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. European Commission consults on class action lawsuits Consumers across the European Union could be given new powers to join forces to sue a business under plans announced by the European Commission today. Class action lawsuits could be publicly funded under the proposals. 27/11/2008 http://www.out-law.com/page-9625 2. Axl Rose may have undermined own case over Dr Pepper stunt Guns N' Roses and frontman Axl Rose have threatened legal proceedings against Dr Pepper over an unauthorised publicity stunt that offered a free bottle of the soft drink to every American in celebration of the band's first new album in 14 years. 27/11/2008 http://www.out-law.com/page-9626 3. Government announces new law for increased data sharing The powers of Government to share data will be increased under new laws announced yesterday. Legislation will introduce a fast-track procedure to allow data sharing whenever "a robust case" can be made for sharing, said a Ministry of Justice report. 25/11/2008 http://www.out-law.com/page-9617 4. The UK does not need a data breach notification law, says Government The Government has rejected calls for a law that would require significant data security breaches to be notified to the country's privacy regulator. It said that notification to the Information Commissioner should be a matter of good practice, not law. 25/11/2008 http://www.out-law.com/page-9619 5. UK advertising rules may change to close YouTube loophole Advertising claims made in videos on YouTube are subject to the same standards of truth and accuracy as ads that appear in traditional media, according to a US advertising watchdog. Such ads can escape the UK regulator's remit, though. 24/11/2008 http://www.out-law.com/page-9614 6. 'Legislation fatigue' could undermine Equality Bill, says survey The Government's drive to tackle workplace equality could fail before its Equality Bill is even made law, according to the results of a survey of more than 1,000 HR professionals. Senior managers are apathetic about the proposed law, it found. 24/11/2008 http://www.out-law.com/page-9616 ***OUT-LAW Radio: returns in the New Year*** http://www.out-law.com/page-7212 ***About this email*** This is a weekly email for subscribers of OUT-LAW.COM, a website with more than 8,000 pages of free legal news and guidance. If and when you need further advice, we hope you'll choose Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM. Feel free to forward this email to your friends. If someone forwarded this email to you and you'd like your own subscription, register free at http://www.out-law.com. Existing subscribers: you can manage your profile at http://www.out-law.com/page-520. The email address for this subscription is <>. Feel free to give us your feedback by replying to this email. To unsubscribe, please reply with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. (We'd also appreciate you telling us why you've decided to unsubscribe.) This email is sent on behalf of Pinsent Masons LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales (registered number: OC333653) and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The word 'partner', used in relation to the LLP, refers to a member of the LLP or an employee or consultant of the LLP or any affiliated firm who has equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the members of the LLP, and of those non-members who are designated as partners, is displayed at the LLP's registered office: CityPoint, One Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9AH, United Kingdom.