Court of Appeal backs parallel UK and EPO patent proceedings but alters guidelines for future cases – OUT-LAW.com

‘A dispute over the alleged infringement of a standard-essential mobile technology European patent will be ruled on by the High Court despite there being ongoing proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO) about whether the patent is valid.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st November 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Watchdog demands GCHQ report on NSA’s UK data storage – The Guardian

‘The watchdog tasked with scrutinising the work of Britain’s intelligence agencies is to demand an urgent report from GCHQ about revelations that the phone, internet and email records of British citizens have been analysed and stored by America’s National Security Agency.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hacking trial: The story so far – BBC News

Posted November 18th, 2013 in conspiracy, electronic mail, interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

The trial of former News of the World journalists accused of a conspiracy to hack mobile phones is now well under way at the Old Bailey.

Full story

BBC News, 16th November 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Damian Green’s digital pathfinders – speech by Damian Green

Posted November 12th, 2013 in crime prevention, internet, police, speeches, telecommunications by sally

“Speech given by Policing Minister Damian Green on Monday 11 November 2013 to the College of Policing’s digital pathfinders conference.”

Full speech

Ministry of Justice, 11th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Four admit to phone-hacking plots in Coulson and Brooks eras – The Guardian

Posted October 31st, 2013 in conspiracy, corruption, interception, media, news, telecommunications by michael

“Three former news editors from the News of the World have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hack mobile phones during a six-year period when Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson were editing the Sunday title, it was disclosed in court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 31st October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

SFO could snoop on communications to uncover evidence of corruption, says director – OUT-LAW.com

“The director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has warned that the agency may use powers of surveillance to uncover evidence of corruption within corporates.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Phone-hacking: trial of Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks to begin – The Guardian

“The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and others linked with alleged phone-hacking at the now-defunct News of the World will begin on Monday at the Old Bailey, kicking off what is likely to be one of the longest criminal trials in recent memory.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sender of unlawful spam messages successfully appeals against ICO’s £300,000 fine – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 28th, 2013 in advertising, appeals, fines, news, ombudsmen, privacy, telecommunications by sally

“A sender of unlawful spam text messages has successfully appealed against a watchdog’s decision to fine him £300,000 over the activity after an Information Rights Tribunal ruled that insufficient damage or distress had been caused to recipients to merit the penalty being imposed.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 25th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Ofcom to launch unprecedented review of mobile phone speeds as shock figures reveal 3G “non-spots” – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 25th, 2013 in news, ombudsmen, reports, telecommunications by sally

Britain’s mobile phone operators could be forced by Government to invest more in next generation services after ‘shocking’ figures showed thousands of miles of roads have no 3G coverage at all.

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Advances in open justice in England and Wales – Speech by the Master of the Rolls

“Master of the Rolls speech: Hong Kong lecture – 18 October 2013.”

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Penalties, PECR and PPI – Panopticon

Posted October 22nd, 2013 in appeals, data protection, EC law, insurance, news, penalties, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

“Niebel v Information Commissioner is the first Tribunal decision about penalties under the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (‘PECR’). Mr.Niebel successfully appealed against a penalty of £300,000.”

Full story

Panopticon, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

High Court bans TVCatchup from streaming broadcasters’ content over mobile networks – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 16th, 2013 in copyright, EC law, internet, interpretation, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Three UK broadcasters have won the right to prevent an online streaming service provider from retransmitting the TV programmes they show to users of mobile devices via any ‘mobile telephony network’.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th October 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

GCHQ accused of monitoring privileged emails between lawyers and clients – The Guardian

“GCHQ is probably intercepting legally privileged communications between lawyers and their clients, according to a detailed claim filed on behalf of eight Libyans involved in politically sensitive compensation battles with the UK.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Katie Price settles phone-hacking claim – BBC News

Posted October 10th, 2013 in damages, interception, media, news, telecommunications by sally

“Model and TV personality Katie Price has received undisclosed damages over phone hacking, the High Court has heard.”

Full story

BBC News, 9th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Michael Moss killing: Ex-partner Collette Booth arranged attack – BBC News

Posted October 9th, 2013 in assault, evidence, homicide, news, sentencing, telecommunications, video recordings by sally

“A woman who arranged for two men to attack her former partner has been jailed for manslaughter.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK’s surveillance laws need overhaul, says former defence secretary – The Guardian

“Laws used by Britain’s spy agencies to justify mass surveillance and interception techniques must be reviewed to ensure they have kept pace with ‘incredible changes’ in communications, one of the country’s foremost intelligence experts has said.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th September 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PC Jordan Powell jailed for sex text message misconduct – BBC News

Posted September 17th, 2013 in disciplinary procedures, news, police, telecommunications, victims by sally

“A West Mercia police officer who sent sexual text messages to female victims of crime has been jailed for 15 months.”

Full story

BBC News, 16th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Direct marketing via email to consumers requires ‘extremely clear and specific’ consent, says ICO – OUT-LAW.com

“Organisations need to obtain ‘extremely clear and specific’ consent from individuals in order to conduct direct marketing via email to them or through any other form of electronic marketing message, according to new guidelines.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 10th September 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Judge refuses to allow husband and wife to rekindle their marriage – Daily Telegraph

“A judge has refused to allow husband and wife to rekindle their marriage despite them both pleading for a restraining order to be lifted, saying they must first prove they can get on over the phone.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

M62 crash deaths caused by lorry driver as he read text – BBC News

“A man who killed a couple when his lorry toppled on to their car as he read a text message has been jailed.”

Full story

BBC News, 29th August 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk