Social networking giants are subject to EU data protection laws, say regulators – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 23rd, 2009 in data protection, internet, news by sally

“Social networking sites are legally responsible for their users’ privacy, Europe’s privacy watchdogs have confirmed. A committee of data protection regulators has said that the sites are ‘data controllers’, with all the legal obligations that brings.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Single mother given £1.2m fine for illegal downloads – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 22nd, 2009 in copyright, damages, internet, news by sally

“A single mother has been ordered to pay nearly £1.2 million in damages for illegally downloading 24 songs over the internet.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th June 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Neither regulators nor law protect net neutrality in Britain, investigation finds – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 19th, 2009 in internet, news by sally

“There is no legal barrier in the UK to internet service providers (ISPs) blocking content from website operators who do not pay them. Neither consumer law nor telecoms regulation protects ISP subscribers, technology law podcast OUT-LAW Radio has revealed.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Unmasked’ police blogger escapes further action – The Independent

Posted June 17th, 2009 in anonymity, internet, news, police by sally

“No further action will be taken against a policeman who was unmasked after targeting the force and Government ministers in an anonymous online blog, police said today.”

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The Independent, 17th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital Britain: Government vows to cut illegal file-sharing by 70% – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 17th, 2009 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“The Government believes it can reduce unlawful file-sharing by 70% to 80% by forcing internet service providers (ISPs) to tell users that their copyright infringement has been noted and making evidence of infringement available to the courts.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Related link: Digital Britain: the final report

Plan to monitor emails will not work, says LSE – The Guardian

Posted June 17th, 2009 in interception, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

“The Home Office’s revised proposals to monitor all text messages, email and ­internet use will have poor safeguards, prove very costly and not even work, London School of Economics researchers have found.”

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The Guardian, 17th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ruling on NightJack author Richard Horton kills blogger anonymity – The Times

Posted June 16th, 2009 in anonymity, internet, news, police by sally

“Anonymous bloggers cannot use the courts to keep their identity secret after The Times won a landmark High Court ruling over a policeman who revealed confidential information on an award-winning website.”

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The Times, 16th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Teens sharing music files could be criminalised by Digital Britain report – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 16th, 2009 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“Teenagers who share music files could be criminalised under plans for a new ‘Rights Agency’ to target internet pirates to be unveiled in the landmark Digital Britain report.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th June 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Search engine ad for IQ test banned over hidden cost – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 5th, 2009 in advertising, internet, news by sally

“An advert that appeared in search engine results to promote an IQ test has been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog for failing to disclose in the text of the ad that participants would be charged to receive their results.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 3rd June 2009

Source: www.outlaw.com

Minister warns illegal filesharers they face ‘technical measures’ – The Guardian

Posted June 5th, 2009 in copyright, internet by sally

“The government will acquire powers to apply ‘technical measures’ to crack down on persistent illegal filesharers on the internet, the culture secretary, Andy Burnham, said today.”

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The Guardian, 5th June 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Britons confused by legality of downloads, finds report – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 2nd, 2009 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“Consumers are spoilt for choice when they seek content online and are confused about what is legal and not legal, according to a report published on Friday. That confusion, and the ease of lawbreaking, present challenges for Government, the authors say.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st June 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

EBay has ‘no legal duty’ to protect others’ trade marks, says High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 29th, 2009 in internet, news, trade marks by sally

“Online auction site eBay has ‘no legal duty’ to protect other companies’ trade marks or stop its sellers from infringing them, the High Court has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th May 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

ECJ rulings on Google keywords might not resolve controversy, warns High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 27th, 2009 in advertising, EC law, internet, news, trade marks by sally

“A widely-requested European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on keyword advertising may fail to give businesses in the UK and Ireland the legal clarity it would give to the rest of Europe, a High Court judge has warned.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th May 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Aggregator needs daily evidence to make price comparisons fair, rules ad regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 18th, 2009 in advertising, internet, news by sally

“Price aggregating websites that want to claim that they compare more suppliers than anyone else must conduct research to make sure it is true and must update that research frequently, the advertising regulator has said.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th May 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Website pays damages to O’Neill – BBC News

Posted April 28th, 2009 in defamation, internet, news by sally

“Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has accepted substantial libel damages from the owners of a website.”

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BBC News, 28th April 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

IP minister rules out ‘three strikes’ disconnection law – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 28th, 2009 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“The Government minister responsible for intellectual property has ruled out a ‘three strikes’ law denying internet access to illegal file sharers. David Lammy said cutting off users was not ‘the right road’ for UK law makers.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 27th April 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Government launches consultation on communications data and rules out single store – Home Office

Posted April 27th, 2009 in data protection, internet, news, privacy, telecommunications by sally

“New measures to maintain the capability of public authorities to obtain access to communications data were announced by the Home Secretary today.”

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Home Office, 27th April 2009

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Magistrate resigns in Twitter row – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2009 in internet, magistrates, news by sally

“A magistrate has resigned from the bench following a complaint about his use of the Twitter network.”

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BBC News, 25th April 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Google Street View cleared of breaking Data Protection Act – The Guardian

Posted April 23rd, 2009 in data protection, internet, news, privacy by sally

“Google Street View, the controversial website that shows 360-degree street views of many of Britain’s cities does not breach the Data Protection Act, the information commissioner ruled today.”

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The Guardian, 23rd April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Pirate Bay convictions are legally insignificant outside Sweden – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 20th, 2009 in copyright, internet, news by sally

“A court in Sweden has found the co-founders of file-sharing site The Pirate Bay guilty of copyright offences. Each of them has been sentenced to one year in prison. But while the ruling has symbolic significance outside Sweden, it has little legal significance.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th April 2009

Source: www.out-law.com