Sports Act, the elaboration of this issue within the framework of the article will, in the author’s opinion, undoubtedly enrich the current literature on the subject.
The introductory considerations focus on presenting the essence of the definition of sport and attempt to qualify e-sports as a sport under the Sports Act, which is significant for the possibility of local authorities establishing prizes and awards. The key views of the literature, judicial decisions, and the state of the law in this area were presented. Investigations in this area have led to the conclusion that, with a few reservations, it is possible to qualify e-sport as a sport. Subsequently, the focus was on the legal aspects concerning the possibility for municipalities to establish and finance prizes and awards for e-sports players. The problem concerning the understanding of competition under the Sports Act was resolved, and it was pointed out that e-sports players, despite the lack of a Polish e-sports association, can participate in sports competitions under the Sports Act. In addition, the problematic premise concerning the importance of a given sport for a local authority has been clarified. The final considerations in this area have allowed <italic>de lege ferenda</italic> postulates to be formulated.
The analysis is based on legal norms and statements of doctrine and jurisprudence. The article contains considerations concerning the normative and dogmatic sphere as well as the sphere of law application by administrative courts. The research has a national character. In this article, the dogmatic-legal method has been applied, consisting of the analysis of legal regulations on the establishment and financing of awards and prizes for players of electronic sports.
The subject matter discussed is divided into several main editorial units. The different parts correspond to the main outline of the problem and its relation to important scientific and practical issues.
</abstract>

Permission for Municipalities to Establish and Finance Prizes and Awards for Athletes in Electronic Sports

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In its judgment of 21 October 2022, III OSK 4468/21, the Supreme Administrative Court considered that a foundation is obliged to provide public information because, in accordance with Article 1 of the Act on Foundations, it should accomplish socially and economically useful objectives that comply with the interests of the Republic of Poland. These are objectives that should also be accomplished by public administration; thus, they are, in fact, the State’s objectives. In such a situation, the Court decided that the informative obligation of foundations that are not public law entities applies, in fact, to every aspect of their activities. This should be recognised as correct, because the constitution-maker specified in Article 61(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland a very broad range of entities obliged to provide public information, ensuring that every field of the State’s activity is transparent.
</abstract>

Gloss on the Judgement of the Supreme Administrative Court of 21 October 2022, III OSK 4468/21<xref ref-type="fn" rid="j_in-2024-0009_fn_001">1</xref> (Concerning the Provision of Public Information by a Foundation)

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 18 (2024): Issue 1 (March 2024)

Volume 17 (2023): Issue 4 (December 2023)

Volume 17 (2023): Issue 3 (September 2023)

Volume 17 (2023): Issue 2 (June 2023)

Volume 17 (2023): Issue 1 (March 2023)

Volume 16 (2022): Issue 4 (December 2022)

Volume 16 (2022): Issue 3 (September 2022)

Volume 16 (2022): Issue 2 (June 2022)

Volume 16 (2022): Issue 1 (March 2022)

Ius Novum

Ius Novum is an all-Poland scientific journal that presents analytical articles on the science of law, with focus on Central and Eastern European countries. The journal covers a range of basic areas of law, including constitutional law, civil law and procedure, criminal law and procedure, administrative law and procedure, financial law, business law, and international law.　  The journal aims to create a modern forum for the exchange and debate of opinions among scholars of jurisprudence by popularising research results at both domestic and international levels. It takes into account the significance of the impact of legal studies on the social and economic environment of Central and Eastern Europe.  The journal publishes original scientific papers of considerable cognitive value for all representatives of legal science and practice. These papers can be of interest not only to domestic, but also, or even primarily, to international scientific circles. The journal presents innovative dogmatic analyses of current legal solutions, forecasts for the direction of development in various areas of law, legal evaluations of new social phenomena, assessments of the quality of law enactment and application, signals of the efficiency of adopted legal regulations, and discussions on problems concerning legal certainty. Additionally, the journal features empiric research findings of great social importance.   The journal is open not only to the scientific and teaching staff of Lazarski University, but also to representatives of jurisprudence from other academic centres within the international scientific community. We welcome independent scholars with recognised achievements, as well as young scientists who wish to contribute their interesting and innovative ideas to the discourse on law.   The quarterly publishes original articles using research apparatus, and exceptionally, glosses that concern and resolve especially significant scientific issues.　  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 