New minicab law ‘would put women at risk’ – The Independent

‘Ministers will come under fresh pressure this week not to ease rules on minicabs, a relaxation that safety campaigners say would endanger vulnerable women.’

Full story

The Independent, 19th October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High Court rejects legal challenge against reforms to remote gambling regime – OUT-LAW.com

‘A legal challenge against UK government plans to reform remote gambling regulation and licensing in Great Britain has failed.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th October 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

A day in court for non-payment of the TV licence: ‘What do they want us to do, kill ourselves?’ – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2014 in BBC, crime, fines, licensing, media, news by sally

‘Almost 200,000 people were prosecuted last year for failing to buy a television licence. Should those who can’t afford to pay their bills be criminalised in this way?’

Full story

The Guardian, 24th September 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Gambling law reforms to have effect from 1 October but prior High Court ruling expected on legal challenge – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 19th, 2014 in consumer protection, gambling, Gibraltar, licensing, news by tracey

‘A new regulatory and licensing regime for online and other remote gambling activity in Great Britain is set to come into effect from the beginning of next month after the UK parliament passed an order specifying 1 October as the date of commencement for the new regime.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th September 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Bookmakers sign up to voluntary watchdog – The Guardian

Posted September 15th, 2014 in advertising, consultations, gambling, licensing, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘Three of the four big high street bookmakers have signed up to a new voluntary watchdog in the hope of preempting a raft of tough statutory measures that threaten the prevalence of betting shops, high-speed roulette machines and aggressive punter-recruitment adverts promising “free money”.’

Full story

The Guardian, 15th September 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers to review enforcement of TV licence payment – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2014 in BBC, bills, crime, enforcement, licensing, media, news by sally

‘Ministers are to review how payment of the TV licence fee is enforced amid concerns about the number of people appearing in court for evasion.’

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BBC News, 9th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The 13 obscure UK laws you didn’t know you were breaking – The Independent

‘Forget the urban myths about dying in Westminster or eating mince pies on Christmas Day: these are real rules you could be breaking without even realising it’

Full story

The Independent, 26th August 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Guide on Firearms Licensing Law 2014 – Home Office

Posted July 15th, 2014 in firearms, licensing, news by tracey

‘This document provides consolidated guidance on firearms licensing legislation. This guide is not intended to be a definitive statement of the law, but a cohesive explanation of the often complex area of firearms licensing.’

Full guidance

Home Office, 14th July 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Could TV Licensing be given power to raid bank accounts? – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 9th, 2014 in BBC, debts, licensing, news by sally

‘HMRC chief Lin Homer indicates proposed powers to raid bank accounts of debtors could be extended to TV Licensing and DVLA, as MPs warn they violate Magna Carta.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The UT Repays Again – NearlyLegal

Posted July 7th, 2014 in appeals, landlord & tenant, licensing, news, rent, repayment, tribunals, utilities by sally

The Upper Tribunal has again found itself considering the issue of Rent Repayment Orders and has provided some further enlightenment on its position after the case of Parker v Waller.

Full story

NearlyLegal, 6th July 2014

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Avoiding the clinch: judicial respect for the rules inherent to sport – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

‘In a recent bout in the High Court, the specificity of sporting disputes once again came to the fore. In Bruce Baker v British Boxing Board of Control [2014] EWHC 2074 (QB), 25 June 2014, Sir David Eady was faced with the old chestnut of a request for a court to interfere with a national sporting body’s decision to sanction one of its participants. One interim application later, and the BBBC was still standing.’

Full story

Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 1st July 2014

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

New taxi rules undermine safety, warn campaigners – The Independent

Posted June 23rd, 2014 in bills, licensing, local government, news, sexual offences, taxis, women by sally

‘Ministers have been accused of undermining women’s safety by weakening the regulation of private-hire taxi drivers.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd June 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Plans to relax licensing laws lambasted by doctors and alcohol groups – The Guardian

Posted June 23rd, 2014 in alcohol abuse, alcoholism, bills, charities, doctors, licensing, local government, news by sally

‘Ministers are under fire because of plans to let the Women’s Institute, bed and breakfasts and charities start selling alcohol, which doctors and local councils warn could worsen Britain’s drink problem.’

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd and others v Public Relations Consultants Association Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted June 11th, 2014 in copyright, internet, law reports, licensing by sally

Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd and others v Public Relations Consultants Association Ltd (Case C‑360/13); ECLI:EU:C:2014:910; [2014] WLR (D) 244

‘Article 5 of Parliament and Council Directive 2001/29/EC of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society meant that the copies on a user’s computer screen and the copies in the Internet “cache” of that computer’s hard disk, made by an end-user in the course of viewing a website, satisfied the conditions that those copies had to be temporary, that they had to be transient or incidental in nature and that they had to constitute an integral and essential part of a technological process, as well as the conditions laid down in article 5(5) of that Directive, and that they could therefore be made without the authorisation of the copyright holders.’

WLR Daily, 5th June 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

No separate licence needed for internet browsing – Public Relations Consultants v Newspaper Licensing Agency – Technology Law Update

Posted June 9th, 2014 in appeals, copyright, EC law, internet, licensing, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Copyright law struggles to keep up with developing technology. In February’s Svensson decision the European court said that using hyperlinks to access material already freely available on the internet did not infringe.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 9th June 2014

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

Internet users cannot be sued for browsing the web, ECJ rules – The Guardian

Posted June 9th, 2014 in appeals, copyright, EC law, internet, interpretation, licensing, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘Internet users who visit a website are safe from the threat of a copyright lawsuit, thanks to a landmark case which concluded in the European court of justice on Thursday.’

Full story

The Guardian, 5th June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Copyright for the digital age: a partial implementation of the Hargreaves review – Technology Law Update

Posted June 6th, 2014 in copyright, education, licensing, news by sally

‘This week saw the introduction of some of the UK government’s new exceptions to copyright. These are intended to bring in changes to update copyright law for the digital age, implementing the 2011 Hargreaves Review. But several of the more controversial measures have been held up in the parliamentary process and have yet to take effect.’

Full story

Technology Law Update, 6th June 2014

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

Transport for London seeks legal ruling on Uber car-hire software – The Guardian

Posted June 3rd, 2014 in courts, fees, licensing, news, taxis, transport by sally

‘Transport for London (TfL) has begun to apply for a high court ruling on whether Uber, the car-booking software, illegally encroaches on black-cab drivers’ exclusive right to charge metered fares.’

Full story

The Guardian, 2nd June 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Uber app taxi row referred to London’s High Court – BBC News

Posted May 29th, 2014 in courts, fees, industrial action, licensing, news, taxis by michael

‘London’s transport authority has announced it does not believe Uber’s car service is breaking the law by using an app to determine charges.’

Full story

BBC News, 29th May 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Reforming the regulation of taxis and private hire vehicles – Law Commission

Posted May 28th, 2014 in Law Commission, licensing, news, taxis by sally

‘Taxis and private hire services, which include minicabs, are an essential link in the transport network of England and Wales, with passengers spending in excess of £2.5 billion a year on fares.’

Full story

Law Commission, 23rd May 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk