Can you spot the difference? New research published on the impact of lookalike products – Technology Law Update

“We are continually hearing about the inherent value of a brand. A well established brand helps customers identify the product they’re buying and can reassure them about the quality they can expect. It is therefore no surprise that other companies often try to piggyback off well established brands in order to sell their similar product.”

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Technology Law Update, 5th July 2013

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk

Trade Mark Infringement and Passing off: British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc v Microsoft Corporation – NIPC Law

Posted July 8th, 2013 in news, trade marks by sally

“In British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc and Others v Microsoft Corporation Microsoft and another [2013] EWHC 1826 (Ch), Sky (that is to say British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, Sky IP International Limited, British Sky Broadcasting Limited and Sky International AG) sued Microsoft (Microsoft Corporation and Microsoft Luxembourg Sarl) for infringement of its British and Community trade marks and passing off while Microsoft counterclaimed for declarations of invalidity of Sky’s trade marks on grounds of descriptiveness and impermissible amendment.”

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NIPC Law, 7th July 2013

Source: www.nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk

McFail – NearlyLegal

“This was a case that was potentially important for establishing whether Article 8 defences could be run by private tenants, or by licencees and occupiers of private land. Despite Sir Alan Ward’s opening, the case falls short of being that, as we shall see.”

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NearlyLegal, 7th July 2013

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Cost of practising as a solicitor to rise sharply – Legal Futures

“The cost of practising as a solicitor is set to rise at a rate of more than four times inflation, if the Law Society’s council approves figures that will be put before it later this week.”

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Legal Futures, 8th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

E-cigarettes: Is a smoking alternative being choked by regulation? – BBC News

Posted July 8th, 2013 in EC law, licensing, news, regulations, smoking by sally

“Dozens of countries are introducing legislation restricting the use of electronic cigarettes, but their proponents say they are harmless and their use could in fact save millions of lives. Could they be right?”

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BBC News, 6th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Call for inquiry into deaths of four men at psychiatric hospital – The Guardian

Posted July 8th, 2013 in hospitals, inquests, inquiries, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

“A public inquiry has been demanded into the use of anti-psychotic drugs after an investigation revealed that side-effects from such medication probably played a part in the deaths, in quick succession, of four men on one hospital ward.”

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The Guardian, 7th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

North Wales care abuse: Jillings report published after 17 years – BBC News

“A report written 17 years ago into claims of abuse at children’s homes in north Wales in the 1970s and 1980s has been published.”

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BBC News, 8th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crackdown on perks for young offenders – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 8th, 2013 in detention, news, young offenders by sally

“Young offenders face being stripped of perks such as video games consoles in a crackdown on the ‘ludicrous’ soft regime in the youth custody system being planned by the Justice Secretary.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Daily Telegraph have recently introduced a limited paywall. Users will be permitted to view 20 Daily Telegraph articles per month for free, after which they will need to pay a subscription fee to access content.

As Abu Qatada leaves, Theresa May vows to change human rights law – The Guardian

“Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, celebrated the successful deportation of Abu Qatada to Jordan on Sunday by saying the long-running saga meant there would have to be ‘wholesale changes’ in Britain’s human rights laws.”

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The Guardian, 7th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Anti-Semitic teacher loses tribunal claim that his views are a legitimate ‘philosophical belief’ – The Independent

“A primary school teacher sacked after allegations of anti-Semitic abuse has lost his attempt to argue that his views were a ‘philosophical belief’ covered under the Equality Act.”

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The Independent, 5th July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New coroner rules aim to reduce inquest delays – BBC News

Posted July 4th, 2013 in codes of practice, coroners, delay, inquests, news, time limits by sally

“Coroners in England and Wales will have to meet a new code of standards to make inquests more efficient.”

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BBC News, 4th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lord chief justice warns against state encroachment – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2013 in judges, judiciary, news, speeches by sally

“Lord Judge uses lord mayor’s dinner to advise against taking judicial independence for granted.”

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The Guardian, 4th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sunday Times wins long-running libel trial against East End businessman – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2013 in defamation, media, news, trial without jury by sally

“The Sunday Times has won a long-running libel trial brought by an East End businessman it accused of running a vast criminal empire in London.”

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The Guardian, 4th July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MI5 spy cleared of assaulting and harassing ex-girlfriend – BBC News

Posted July 4th, 2013 in assault, domestic violence, harassment, intelligence services, news by sally

“A spy who was accused by his ex-girlfriend – also an MI5 agent – of assaulting and harassing her has been cleared at Southwark Crown Court.”

