A group of researchers who spoke at online COVID-19 conferences in 2020 were later shocked to receive massive fee demands from the conference organizer, Villa Europa. The researchers say the demands rely on deceptive contracts they unknowingly signed, which contained hidden fees clauses buried in legalese.

Several scientists now face legal action through courts in their own countries based on rulings by a questionable Polish arbitration court. This situation demonstrates how even experts can overlook predatory terms in complex contracts, especially amid the hectic pandemic environment.

If the researchers had access to legal AI tools that analyze contracts and translate legalese into plain language, they may have spotted the exploitative clauses. As this case shows, scrutinizing fine print is essential even when dealing with seemingly legitimate organizations. AI legalese decoders have potential to prevent professionals from agreeing to terms they don’t fully understand.