Digitally altered photographs can qualify for copyright protection, UK court rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 19th, 2012 in copyright, news, photography by sally

“Photographs that are digitally manipulated using imaging software can be original enough to qualify for copyright protection, the Patents County Court has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 19th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Russian oligarch’s ex-wife wins £12.5m after ‘unfair’ post-nup – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in divorce, news by sally

“The former wife of a Russian oligarch has won a divorce payout of £12.5 million after a judge ruled the postnuptial agreement she signed was ‘grossly unfair’.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man charged with ‘drink-driving’ mobility scooter is let off – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in alcohol abuse, disabled persons, news, road traffic offences by sally

“A man accused of drink-driving after being caught more than four times the alcohol limit while riding his mobility scooter has been let off because his vehicle was too small to be classed as a road vehicle.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Life after legal aid: the fightback begins – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in budgets, EC law, news, solicitors by sally

“Solicitors are not going to sit back when welfare benefits and legal aid are withdrawn. We intend to challenge injustice in the courts.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Assisted suicide – institutionalised murder? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 19th, 2012 in assisted suicide, news by sally

“A recent report by a Commission on Assisted Suicide funded by euthanasia advocates, Terry Pratchett and Bernard Lewis, ushered in by euthanasia supporter and Labour peer, Charles Falconer, and sponsored by Dignity in Dying (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society), has found, predictably, that a legal framework should be investigated that would allow medical complicity in suicide. The fact that the 11-strong commission was made up of nine well-known proponents of euthanasia, led, inexorably, to an early-stage boycott of the inquiry by over 40 organisations, including the British Medical Association.”

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 19th January 2012

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Pity the poor conveyancer – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in conveyancing, news by sally

“The legal element of buying a house is regarded as a necessary evil, the part that always slows the transaction down. This isn’t necessarily true, of course. But conveyancing is proving to be just as much of a pain to the legal profession as it can be to the public.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

No deportation for Abu Qatada, but where are we now on torture evidence? – Professor Adam Tomkins – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 19th, 2012 in deportation, evidence, human rights, news, torture by sally

“On 17 January 2012 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) handed down its judgment in Othman (Abu Qatada) v UK. In a unanimous ruling the Court held that the UK could not lawfully deport Abu Qatada to his native Jordan, overturning the House of Lords (who had unanimously come to the opposite conclusion in RB (Algeria) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2009] UKHL 10, [2010] 2 AC 110).”

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UK Human Rights Blog, 19th January 2012

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Man jailed for sharing father’s industrial compensation – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2012 in benefits, compensation, news, proceeds of crime by sally

“John Kennedy followed his father’s wishes when he died, sharing the money from a compensation payout with the rest of the family, but he ended up in prison as a result.”

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BBC News, 19th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bar applications up 18% – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2012 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“Applications for the Bar Professional Training Course have risen despite the continued fall in the number of pupillages, the bar’s annual report to the profession reveals.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Metropolitan Police wins appeal over 2009 G20 ‘kettling’ tactics – BBC News

Posted January 19th, 2012 in appeals, demonstrations, London, news, police, restraint by sally

“The Metropolitan Police has won its appeal against a High Court ruling over ‘kettling’ tactics used during the G20 demonstrations in April 2009.”

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BBC News, 19th January 2012

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge slams quality of mental health advocacy – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2012 in advocacy, legal representation, mental health, news, tribunals by sally

“A judge has fiercely criticised the quality of advocacy in mental health review tribunals (MHRT) as calls intensify across the profession for the compulsory accreditation of practitioners appearing for mentally ill clients.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council and Bar Standards Board Publish ‘Bar Barometer’ Report on the Profession – The Bar Council

Posted January 19th, 2012 in barristers, news, reports, statistics by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulator of barristers in England and Wales, have today published the first full edition of Bar Barometer, an annual report on statistical trends within the Bar.”

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The Bar Council, 18th January 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Litigants in person could find access to justice hard – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 19th, 2012 in litigants in person, news by sally

“The prospect of a huge increase in litigants fighting their cases themselves in the face of legal aid cutbacks has prompted dire warnings from judges, magistrates, practitioners and support groups about the impact this will have on access to justice. They also fear that HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s plans to cut counter services will create chaos, particularly in the family courts, with litigants in person (LiPs) left struggling for information. While more online services may help fill the gap, support groups warn that many vulnerable LiPs do not have access to computers or know where to turn for advice.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th January 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Localism Act clarifies rules on predetermination – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 19th, 2012 in bias, legislation, local government, news, planning by sally

“The fact that a member of a local planning authority’s planning committee has campaigned against a proposed development within the authority’s administrative area will not be taken as proof that they are not open minded, according to the clarified rules on predetermination in the Localism Act.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 18th January 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Border agency was a law unto itself, MPs conclude – The Independent

Posted January 19th, 2012 in immigration, inquiries, news by sally

“Passport checks have been relaxed too often in recent years because of ‘highly troubling’ mistakes by executives at the UK Border Agency, MPs warned.”

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The Independent, 19th January 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior judge attacks UK border system after Lithuanian sex offender was able to enter the country – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in dangerous offenders, deportation, immigration, news, sexual offences by sally

“A senior judge has railed at the UK border system asking ‘do we let anyone in?’ after a dangerous Lithuanian sex offender was able to enter the country and then rape a woman.”

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Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Tie-break’ system could bring more diversity among judges – Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in diversity, judiciary, news by sally

“Progress in appointing women and members of ethnic minorities as judges has been far too slow and a ‘tie-break’ procedure favouring such candidates should be adopted, the justice secretary has told the House of Lords.”

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The Guardian, 19th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Phone hacking cases to be settled – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Several phone hacking victims suing News International are expected to have their claims settled today in a series of payouts which could cost the company millions of pounds.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bark but no bite: Dangerous Dogs Act in spotlight as attacks rise – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2012 in dogs, legislation, news by sally

“Ministers urged to tackle irresponsible owners through compulsory microchipping and the return of the dog licence.”

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The Guardian, 18th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS trusts ordered to remove ‘no win, no fee’ adverts – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 19th, 2012 in advertising, hospitals, news, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

“Hospitals are being instructed to remove advertisements for personal injury lawyers featured in NHS leaflets issued to patients, it has emerged.”

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Daily Telegraph, 19th January 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk