Gang made millions selling fake Xanax pills on dark web – BBC News

‘A drugs gang produced millions of counterfeit Xanax pills in garden sheds and garages, selling them to customers across the UK and US.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2024 c. 22 – Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024

2024 c. 21 – Victims and Prisoners Act 2024

2024 c. 19 – British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024

2024 c. 18 – Building Societies Act 1986 (Amendment) Act 2024

2024 c. 13 – Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

eBay vendor jailed over lucrative skin bleaching cream scam as ministers urged to clamp down – The Independent

‘Campaigners are calling for tighter restrictions on the sale of toxic skin-lightening products as an eBay seller has been jailed for selling over 20,000 bottles of the illegal goods.’

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The Independent, 6th May 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

An assessment of the reliability requirement in the Electronic Trade Documents Act – The 36 Group

Posted April 24th, 2024 in chambers articles, documents, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘On 20 September 2023 the Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) came into force. Formerly, in English law, document possession usually required physical possession. Now, the ETDA allows for “electronic trade documents” to be treated as equivalent to traditional “paper trade documents”, if they meet certain “gateway” criteria underpinned by a “reliable system”. In this article, we consider how the English courts are likely to approach interpretating this reliability requirement. Would any flaw in the system, no matter how short-lived and abnormal, render it unreliable? Or would a more detailed systemic analysis be needed? If so, what would that look like?’

Full Story

The 36 Group, 12th April 2024

Source: 36group.co.uk

UK Court of Appeal decision gives firms guidance on T&Cs in digital age – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 14th, 2024 in contracts, electronic commerce, gambling, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal in England and Wales has considered what businesses need to do to incorporate standard terms and conditions into a digital contract for online services for the first time.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th March 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

New Act – legislation.gov.uk

Posted August 3rd, 2023 in documents, electronic commerce, legislation by michael

2023 c.38 – Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Tougher rules will target illegal ads and fake influencer scams, says Government – The Independent

Posted July 25th, 2023 in advertising, consumer protection, electronic commerce, internet, news by sally

‘Tougher new rules are set to clamp down on illegal and age-restricted adverts and fake celebrity scams, the Government has said.’

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The Independent, 25th July 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Commission recommendations to allow for electronic trade documents implemented in Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 – Law Commission

Posted July 21st, 2023 in bills, documents, electronic commerce, electronic filing, Law Commission, news by tracey

‘On Thursday 20 July, the Law Commission’s recommendations on electronic trade documents became law as the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 secured royal assent.’

Full Story

Law Commission, 20th July 2023

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Sports bodies have options for tackling illegal streaming, say experts – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 6th, 2023 in copyright, electronic commerce, enforcement, internet, news, sentencing, sport by sally

‘Sports bodies and owners of broadcast rights for sports events should invest in monitoring for illegal streaming and consider the options they have for enforcing their rights against infringers in the context of their commercial objectives, according to experts in dispute resolution and brand protection in the sports sector.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd June 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill: UK tech sector competition rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 1st, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, markets, news by sally

‘Large technology companies will face added regulatory and compliance issues in the UK once new legislation aimed at promoting competition in digital markets is enacted and implemented.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Regulating Big Tech in the UK – Competition Bulletin

‘Following hot(ish) on the heels of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the Bill”) was published on 25 April 2023. It seeks to do three things: (1) to establish a new ex-ante regulatory regime for digital markets, conferring powers on the CMA, via its Digital Markets Unit, to impose conduct requirements and make “pro-competitive interventions” (“PCIs”) in relation to designated firms, and to impose hefty penalties for failure to comply; (2) to reform the existing competition law system, notably relating to merger controls, market inquiries and enforcement; and (3) to enhance consumer rights and enforcement. This post focusses on the first of these.’

Full Story

Competition Bulletin, 17th May 2023

Source: competitionbulletin.com

A ‘watershed moment’ for the digital sector – the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – Mills & Reeve

Posted May 11th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘This briefing is part of a series that will take a closer look at the government’s draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the “Bill”) which was introduced into Parliament on 25 April 2023. This is an important and far-reaching Bill which will see wide ranging reforms to competition and consumer protection laws.’

Full Story

Mills & Reeve, 10th May 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

New rules ban subscription traps and fake reviews – BBC News

Posted April 25th, 2023 in bills, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘Buying, selling or hosting fake reviews will become illegal as part of changes planned in new laws.’

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BBC News, 25th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law Commission to review how private international law applies to digital assets and other emerging technology – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has launched a Government-commissioned review that aims to provide clarity on how private international law rules can apply to emerging technology, such as digital assets and electronic trade documents.’

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Law Commission, 18th October 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Online platforms face likely Digital Services Act disclosure deadline of February 2023 OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 20th, 2022 in disclosure, EC law, electronic commerce, internet, news, regulations, time limits by tracey

‘Online platform providers are set to face new legal duties to disclose details on user engagement with their services in the EU, with an initial deadline to report such information by the middle of February next year likely to apply, according to analysis undertaken by Out-Law.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th September 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

UK product safety laws won’t prevent another Grenfell tragedy, report warns – The Guardian

Posted September 30th, 2021 in brexit, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news, third parties by sally

‘The UK’s product safety regime is not up to the job of preventing a tragedy such as the Grenfell Tower fire as shopping moves online and regulators take on new responsibilities following Brexit, MPs have warned.’

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The Guardian, 30th September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Regulating content on user-to user and search service providers – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The dust has settled since the government released its draft Online Safety Bill. Now is therefore a good time to evaluate its aims, methods, and potential impacts, which we will do so in this two-part post. The first post will have a look at the overall architecture of the bill, discussing what it is trying to do and how it is trying to do it. The second post will survey responses to the bill from academics and civil society campaigners, discussing whether the bill does too much or not enough.’

Full Story

UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd August 2021

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Writing fake online reviews could be made illegal – BBC News

‘A plan to crack down on online rip-offs including making it illegal for people to write or host fake reviews has been outlined by the government.’

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BBC News, 19th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Proposals to allow electronic documents would revolutionise trade – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission has announced a consultation on proposals to allow for the legal recognition of electronic versions of documents such as bills of lading and bills of exchange. If implemented, the reforms could revolutionise global trade and bring the processes into the 21st Century. We are also considering reform of the legal treatment of cryptoassets and digital assets and today published a call for evidence as part of that process (see below).’

Full press release

Law Commission, 30th April 2021

Source: https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/proposals-to-allow-electronic-documents-would-revolutionise-trade/

Councils may have suffered because of ‘pre-paid cards’ cartel, according to provisional findings of regulator – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 6th, 2021 in benefits, competition, electronic commerce, local government, news by sally

‘Local authorities may have missed out on an alternative supplier of pre-paid cards or products that were either cheaper or better suited to both their needs and the needs of those using such cards, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) has said after provisionally finding that five companies engaged in cartel behaviour.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th April 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk