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. OFT pursues first criminal action under Unfair Trading Regulations New criminal investigation powers granted to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) by consumer protection laws have been used for the first time. The OFT has conducted raids while investigating a suspected scam in Bristol. 26/02/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-9833 2. Court allows AP to assert intellectual property right over facts News agency The Associated Press (AP) has won the right to fight a court battle to defend a property right over facts. Copyright law does not protect facts, but AP has been permitted to make its defence based on a 1918 case on 'hot news'. 26/02/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-9830 3. Debt collection can be harassment: British Gas ruling sends warning to all suppliers A woman who took a case for harassment against British Gas has won a settlement from the company. One legal expert said that the case should act as a warning to all firms to make sure their debt collection and complaint handling operations communicate. 26/02/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-9826 4. England's new environmental liability regime will see polluters pay New regulations implementing the 'polluter pays' principle for environmental damage come into force in England on 1st March 2009, nearly two years after an EU Directive's original deadline. 25/02/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-9828 5. E-tailers can't reclaim value of use of returned goods, says ECJ advisor Online retailers cannot reclaim some of the purchase price of goods even if they are returned after a long time and have given the user some benefit, an advocate general of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has said. 24/02/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-9822 6. Pay cut consultations could trigger redundancy payments, warns employment expert Companies which follow computer maker Hewlett-Packard's lead and attempt to cut staff wages risk triggering redundancy law payouts if they do not consult staff properly, an employment lawyer has warned. 24/02/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-9821 ***OUT-LAW Radio: returns next week*** 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.