7 11 November 2005

News:

The struggle for control of the internet was resolved in a last minute deal which left all sides claiming a victory. The deal, which leaves the current arrangements for internet control and management unchanged, included a statement of principles which has been hailed as a recognition of national rights in internet governance.

The ‘sunrise period’ for the registration of .eu domain names by those with ‘Prior Rights’, starts on 7 December and will last for four months. ‘Prior rights’ holders comprise those with a registered national or Community trade mark, or a recognised geographical indication or designation of origin in their name, or any public body.

The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party has heavily criticised

the draft Data Retention Directive, which was published by the European Commission on 21 September.

Features:

Wake up to .eu and .mobi registrations
Companies not abiding by unsolicited e-mail laws
Internet advertising increasing rapidlyMicrosoft unveils new online services
European Commission mobile roaming website for consumers
Dates for your diaries

Everyone seems to have claimed the last minute agreement on internet governance hammered out in Tunis before the start of the World Summit on the Information Society to be a victory.

Recent global legal actions have marked a change in the battlefield of the music industry’s ongoing war against copyright infringement. Ed Hayes and Emma Turrell of Denton Wilde Sapte analyse the developing legal position and international trends.

Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, has this year completed its Strategic Review, culminating in a new regulatory strategy for the telecoms industry. Natasha Hobday, partner at Olswang examines the issues.

With the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive to be transposed into national law by December 2007, few businesses will be unaffected. Nigel Miller, partner at City law firm Fox Williams examines the legislation

The internet has not become the commercial, economic and social solution to the world’s problems, as once predicted. While access in developing countries has still to be addressed, penetration and economic problems remain in the developed world. Dr Thomas Hayes of Lewis Silkin examines the issues.

The House of Lords are down to hear oral argument at 9am on 29 November in the Michael Durant v the FSA case, as talks between the two sides have so far failed to result in a final settlement of their dispute. Nick Aries from Bird & Bird looks at the background to the case.

Christopher Rees, Head of the Herbert Smith LLP Global ITC group and Dominic Callaghan, senior associate, provide an overview of the latest key developments in IT and eCommerce in the EU.

COPYRIGHT: Taipei Prosecutors v Kuro et al
DOMAIN NAMES: William H. Cosby, Jr. v Sterling Davenport
FRAUD: R v Daniel Levi & others