Hi,
Here is your weekly round-up of highlights from OUT-LAW News. As always, click the links to read the full stories of the summaries below or see these and many other stories from this week's news at http://www.out-law.com/page-5951. You can also access our archive of weekly emails at http://www.out-law.com/page-7793.

The OUT-LAW Team


***This week's highlights from OUT-LAW News***

1. EU Parliament demands action on criminal IP penalties

The European Parliament has asked EU member states to press ahead with a plan to criminalise copyright infringement. The Parliament wants a proposal it agreed last year to be approved by ministers from each member state.
21/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-8883


2. Phone in regulation tightens for television stations 

Television stations will now be responsible for all aspects of on air competitions, broadcast regulator Ofcom has said. It will issue new mandatory licence conditions for all broadcasters enforcing the move.
20/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-8879


3. Commissioner says printers could break human rights law 

Computer printers could be violating European citizens' human rights the EU Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security has warned. Franco Frattini said that secret ID codes printed by machines could be invading users' privacy.
19/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-8878


4. Investigation finds no evidence of front running 

A committee of the body responsible for the internet's addressing system has found no evidence of front running, a form of deceptive domain name acquisition.
20/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-8881


5. European Commission threatens mobile data price cap 

The European Commission will regulate the cost of text messages sent and received abroad if the industry does not tackle overcharging, Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding has said.
19/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-8875


6. Copyright levy under EU spotlight 

The European Commission is to consult on whether to change the current controversial surcharge on devices or storage media which can hold music or video.
14/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-8872


***OUT-LAW Radio: Are software licences fair?***

We investigate complaints that user licences for software are unfair and draconian. Plus: we look at a conflict between UK authorities on what exactly counts as personal data.
21/02/2008
http://www.out-law.com/page-7212



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