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 ***Freedom of Information Scotland - 7th Annual Conference*** Edinburgh, 8th December 2009: Scotland’s annual Freedom of Information conference will hear from Kevin Dunion, the Scottish Information Commissioner, and examine the latest developments, including the potential extension of FOI laws and a series special, practical Masterclasses. See: http://foi.holyrood.com/ ***Free OUT-LAW Breakfast Seminars*** London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh October 2009: Behavioural advertising and the law November 2009: The future of payments See: http://www.out-law.com/page-6024 ***This week's highlights from OUT-LAW News*** 1. Don't panic over the secret copyright treaty OPINION: Secret gatherings of the world's governments are usually the stuff of fevered imaginings, but just one such gathering is this week generating its own fair share of paranoia. 05/11/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-10507 2. Exclusion clauses may fragment after High Court ruling Wording in a contract that seeks to exclude liability in a contract is more vulnerable to being struck out than lawyers previously thought. A ruling suggests that exclusion clauses are more likely to be effective when broken into separate terms. 05/11/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-10508 3. Hong Kong's data protection review is inadequate OPINION: Hong Kong's data protection laws should be brought into line with those of the EU and other countries, according to Hong Kong's Government and privacy office. Unfortunately they are refusing to take the simple steps necessary to achieve this. 04/11/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-10500 4. Telcos' data breach notification amendment is passed The European Council has approved a data breach notification rule for Europe's telecoms firms. The amendment to an EU Directive will force telcos to tell customers if they lose their data. 03/11/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-10497 5. ISP vows legal challenge to net disconnection plan A major ISP has promised a court challenge to Government plans to allow the cutting off of internet connections used by people accused of illegal file sharing. Talk Talk said it will challenge the plans in the courts. 30/10/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-10488 6. Commission vows to continue legal action against UK over alleged lack of e-privacy protection The European Commission has rejected the UK's defence of its electronic privacy laws and will continue to pursue legal action against the Government in a case sparked by BT's use of Phorm web activity monitoring without telling its subscribers. 30/10/2009 http://www.out-law.com/page-10487 ***OUT-LAW Radio is taking a break but will return soon*** 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.