Category: electronic commerce

Proposals to allow electronic documents would revolutionise trade – Law Commission

Posted May 4th, 2021 in documents, electronic commerce, international trade, Law Commission, press releases by tracey

‘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

A Campaign To Include Mx Title On All Forms Is Gaining Momentum. Here’s Why It’s Important – Each Other

Posted March 2nd, 2021 in electronic commerce, equality, gender, news, transgender persons by sally

‘Include Mx, which was launched in November 2020, is a micro campaign that approaches businesses and organisations to ask them to include Mx as an option on forms. Mx is a gender neutral honorific that was first coined and used in the 1970s. It’s used by those who do not identify as a particular gender, as well as those who do not want to reveal their gender.’

Full Story

Each Other, 1st March 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Vos: ‘lawyers face steep learning curve on tech’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 5th, 2020 in barristers, computer programs, coronavirus, data protection, electronic commerce, electronic filing, judges, legal profession, news, solicitors by tracey

‘All lawyers will need to become familiar with the concepts and workings of distributed ledger technology, smart legal contracts and cryptoassets, according to the next master of the rolls. In a foreword to a landmark report on the regulation of blockchain technology, Sir Geoffrey Vos says that the pandemic “has only emphasised our need to understand the ways in which technology is affecting our professional lives. Lawyers face a steep learning curve.” ’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 5th October 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Watchdog launches probe into fake and misleading online product reviews – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 27th, 2020 in consumer protection, electronic commerce, internet, news by sally

‘A consumer watchdog has launched a probe into the sale of fake product reviews which it fears could mislead shoppers.’

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Daily Telegraph, 22nd May 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cryptocurrency is Property: AA v Persons Unknown – The 36 Group

Posted February 11th, 2020 in contracts, electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘In a significant recent decision, the High Court has acknowledged the finding of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (“UKJT”) in its Legal Statement on Cryptoassets and Smart Contracts that cryptocurrency is property.’

Full Story

The 36 Group, 11th February 2020

Source: 36group.co.uk

Disposals of cryptoassets, tax & the UKJT Legal Statement – Society for Computers and Law

Posted February 6th, 2020 in electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news, taxation by sally

‘Leigh Sagar looks at the mechanics and tax implications of cryptoasset disposals in the light of the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce Legal Statement on cryptoassets and smart contracts.’

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Society for Computers and Law, 29th January 2020

Source: www.scl.org

Gambling watchdog bans credit cards for online betting sites – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2020 in consumer credit, consumer protection, electronic commerce, gambling, news by sally

‘Gambling businesses are to be banned from allowing consumers in Great Britain to use credit cards to bet from 14 April, the Gambling Commission has announced.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

VAT charges on digital versions of newspapers overturned – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 9th, 2020 in EC law, electronic commerce, internet, media, news, statutory interpretation, VAT by tracey

‘A major publisher has been successful in overturning a previous ruling that found that the digital versions of its newspapers were subject to VAT charges.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th January 2020

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Crypto statement a ‘watershed’ for English law – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted November 25th, 2019 in computer programs, contracts, electronic commerce, electronic filing, internet, interpretation, news by sally

‘In its first substantive output since being announced a year ago, the LawTech Delivery Panel last week posted good news for anyone developing, or working with, products based on blockchain encryption technology.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th November 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Refreshing legal clarity on cryptocurrencies and smart contracts – Technology Law Update

Posted November 20th, 2019 in computer programs, contracts, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘A UK Government-backed task force has reviewed the status of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts under the existing law. In a new Legal Statement, they offer some welcome clarity to these evolving technologies.’

Full Story

Technology Law Update, 19th November 2019

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

Digital assets “are property” under English law – Legal Futures

Posted November 19th, 2019 in consultations, contracts, electronic commerce, jurisdiction, news by sally

‘Blockchain and smart contracts were given a major boost towards becoming a standard method for securely storing and transferring cryptoassets yesterday, when the expert panel charged with giving the technology legal certainty decided they should be treated in principal as property.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 19th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

AI – a tool for the law, or its digital master? – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 19th, 2019 in artificial intelligence, contracts, electronic commerce, news, podcasts by sally

‘In the latest Henry Brooke Lecture (12th November, hosted by BAILII and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer), Supreme Court Justice Lord Sales warned that the growing role of algorithms and artificial intelligence in decision making poses significant legal problems.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th November 2019

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

“Mixed messages” from consumers on online conveyancing – Legal Futures

Posted November 19th, 2019 in conveyancing, electronic commerce, electronic filing, news, reports by sally

‘Only 19% of home buyers use online conveyancers, despite the dominance of online searches as a way of finding property, a report has found.’

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Legal Futures, 19th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, The Chancellor of the High Court: the annual COMBAR lecture – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 14th, 2019 in artificial intelligence, climate change, contracts, data protection, dispute resolution, electronic commerce, legal services, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Sir Geoffrey Vos, The Chancellor of the High Court: the annual COMBAR lecture.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 13th November 2019

Source: www.judiciary.uk

MPs call for reform of online gambling laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 8th, 2019 in electronic commerce, gambling, internet, news by tracey

‘The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm (GRH APPG) said current legislation has its limitations and that new laws should be introduced and “focus on prevention of harm and retrospective concerns” and further “assess the kind of industry we would like to have in the future”.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th November 2019

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Blockchain offers the law “enormous opportunities” – Legal Futures

Posted October 24th, 2019 in contracts, conveyancing, electronic commerce, legal services, news, probate by sally

‘The buzz around distributed ledger technology (DLT), including blockchain, is much more than hype and the tech will eventually transform conveyancing and probate, an academic specialising in innovation has indicated.’

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Legal Futures, 24th October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK fine issued for breach of CMA initial enforcement order – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 26th, 2019 in competition, electronic commerce, mergers, news, penalties by tracey

‘A payments provider that breached an order to stop the integration of its UK business with a rival until a full merger investigation could be carried out has been fined £250,000 by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th September 2019

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Electronic signatures are valid, confirms Law Commission – Law Commission

Posted September 5th, 2019 in computer programs, documents, electronic commerce, Law Commission, press releases by tracey

‘Electronic signatures can be used to execute documents, including where there is a statutory requirement for a signature, the Law Commission has today confirmed. This means that, in most cases, electronic signatures can be used as a viable alternative to handwritten ones.’

Full press release

Law Commission, 4th September 2019

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Written signatures under threat as law commission backs electronic versions – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 4th, 2019 in electronic commerce, electronic filing, Law Commission, news by sally

‘A 20-month investigation by the Commission into electronic signatures has ruled they are a legally viable alternative to handwritten ones including on deeds from trust documents to powers of attorney, commercial deals, personal financial transactions and across Government.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd September 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk