Commerce and Technology Blog

The directive to extend the terms of protection for performers and sound recordings from 50 years to 70 years was adopted on 12 September 2011.

In one of the biggest shake-ups in domain name history the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) has approved a plan to increase the number of internet address endings known as generic top-level domains (“gTLD”).

The curtain fell on a solar windfall boom arising out of a race by developers to complete large scale developments before 1st August, when the Government’s slashed feed-in tariff rates came into force. 

In a response to the Fast Track Review on Feed-in Tariffs (FITs), published on 9 June 2011, the Government has maintained its view that tariffs will be cut for large scale solar energy production.

Apple to announce iCloud, its cloud computing service at annual developers conference in San Francisco.

Changes in the law governing the use of "cookies" published.

How to reduce the risks for businesses in the event of natural disasters.

The Rugby Football Union has been granted a court order that forces the website operator Viagogo to hand over to the RFU details of those selling or advertising for sale tickets via its websites for the Autumn International 2010 and the Six Nations 2011.

OFT imposes fines on a company for baiting consumers.

Coalition goverment announces new consultation in to the regulation of CCTV systems.

From 1 March 2011, the Advertising Standards Agency (" ASA ") will begin regulation of all websites, online advertisements and other marketing communications connected to companies, organisations and sole traders operating in the UK. In an...

Ofcom is to re-examine the workability of the powers to block access to websites used for piracy and copyright infringement granted by the Digital Economy Act.

Ofcom's power to fine is substantially strengthened.

If it is established that ACS:Law failed to undertake adequate measures to keep the personal data secure, the ICO could fine the firm up to £500, 000 for breaches of the DPA.

The use of guarantees in everyday business life is common place.

The recent snow and increasing popularity of internet shopping has put the country’s postal network (as well as private delivery firms) under great pressure.

The Information Commissioner (“ICO”) has announced the details of two fines to be imposed on organisations for breaches of the Data Protection Act

The days of being able to register domain names without considering third party intellectual property rights (“IPRs”) have long since gone. The recent “ihateryanair.org” case shows how IPRs belonging to one party can...
Google committed a “significant breach of the Data Protection Act”, the Information Commissioner has confirmed. In May Google announced that, as well as collecting legitimate data about wi-fi hotspots, its Street View camera cars had...
"Is today the day the Britain stands back from the brink?" That was George Osborne’s opening statement yesterday at the announcement of the Coalition Government’s Spending Review to set out where the £81 billion spending...
There has recently been an explosion in the number of news stories relating to the use, misuse or loss of personal data of UK citizens and around the world. The well publicised reported loss of personal data by ACS:Law in relation to alleged illegal...
   Lego has lost its fight to have its famous building bricks protected by a trademark which is seen as a victory for its rivals in the toy market. The Lego case highlights that it is important to identify the value of your intellectual property...
The recent court case between the BBC and the publishers of an autobiography, whose subject claims to be the infamous “Stig” from the popular Top Gear programme, is a high profile illustration of the importance of confidentiality obligations,...
The importance of correctly drafted terms of use for websites has recently been re-enforced by the announcement that BurstNet, a website hosting company, has closed down a blogging platform (Blogetery.com) which BurstNet hosted. BurstNet states that...
A BBC investigation has found that Next has been breaking consumer law following on from the recent ECJ case ( click here for more information ). Under the distance selling rules sellers must repay in full the purchase and delivery charge when a...
When you are provided with a document to sign, do you sign it without reading it or fully understanding what the document says? The risks of doing so are substantial and you should consider what the consequences might be in your particular circumstances. ...
Typically, when an IT supplier supplies software or hardware to a commercial buyer, the supply contract between two businesses will contain clauses excluding the legal responsibility (“liability”) of the IT software supplier to the purchaser in...
The newly formed Conservative / Liberal Democrats Coalition Government has published an initial Coalition Agreement, which can be found at the Conservative and Liberal Democrats websites. The initial Coalition Agreement sets out the agreement reached...
Franchises will be caught by the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (“CRC”), a new UK-wide mandatory emissions trading scheme, which is likely to apply primarily to organisations with annual electricity bills of approximately £500,000 and over. ...
The recent altercation between the national privacy protection agencies from around the globe (including the UK) and consumers on one side, and two of the leading online organisations highlights the inherent tensions between advances in technology leading...
Gordon Brown became Prime Minister without facing an election. On 6 May 2010 he had no choice but to go to the polls. He failed to secure a majority and came second. Yet Gordon Brown remains incumbent at No.10. The Conservatives won the most votes (36.2%)...
A European Court of Justice ruling has confirmed that sellers must reimburse initial delivery charges to consumers who, under the Distance Selling Directive, exercise their right to return goods they purchased online, over the phone or by post. In...


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