Abstract. In this paper we describe a legal core ontology that is part of a generic architecture for legal knowledge systems, which will enable the interchange of knowledge between existing legal knowledge systems. This Legal Knowledge Interchange Format, is under development in the Estrella project and has two main roles: 1) the translation of legal knowledge bases written in different representation formats and formalisms and 2) a knowledge representation formalism that is part of a larger architecture for developing legal knowledge systems. A legal (core) ontology can play an important role in the translation of existing legal knowledge bases to other representation formats, in particular into LKIF as the basis for articulate knowledge serving. We describe the methodology underlying the LKIF core ontology, introduce the concepts it defines, and discuss its use in the formalisation of an EU directive.

Abstract. The establishment of a computational framework of roles contributes effectively to the management of instance models because it provides us with a useful policy for treatment of views and contexts related to roles. In our research, we have developed an ontology building environment, which provides a framework for representation of roles and their characteristics. In this paper, as an extension of the framework, we present a framework for organizing roles according to their context dependencies. We especially focus on defining and organizing compound roles, which depend on several contexts.

In Boer et al. (viz. [9]) we argued that evaluation of draft legislation, change from an old to a new regime, harmonization of legislation from multiple

Abstract. Functionality is one of the key concepts of knowledge about artifacts. Functional knowledge shows a part of designer’s intention (so-called design rationale), and thus its sharing among engineers plays a crucial role in team-activities in engineering practice. Aiming at promoting engineering knowledge management, we have developed an ontological modeling framework of functional knowledge, which includes an ontology of device and function and a controlled vocabulary. This framework has been successfully deployed in a manufacturing company in daily engineering activities. In the first part of this paper, we discuss some ontological issues concerning the functionality of artifacts, and redefine the notion of function as a role. In the second part, we discuss some lessons learned in the actual deployment of this framework and two extensions based on such experience. One extension is a lexical layer for functional terms intended to help engineers select appropriate functional concepts and to facilitate the use of domain-specific terms familiar to them. The other extension is the establishment of ontological modeling guidelines, which help engineers commit to the relevant ontologies and describe models compliant with them.

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Abstract. In this paper, we present an approach to commonsense causal explanation of stories that can be used for automatically determining the liable party in legal case descriptions. The approach is based on LRICore, a core ontology for law that takes a commonsense perspective. Aside from our thesis that in the legal domain many terms still have a strong commonsense flavour, the descriptions of events in legal cases, as e.g. presented at judicial trials, are cast in commonsense terms as well. We present design principles for representing commonsense causation, and describe a process-based approach to automatic identification of causal relations in stories, which are described in terms of the core ontology. The resulting causal explanation forms a necessary condition for determining the liability and responsibility of agents that play a role in the case. We describe the basic architecture and working of DIRECT, the demonstrator we are constructing to test the validity of our process oriented view on commonsense causation. This view holds that causal relations are in fact abstractions constructed on the basis of our commonsense understanding of physical and mental processes.

Abstract. In this paper we present DIRECT, a system for automatic discovery of responsibility

Abstract. Coherence and alignment of the legislative language highly contribute to the quality of legislative processes, to the clarity of legislative texts and to their accessibility. DALOS aims at ensuring that legal drafters and decision-makers have control over the multilingual language of European legislation, and over the linguistic and conceptual issues involved in its transposition at national levels. The project will contribute to this goal by providing law-makers with linguistic and knowledge management tools to support the legislative drafting activity.

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How to link (external) models or interpretations of the meaning of sources of law to the original sources.