Hi, Hi, this is the final weekly round-up from OUT-LAW News for 2010. We’ll be back in January. In the meantime, as always, there are plenty of other stories from this week 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. Happy holidays. The OUT-LAW Team ***This week's highlights from OUT-LAW News*** 1. FCC vote today expected to pass partial net neutrality protections US regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to approve new limited guarantees of net neutrality later today. The controversial regulations will place transparency obligations on networks that engage in traffic management. 21/12/2010 http://www.out-law.com/page-11685 2. Chocolate bunnies not distinctive enough for trade mark protection, rules EU court The maker of chocolate bunnies that were previously at the centre of a trade mark spat has been refused permission to register the whole bunny shape as a trade mark. A rival chocolatier has also been refused similar permission. 20/12/2010 http://www.out-law.com/page-11681 3. Government asks businesses for views on IP SNIPPET: The Government has asked businesses how it can help them to make more use of intellectual property (IP) assets. It has published details of the review it will hold into IP growth. 20/12/2010 http://www.out-law.com/page-11679 4. European Parliament demands that Commission protect web users from advertising The European Parliament has asked the European Commission to come up with plans to control online advertising more closely; give internet users more control of their privacy; and stop companies publishing advertising masquerading as opinion. 17/12/2010 http://www.out-law.com/page-11677 5. European Parliament demands change to keyword rules The European Parliament has called for companies such as Google to be prevented from selling the right to advertise when other companies' trade marks are entered into search engines. 17/12/2010 http://www.out-law.com/page-11676 6. US administration proposes 'bill of rights' to protect online privacy The administration of US President Barack Obama may turn its back on its policy of allowing online publishers and advertisers to self-regulate and is proposing Government intervention to protect internet users' privacy. 17/12/2010 http://www.out-law.com/page-11675 ***OUT-LAW Radio will be back 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 10,000 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 is a lawyer with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of 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. We use 'Pinsent Masons' to refer to Pinsent Masons LLP and affiliated entities that practise under the name 'Pinsent Masons' or a name that incorporates those words. Reference to 'Pinsent Masons' is to Pinsent Masons LLP and/or one or more of those affiliated entities as the context requires. For important regulatory information please visit: http://www.pinsentmasons.com.