7 5 May 2005

News:

Premium rate service watchdog ICSTIS has stepped up action on fraudsters and those causing ‘serious consumer harm’.

The Article 29 Working Party has given added impetus to the use of Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) as a workable compliance solution for data transfer from the European Union.

The combination of miniaturisation and convergence of diverse technologies is posing a growing threat to data security warns leading communications lawyer Rhys Williams, a partner with Bird & Bird.

Features:

Council’s draft framework proposal on the holding of data “is unacceptable”

Brussels warns against pre-registration of ‘.eu’ domain names

“EUROPE DIRECT Information Network” launched.

Film and music industries call for code to stop piracy on the internet

Remote gambling operators allege blocking of market access by certain Member States

European Council adopts new internet safety programme

Dates for your diaries

The protection of data is a growing challenge for all businesses and organisations. The enormous improvements in data capture, data storage and communications have brought with them challenges that simply did not exist ten years ago or even five years ago.

HM Customs & Revenue currently face a dilemma: should they attempt to tax all commercial activity or be pragmatic and tax only those from whom it is cost-effective to collect? Nowhere is this more acute than in international e-commerce. At the moment, the pragmatic course is largely being taken, although not admitted for fear of upsetting the majority of good citizens who pay up without demur, but recent disclosure laws which are bringing the activities of the tax avoidance industry out into the open may force a change.

Despite US punters contributing to half of all online gambling global revenues, US authorities are adopting a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to advertising online gambling. This is in marked contrast to a more permissive UK environment. Mark Prinsley, partner at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP examines the regulatory approaches in both countries.

The wave of consumer identity theft and online fraud has spurred the introduction of a data security standard with which all online merchants will have to comply, or face tough sanctions. Claudia Vincenzi, associate at Simmons & Simmons analyses the standard designed to provide a streamlined solution to the problem.

With the communications market moving towards full convergence, new technologies continue to provide opportunities and new challenges. Rhys Williams, partner at Bird & Bird, considers the legal issues surrounding miniaturisation

The Article 29 Working Party has given added impetus to the use of Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) as a workable compliance solution for data transfers from the European Union. Christopher Millard, Partner and head of Linklaters’ global information technology & communications practice and Peter Church, professional support lawyer, examine the prospects for BCRs

The recent judgment from the ECJ in the William Hill v BHB case has made all sides in the argument about the ownership and exploitation of sports data examine more closely the legal framework within which these rights are sold. Neil Baylis, a partner with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP analyses one aspect which has so far escaped scrutiny: the implications of Competition Law for such sporting rights sales.

Guidance on use by multinationals of Binding Corporate Rules

Communications law may be inadequate in ten EU countries

The time to register .eu domain names is fast approaching

Commission encourages broadband via powerlines

Intellectual Property: IPC Media v Highbury-SPL Publishing Lt

Copyright: Norwegian Supreme Court Verdict 27.01.2005

Advertising: A Kant v Pfizer B.V.