Hi, here is your weekly round-up of highlights from Out-Law News. As always, there are plenty of other stories from this week at http://www.out-law.com. You can also access our archive of weekly emails at http://out-law.com/en/newsletter/weekly-round-up/ The Out-Law Team ***This week's highlights from Out-Law News*** TMT & Sourcing and IP 1. Search and ISP companies may be asked to help tackle copyright infringement, says minister Search engines and internet service providers (ISPs) could be forced to make it harder for users to access copyright infringing content online under new UK communications laws, the Culture Secretary 15/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/search-and-isp-companies-may-be-asked-to-help-tackle-copyright-infringement-says-minister/ 2. US privacy law could learn from Europe, say consumer advocates US privacy laws "lag woefully behind" the demands of current technology and the US should emulate EU data protection laws, a group of consumer groups including the UK's Which? and Consumer Focus has said. 15/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/us-privacy-law-could-learn-from-europe-say-consumer-advocates/ 3. Debt and claims companies the real blagging culprits says Information Commissioner Companies involved in financial services, debt collection and claims management are involved in routine 'blagging' of personal data, the Information Commissioner has said. Moves to deter them are being hampered by press phone hacking claims, he said. 14/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/debt-and-claims-companies-the-real-blagging-culprits-says-information-commissioner/ 4. Ofcom bans phone companies' automatic rollover contracts Automatic re-subscription to phone services through 'rollover' contracts will be banned from the end of December, telecoms regulator Ofcom has said. 14/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/ofcom-bans-phone-companies-automatic-rollover-contracts/ 5. Copyright protection rights extended for music performers Music performers will receive 70 years of copyright protection on recordings under new EU laws that have been formally approved. 13/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/copyright-protection-rights-extended-for-music-performers/ 6. Twitter contests advertising company's 'tweet' trademark Twitter has launched a legal bid to cancel a firm's registered trademark that includes the word 'tweet', according to a copy of its lawsuit. 13/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/twitter-contests-advertising-companys-tweet-trademark/ Energy 7. Government will review energy laws in red tape reduction bid The Government will review over 300 energy regulations as part of its bid to reduce red tape. 15/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/government-will-review-energy-laws-in-red-tape-reduction-bid/ Projects and construction 8. Government promises to 'accelerate' infrastructure spending Major infrastructure projects including rail, road and high-speed broadband will be prioritised to boost the economy, the deputy prime minister has said. 14/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/government-promises-to-accelerate-infrastructure-spending/ Tax 9. Mirrlees Review recommends "radical" tax reform Stamp duty on property transactions is "inefficient and damaging" and should be abolished, while VAT should be levied on financial services business and income tax merged with national insurance, an independent report on taxation in the UK has claimed. 14/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/mirrlees-review-recommends-radical-tax-reform/ Banks 10. Government to respond to ICB recommendations 'by the end of the year' The Government will provide a response to recommendations to separate retail and investment banking activities "by the end of the year", the Chancellor has said. 14/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/government-to-respond-to-icb-recommendations-by-the-end-of-the-year/ 11. Banks have until 2019 to separate retail and investment banking activities, says ICB Banks taking customer deposits and providing overdrafts will have to do so separately from their commercial and investment activities, according to bank reform plans proposed to the Government. 12/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/banks-have-until-2019-to-separate-retail-and-investment-banking-activities-says-icb/ Litigation & arbitration 12. New 'holistic' arbitration rules incorporate amicable dispute resolution A new version of the most frequently used international arbitration rules will provide for an increasing number of multi-party, multi-contract disputes when it comes into force on 1 January 2012. 13/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/new-holistic-arbitration-rules-incorporate-amicable-dispute-resolution/ Public sector 13. Parliament should decide whether European Court of Human Rights rulings are binding, Government advisor says European countries should be able to "override" rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) if there is there a "democratic will" to do so, a Government advisor has said. 12/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/parliament-should-decide-whether-european-court-of-human-rights-rulings-are-binding-government-advisor-says/ Property 14. Land registration to become easier as a result of Scottish property law reform Registering land in Scotland should become easier as a result of a bill introduced in the Scottish Government's 2011/12 legislative programme, an expert has said. 12/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/land-registration-to-become-easier-as-a-result-of-scottish-property-law-reform/ Insurance 15. OFT to probe rising cost of motor insurance The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is gathering information on the motor insurance industry to find out why the cost of cover has risen so dramatically in the last year. 09/09/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/september/oft-to-probe-rising-cost-of-motor-insurance-/ ***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 (http://www.pinsentmasons.com), 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. 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