Commissioners reveal plans to harmonise EU copyright laws – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 11th, 2009 in copyright, EC law, news by sally

“Two European commissioners have outlined plans to more closely harmonise copyright law across the European Union’s 27 member states and create EU-wide copyright licences. The commissioners want to end ‘fragmentation’ of copyright laws.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 7th May 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Exemption clauses need strong words to survive deliberate, fundamental breaches, says High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 11th, 2009 in contracts, exclusion clauses, news by sally

“Someone who deliberately breaches a fundamental term of a contract generally cannot rely on exemptions in the contract to avoid liability to the other party without clear, strong language to that effect, the High Court has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 6th May 2009

Source: www.out-law.com

Mau Mau veterans sue for colonial abuses – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2009 in colonies, compensation, Kenya, news, torture by sally

“Five elderly Kenyans detained and allegedly tortured during the Mau Mau independence uprising of more than 50 years ago are to issue a reparations claim against the British government in London next month.”

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The Guardian, 10th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police and prosecutors apologise to disabled victims of crime – The Guardian

Posted May 11th, 2009 in criminal justice, disabled persons, news, victims by sally

“Many disabled victims  of crime are being failed by the system, the Guardian has learned, following two cases in which the Crown Prosecution Service and the police were forced to apologise for not taking offences seriously enough.”

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The Guardian, 11th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Seven-year prison term for fugitive Lib Dem donor – The Independent

Posted May 11th, 2009 in news, perverting the course of justice, sentencing, theft by sally

“The Liberal Democrats’ biggest donor, who remains on the run after stealing nearly £8m from the former chairman of Manchester United, was sentenced in his absence to seven years in jail yesterday.”

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The Independent, 9th May 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Farming family guilty of ‘grotesque’ cruelty – The Independent

Posted May 11th, 2009 in animal cruelty, news by sally

“Five members of one family were found guilty of ‘grotesque’ cruelty yesterday after one of Britain’s largest horse-rescue operations. RSPCA inspectors who raided Spindle Farm in Buckinghamshire last year found a ‘horror scene’ of starving, emaciated and diseased animals, surrounded by the rotting corpses of others.”

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The Independent, 9th May 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Metal detector user David Hutchings jailed for selling fake coins – The Times

Posted May 11th, 2009 in fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“A metal detector enthusiast who claimed to have discovered hoards of valuable antiquities during years of treasure hunting has been convicted of selling modern fakes.”

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The Times, 11th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Judge criticises court fee plans – BBC News

Posted May 11th, 2009 in costs, courts, news by sally

“A senior judge has called on the government to reconsider plans to increase court fees in civil and family cases in England and Wales.”

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BBC News, 8th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police called in over leaks as more MPs accused – The Times

Posted May 11th, 2009 in expenses, news, parliament, parliamentary privilege by sally

“MPs defied their own legal advice last night and asked the police to investigate how expenses details had been offered for sale to newspapers.”

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The Times, 9th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Devout Hindu loses cremation bid – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2009 in burials and cremation, human rights, judicial review, news by sally

“A bid by a devout Hindu for the legal right to be cremated on a traditional open-air funeral pyre has been rejected by the High Court in London.”

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BBC News, 8th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK judges reopen Guantanamo case – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2009 in disclosure, intelligence services, news, torture by sally

“The High Court has taken the unusual step of reopening a controversial judgement in the case of the former Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed.”

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BBC News, 8th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Serious Fraud Office to ask parliament to grant it new powers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 8th, 2009 in company directors, deferred prosecution agreements, fraud, news by sally

“The Serious Fraud Office is to ask parliament to enhance its powers to fight fraudulent companies and corrupt directors, the Gazette has learned. The investigation and prosecution agency has begun consulting privately with senior lawyers and officials before it approaches parliament later in the year. Sources close to the discussions said the SFO wants powers to fine fraudulent companies and impose deferred prosecutions, as well as ­legislation requiring companies to report frauds as soon as they are discovered.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th May 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lord Hunt outlines vision for regulation – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 8th, 2009 in disciplinary procedures, law firms, Law Society, news by sally

“The peer tasked by Chancery Lane with reviewing legal regulation says that only ‘minor’ adjustments to the Law Society’s internal governance may be required to yield ‘enormous benefit’ for the regulation of law firms.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th May 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The murky, mysterious world of the Queen’s Privy Council – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2009 in news, Privy Council by sally

“The Privy Council is one of the most obscure and murky corners of the British constitution — yet its powers are far from antiquated or redundant.”

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The Times, 8th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Mayfair nightclub Annabel’s fined over tips system – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2009 in news, remuneration, VAT by sally

“A prestigious Mayfair nightclub lost a court battle with the taxman yesterday over a tips system that benefited customers and staff.”

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The Times, 8th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Navy officer loses racism claim – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2009 in armed forces, news, race discrimination by sally

“A black Royal Navy officer has lost his claim for racial discrimination

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BBC News, 7th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Men jailed for 17-day crime spree – BBC News

Posted May 8th, 2009 in burglary, kidnapping, news, robbery, sentencing by sally

“Two men who terrorised part of Greater Manchester during a 17-day crime spree have been jailed for life.”

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BBC News, 7th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Agency workers to receive equal rights after 12 weeks in job – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2009 in casual workers, news by sally

“About 500,000 agency workers will receive the same pay and conditions as permanent staff under proposals to be published by ministers today in an effort to redeem a pledge made by government to union.”

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The Guardian, 8th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DNA pioneer condemns plan to keep details on database for 12 years – The Guardian

Posted May 8th, 2009 in data protection, DNA, news by sally

“The government’s plans to reform the national DNA database were condemned yesterday by lawyers for the two innocent men whose European court victory forced ministers to change the rules.”

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The Guardian, 8th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Stop-and-search powers limited by the Met Police after bias claim – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2009 in minorities, news, stop and search by sally

“Britain’s biggest police force has agreed to limit its use of controversial stop-and-search powers after critics claimed it was discriminating against minority groups.”

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The Times, 8th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk