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 may compel ISPs to combat users' IP infringement Rates of intellectual property infringement in the EU are "alarming", according to the European Commission. It says that an EU law on IP rights has had some effect, but that the legal measure was not designed to deal with online piracy. 06/11/2011 http://out-law.com/page-11702 2. ECJ rules that GUIs can be copyright-protected Copyright law can protect the graphical user interfaces that connect a machine's users with its functions, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled. 06/11/2011 http://out-law.com/page-11702 3. Ofcom allows product placement on UK television Product placement will be allowed in UK TV programmes for the first time from 28th February. Media regulator Ofcom confirmed that paid-for references to products and services will be permitted in programmes from that date. 06/01/2011 http://out-law.com/page-11701 4. News of the World employee suspended amidst further hacking allegations A senior executive at the News of the World has been suspended amid allegations that phone hacking there was more widespread than previously admitted. 06/01/2011 http://out-law.com/page-11700 5. Government plans FOI extension and greater independence for ICO The Government will extend the reach of freedom of information (FOI) laws to an increased number of bodies. It will also make the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) independent of the Ministry of Justice, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said. 06/01/2011 http://out-law.com/page-11699 6. Incentives to sue to be banned as UK tackles compensation culture Claims management companies will be prevented from offering clients cash incentives to bring damages claims if a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) proposal to tighten up the rules comes into effect. 06/01/2011 http://out-law.com/page-11698 ***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.