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 ***Communications Survey*** Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, is keen so make sure that people who receive our electronic communications are getting what they need. This includes all Out-Law communications. Please help us to make sure we are doing a good job by spending under five minutes filling out our survey at https://response.questback.com/pinsentmasons/ecommsurvey/, which asks about what we do now and what you would like us to do. For every response Pinsent Masons will make a donation to our chosen charity, SOS Children's Villages (http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk). ***This week's highlights from Out-Law News*** TMT & Sourcing 1. Computer program that copied the functions of another did not infringe copyright, ECJ advisor says A computer program does not infringe the copyright of another one just because it performs the same function as it, but it could do if it copies the means by which the other program works, an advisor to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has said. 01/12/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/computer-program-that-copied-the-functions-of-another-did-not-infringe-copyright-ecj-advisor-says/ 2. Talks aimed at harmonising approach to copyright levies planned for next year The European Commission has appointed a mediator to hold talks aimed at creating a consistent approach to copyright levies across Europe. Discussions will begin early next year and could result in changes to EU copyright law, the Commission said. 01/12/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/talks-aimed-at-harmonising-approach-to-copyright-levies-planned-for-next-year/ 3. Google not shown to have had actual knowledge of defamatory comments, High Court rules Google does not have to pay damages to a UK intelligence adviser for "very modest" defamation she suffered, the High Court has ruled. 30/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/google-not-shown-to-have-had-actual-knowledge-of-defamatory-comments-high-court-rules/ 4. Facebook settles privacy complaints with US regulator Facebook will have to obtain "affirmative express consent" from its users before imposing material changes to their privacy settings, according to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 30/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/facebook-settles-privacy-complaints-with-us-regulator/ 5. Government increases tax relief for start-up investors A new scheme will increase the amount of tax relief investors in early stage companies can claim under plans aimed at boosting investment in start-up firms, the Government's Autumn Statement has said. 29/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/government-increases-tax-relief-for-start-up-investors/ 6. Government seeks views on web accessibility The Government has asked for views on what problems disabled people face when using the web and other technologies and whether laws and regulations should be changed to improve accessibility. 29/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/government-seeks-views-on-web-accessibility/ Litigation & International Arbitration 7. Lawyers need more training on electronic disclosure, says top judge Lawyers and judges must be properly trained on how best to examine electronic documents and email evidence or risk wasting vast sums of money in legal costs, a senior judge has warned. 30/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/lawyers-need-more-training-on-electronic-disclosure-says-top-judge/ Regulatory 8. Regulatory approval of data transfers to apply EU-wide, Commissioner says Plans to enable global businesses to obtain easier EU-wide approval for the way they transfer personal data have been announced by the EU's Justice Commissioner. 30/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/regulatory-approval-of-data-transfers-to-apply-eu-wide-commissioner-says/ Projects & Construction 9. Government's infrastructure spending commitments 'only a drop in the ocean' without private finance, expert warns An additional £5 billion to fund infrastructure outlined in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement will "only be a drop in the ocean" without funding from the private sector, an expert has warned. 29/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/governments-infrastructure-spending-commitments-only-a-drop-in-the-ocean-without-private-finance-expert-warns/ Retail and Leisure 10. Small retailers to benefit from surprise business rates relief holiday extension Over half a million small businesses will be given a further six month extension to the current business rate relief holiday, the Chancellor has announced. 29/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/small-retailers-to-benefit-from-surprise-business-rates-relief-holiday-extension/ Banking and Restructuring 11. Courts to decide on legality of 'football creditors' rule this week The Football League will find out this week whether it is lawful for it to insist that football players, managers and other clubs get paid before other creditors if a football club enters administration. 29/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/courts-to-decide-on-legality-of-football-creditors-rule-this-week/ Pensions 12. Government will give small businesses extra time to prepare pension for auto-enrolment Small businesses are to be given an additional year to prepare to enrol their workers automatically into a pension scheme, the Government has said. 29/11/2011 http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/november/government-will-give-ssmall-businesses-extra-time-to-prepare-pension-for-auto-enrolment/ ***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. 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