Hi, here is your weekly round-up of highlights from OUT-LAW News. As always, there are plenty of other stories from this week. You can also access our archive of weekly emails.
This week's news on OUT-LAW.COM
Gambling Commission retracts advice on controversial house competitions
The Gambling Commission has retracted advice which appeared to back claims of
those behind a rash of house-sale competitions that their schemes are lawful. It
has performed a u-turn on advice which said that it was "clear" that one
competition was legal.
18/09/2008
Government to ban suicide-promoting websites
The Government will change the law to make it clear that promoting suicide on
the internet is illegal. The Ministry of Justice said that it will rewrite the
Suicide Act of 1961 which will make it easier for website hosts to remove
offending material.
18/09/2008
OFT publishes new guidance on fairness in consumer contracts
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published updated guidelines on what is and
what is not acceptable in contracts for consumers. The new guidance replaces
that which was published in 2001.
17/09/2008
Doorstep sellers must offer cancellation rights, even if invited to sell
Consumers will be allowed to cancel contracts signed with door-to-door salesmen
even when they have requested the visit to their home or office, under new
Regulations that come into force in October.
17/09/2008
Anonymous web comments protected like journalists' sources, rules Montana court
A court in Montana has ruled that a newspaper does not have to reveal the
identity of those who posted comments on its website. A state law that protects
journalists from revealing their sources also protects a news site's user
comments, the court ruled.
15/09/2008
VoIP providers must allow 999 calls and give caller-location data
Providers of internet telephony must now allow emergency 999 calls over their
networks or face the risk of enforcement action, regulator Ofcom has said.
Caller location information must also be provided where technically feasible.
12/09/2008
OUT-LAW Radio: Are new house-sale competitions illegal?
18/09/2008: We investigate the legality of a rash of new competitions in which £25 tickets buy the chance to win a house. Are they competitions or illegal lotteries in disguise?
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