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BBC News, 4th July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Command Papers – official-documents.gov.uk

Posted July 4th, 2013 in parliamentary papers by sally

Transforming the CJS: A Strategy and Action Plan to Reform the Criminal Justice System, Cm 8658 (PDF)

Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valuable and Valued, Cm 8655 (PDF)

Sixth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee of Session 2012-13: Foreign Policy Considerations for the UK and Scotland in the Event of Scotland Becoming an Independent Country, Cm 8644 (PDF)

Draft Deregulation Bill, Cm 8642 (PDF)

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Small law firms may be forced to merge under legal aid plans – The Guardian

Posted July 4th, 2013 in law firms, legal aid, legal representation, mergers, news, select committees by sally

“Small law firms reliant upon legal aid will be forced to amalgamate under plans being examined by the Ministry of Justice to save £220m a year.”

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The Guardian, 3rd July 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Recent Statutory Instruments – legislation.gov.uk

Posted July 4th, 2013 in legislation by sally

The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Fresh Signatures for Absent Voters) Order 2013

The Penalties, Offshore Income etc. (Designation of Territories) (Amendment) Order 2013

The Elections (Fresh Signatures for Absent Voters) Regulations 2013

The Superannuation (Admission to Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972) Order 2013

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted July 4th, 2013 in law reports by sally

Supreme Court

Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd v Zodiac Seats UK Ltd [2013] UKSC 46 (3 July 2013)

Sturnham, R (on the application of) v The Parole Board of England and Wales & Anor (No. 2) [2013] UKSC 47 (3 July 2013)

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Harvey, R. v (Rev 1) [2013] EWCA Crim 1104 (03 July 2013)

Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Smart v The Forensic Science Service Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 783 (02 July 2013)

S (A Child) & Ors v Nottingham City Council & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 771 (02 July 2013)

Force India Formula One Team Ltd v Aerolab Srl & Anor [2013] EWCA Civ 780 (03 July 2013)

Frost v Wake Smith and Tofields Solicitors [2013] EWCA Civ 772 (19 June 2013)

McKillen v (Misland (Cyprus) Investments Ltd & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 781 (03 July 2013)

Malik v Fassenfelt & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 798 (03 July 2013)

Joint Stock Company ‘Aeroflot-Russian Airlines’ v Berezovsky & Ors [2013] EWCA Civ 784 (02 July 2013)

Williams v Central Bank of Nigeria [2013] EWCA Civ 785 (02 July 2013)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Say v Howard Gurpinar LLP [2013] EWHC 1386 (QB) (08 March 2013)

Travel and Holidays v Hajj Charter [2013] EWHC 1212 (QB) (28 February 2013)

Lord Chancellor v Woodhall [2013] EWHC 764 (QB) (20 February 2013)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Rrapaj & Ors v Director of Legal Aid Casework & Anor [2013] EWHC 1837 (Admin) (02 July 2013)

Agyeikum, R (on the application of) v SSHD [2013] EWHC 1828 (Admin) (02 July 2013)

Manning, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Justice [2013] EWHC 1821 (Admin) (03 July 2013)

Dunsfold Park Ltd v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Anor [2013] EWHC 1878 (Admin) (03 July 2013)

Stern, R (on the application of) v Horsham District Council [2013] EWHC 1460 (Admin) (01 May 2013)

Richards v Government of Ghana [2013] EWHC 1254 (Admin) (16 April 2013)

Janaszek v Circuit Court In Plock (Polish Judicial Authority) [2013] EWHC 1880 (Admin) (03 July 2013)

Prenga, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2013] EWHC 1891 (Admin) (03 July 2013)

High Court (Family Division)

HJ (A Child) [2013] EWHC 1867 (Fam) (02 July 2013)

High Court (Commercial Court)

JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov & 16 Ors [2013] EWHC 1869 (Comm) (02 July 2013)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

FG Skerritt Ltd v Caledonian Building Systems Ltd [2013] EWHC 1898 (TCC) (03 July 2013)

Source: www.bailii.org

Whistleblowers: Is a change in the law enough to protect them – and us? – The Independent

Posted July 4th, 2013 in banking, health, news, public interest, reports, whistleblowers by sally

“As a lawyer acting for whistleblowers, I have been struck by the common message emerging from the public inquiries into scandals across very different sectors.”

Full story

The Independent, 3rd July 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Private landlords face £3,000 fines for renting to illegal immigrants – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 4th, 2013 in consultations, fines, immigration, landlord & tenant, news by sally

“Private landlords face fines of up to £3,000 if they fail to inspect tenants’ passports and other identity documents to establish that they are not illegal immigrants.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd July 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The Daily Telegraph have recently introduced a limited paywall. Users will be permitted to view 20 Daily Telegraph articles per month for free, after which they will need to pay a subscription fee to access content.