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This week's news on Out-Law.com
TMT & Sourcing and IP
Allegedly defamatory comments from named authors should stay online, say MPs
Web hosts and ISPs should be allowed to keep allegedly defamatory comments
online as long as the author of the comment is identified and a notice of
complaint is published alongside the comment, a Parliamentary committee has
recommended.
20/10/2011
EU database of IP infringers needs more clarity to comply with law, says watchdog
The European Commission must explain in more detail the specifics of the
operation of a database it plans to create which would hold personal data on
suspected intellectual property (IP) rights infringers, an EU data protection
watchdog has said.
20/10/2011
Users should be able to buy licences to allow copying of copyright-protected material
People should be able to buy a licence that allows them to download and pass on copyright material in a way that would currently break the law, an academic has said. He said that this would encourage innovation and compensate rights owners. 19/10/2011
Examiners will not automatically rule computerisations of mental acts unpatentable, IPO says
The UK's Intellectual Property Office has changed its guidance on how its
reviewers will consider the 'mental act' exemption to patentability when
assessing patent applications for computer-implemented inventions.
18/11/2011
Editor calls for new ombudsman to have powers to fine newspapers
A new press 'ombudsman' should be set up with the power to issue newspapers with
fines for falling below press standards, a newspaper editor has said.
14/10/2011
Changes to EU freedom of information laws backed
The European Commission has welcomed a European Parliament committee's backing
of its proposals to enable the public greater access to EU documents.
13/10/2011
Energy
Energy efficiency scheme will begin in a year as Energy Act comes into force
The Energy Act has become law, putting in place a Government-backed scheme that
will enable new energy efficiency measures in both domestic and commercial
properties to be undertaken at no up-front cost. Costs will be paid over time
through.
19/10/2011
Planning
Consultation on the draft NPPF has closed but the debate continues
The consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) closed
on Monday night, following a ten week consultation period. Ministers are due to
start debating the proposed regulations on Thursday.
18/10/2011
Construction
Olympics construction experiences to be shared with industry
Olympics construction experiences to be shared with industry
Lessons learned in building Olympic venues will be shared with the construction
industry via an online information-sharing portal, the Olympic Delivery
Authority (ODA) has said.
19/10/2011
Priority School Building Programme to be privately funded, Government says
All the investment needed to carry out a new school building programme will come
from the private sector, the Government has said.
20/10/2011
Regulatory
Prosecutors report first Bribery Act conviction
A court clerk has become the first person to be convicted under new UK bribery
laws, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.
17/10/2011
EU agree regulations on short selling
The European Parliament and Council of Ministers have backed proposals to
generally prohibit the practice of 'naked short selling' of Government debt, the
European Commission has said.
19/10/2011
Banking & Restructuring
Deeds not 'delivered' despite signatures, rules High Court
Deeds not 'delivered' despite signatures, rules High Court
Guarantees and warranties given by the directors of a company did not take
effect despite the signing, witnessing and handing over of documents, the High
Court has ruled. The documents in question were deeds and the Court said that
they had not been 'delivered'.
20/10/2011
Regulator's liquidity swaps guidance criticised by banks and insurers
Banks and insurers have defended a form of asset trading the UK's financial
services regulator has previously said could threaten stability in the financial
markets.
18/10/2011
DCMS holds no evidence on online copyright infringement, lobby group says
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) does not hold any evidence
about the "scale and nature" of online copyright infringement, the department
has said, according to a lobby group.
17/10/2011
Ofgem proposals for electricity capacity monitoring could influence energy market prices, expert says
Plans to monitor the capacity of UK power stations so that enough electricity is
produced to guarantee security of supply could influence energy market prices,
an expert has said.
17/10/2011
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