7 8 August 2005

News:

Net telecoms is the focus of a wave of interest as both Google and Microsoft have indicated their determination to fight for dominance in this emerging market.

In California’s first criminal internet file-sharing case, a 34-year old man has plead guilty to a single felony count of grand theft, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

The latest figures released by Nominet - the official UK registry for internet domain names, show that the UK internet industry is growing rapidly, with 150 UK web addresses now being registered every hour of every day.

Features:

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1515) in force 01 July 05
DTI sets out proposals to increase penalty for premium rate service misuse
Potential uniformity of electronic contracting
Ofcom launches inquiry into silent line calls
Tougher laws on data protection
Joint initiative on data retention to be launched
Dates for your diaries

The surge in .uk domain name registrations, now running at 110,000 a month, is a reflection of the sustained growth in confidence in the internet and e-commerce. Broadband take up now outstrips dial-up, with almost 30 per cent of UK households and businesses having broadband access.

Amendments to the Distance Selling Regulations aim to clarify the ambiguities surrounding the consumer’s right to cancel contracts for the sale of goods and services. Kolvin Stone, a lawyer specialising in IT and e-commerce at City law firm Fox Williams, assesses the changes.

Concerns have been expressed at Google’s plans to create an online book search database, particularly from the Association of American Publishers. Washington DC based internet and intellectual property lawyer, Jonathan Band1 argues why these concerns are unjustified.

With outsourcing now widespread, companies are heavily reliant on their service providers to ensure they keep on the right side of the law. Lawrence Milner, solicitor at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, considers whether their faith is misplaced.

The DTI has published a consultation paper to consider the extension of liability exemptions to a broader category of Internet Service Provider. Sherree Westell, partner at Lewis Silkin, examines the issues

EU warns eight countries over failure to implement WEEE rules
EU proposal on counterfeiting and piracy criminal offences
Draft open source software licence for EU organisation
Ten new EU members accede to the Rome Convention on contractual obligations
Draft of the proposed new Directive on Data Retention
Guidance for EU institutions on information requests and data privacy
Commission launches review of eMoney Directive
Commission guidance on new Public "e-procurement” rules

Information Rights: Real Madrd, Beckham, Zidane and Co v MrBookmaker and Co
Trade Marks: (1) Kabushiki Kaisha Sony Computer Entertainment (2) Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd v NuPlayer Ltd
Tax: Borders Online LLC v State Board of Equalization