IPO sticks to four-step software patent test – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 19th, 2008 in computer programs, news, patents by sally

“The UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) will still use a previously formulated test on software patents despite a court ruling which many took to be critical of its approach.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com,  18th December 2008

Source: www.out-law.com

Ice-pick attack stalker is jailed – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2008 in grievous bodily harm, harassment, news, sentencing by sally

“A stalker who attacked a woman with an ice pick because he thought she was a witch has been jailed.”

Full story 

BBC News, 18th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Woman loses post office legal bid – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2008 in disability discrimination, news, postal service by sally

“A pensioner who went to the High Court claiming government moves to close post offices discriminated against disabled people has lost her fight.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Theme park fined £250,000 over ride death – The Independent

Posted December 19th, 2008 in fines, health & safety, news by sally

“The distraught family of the teenager who fell to her death from a white-knuckle ride condemned a £250,000 fine for the company running the theme park today as ‘far too little’.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th December 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pc jailed over blackmail attempts – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2008 in blackmail, news, police by sally

“A former Metropolitan Police officer has been sentenced to six years in prison for blackmailing 11 sex offenders and suspected criminals.”

Full story 

BBC News, 18th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Forced wedding GP seeks annulment – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2008 in forced marriages, news by sally

“An NHS doctor who claimed she was forced into a marriage in Bangladesh is seeking an annulment to the union in the British courts.”

Full story

BBC News, 19th December 2008

Source:  www.bbc.co.uk

Bill will let councils close lap dancing clubs near schools – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2008 in licensing, news, sex establishments by sally

“Lap dancing clubs may be closed if they are located too near ‘inappropriate’ sites such as schools, under transitional powers contained in the policing and crime bill published yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2008

source: www.guardian.co.uk

What terror jury was not told: ‘They tore my nails out. Then I was interrogated by MI5’ – The Guardian

Posted December 19th, 2008 in intelligence services, news, terrorism, torture by sally

“Lawyers representing a man convicted of terrorism offences yesterday are to launch an appeal and embark on a civil action on his behalf alleging that he was tortured by Pakistani intelligence agents before being questioned by officials from the British security service, MI5.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th December 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British Muslim, Rangzieb Ahmed, convicted of being al-Qaeda mastermind in landmark trial – The Times

Posted December 19th, 2008 in news, terrorism by sally

“A British Muslim described by police as an al-Qaeda mastermind who considered mass murder to be part of his duty became the first person to be convicted of the charge of directing terrorism yesterday.”

Full story

The Times, 19th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Babysitter jailed for murdering toddler is cleared after retrial – The Times

Posted December 19th, 2008 in child abuse, murder, news, retrials by sally

“A babysitter was cleared yesterday of murdering a two-year-old boy, marking the end of a long campaign to clear her name.”

Full story 

The Times, 19th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Church murder teenagers jailed – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2008 in murder, news, sentencing, young offenders by sally

“Two teenage boys have been jailed for life for the unprovoked murder of a 44-year-old father in a churchyard attack.”

Full story 

BBC News, 18th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police shamed into apology after Robert Napper admits killing Rachel Nickell – The Times

Posted December 18th, 2008 in murder, news, police by sally

“The Metropolitan Police have issued an humiliating public apology to the man wrongly accused of murdering Rachel Nickell, after a convicted rapist admitted killing her in a frenzied knife attack on Wimbledon Common 16 years ago.”

Full story

The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Medic found guilty of misconduct – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2008 in doctors, news, professional conduct by sally

“A Derbyshire GP who made a ‘devastating error of judgement’ over a child who died of meningitis can carry on practising, a panel has ruled.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

BBC fined over contest deceptions – BBC News

Posted December 18th, 2008 in media, news by sally

“The BBC has been fined £95,000 by media watchdog Ofcom for broadcasting 13 quizzes which listeners could not win.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th December 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

T-Mobile (UK) Ltd and Another v Office of Communications – Times Law Reports

Posted December 18th, 2008 in competition, judiciary, law reports, telecommunications, tribunals by sally

T-Mobile (UK) Ltd and Another v Office of Communications

Court of Appeal

“An appeal from a decision of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) concerning the award of wireless telegraphy licences lay by way of judicial review and not to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.”

The Times, 18th December 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Recent Statutory Instruments – OPSI

Posted December 18th, 2008 in legislation by sally

The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (2006 International Tropical Timber Agreement) Order 2008

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2008

The Medical Profession (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008

The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Social Welfare and Other Fields) Order 2008

The International Criminal Court (Remand Time) Order 2008

The Civil Aviation (Overseas Territories) (Gibraltar) (Revocations) (No. 2) Order 2008

The Air Navigation (Guernsey) (Revocation) Order 2008

The Inspectors of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (No. 5) Order 2008

The Parliamentary Commissioner Order 2008

The European Communities (Designation) (No. 4) Order 2008

The Civil Aviation (Overseas Territories) (Gibraltar) (Revocations) Order 2008

The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Cayman Islands (Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2008

The Transfer of Functions (Administration of Rent Officer Service in England) Order 2008

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Revisions to Code A) (No. 2) Order 2008

The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (St. Helens) Designation Order 2008

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Commencement No.6, Transitory and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

BAILII: Recent Decisions

Posted December 18th, 2008 in law reports by sally

High Court (Commercial Court)

Markel International Insurance Company Ltd v Surety Guarantee Consultants Ltd & Ors [2008] EWHC 3087 (Comm) (17 December 2008)

High Court (Administrative Court)

Shields, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Justice [2008] EWHC 3102 (Admin) (17 December 2008)

High Court (Chancery Division)

Fanmailuk.com Ltd & Anor v Cooper & Ors [2008] EWHC 3131 (Ch) (17 December 2008)

High Court (Technology and Construction Court)

J Murphy & Sons Ltd v Johnston Precast Ltd (Formerly Johnston Pipes Ltd) [No 2 Costs] [2008] EWHC 3104 (TCC) (16 December 2008)

High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)

Parker & Anor v SJ Berwin & Co & Anor [2008] EWHC 3017 (QB) (17 December 2008)

Mardas v New York Times Company & Anor [2008] EWHC 3135 (QB) (17 December 2008)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

Calvert v William Hill Credit Ltd – WLR Daily

Posted December 18th, 2008 in duty of care, gambling, law reports, negligence by sally

Calvert v William Hill Credit Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 1427; [2008] WLR (D) 393

A pathological gambler was not entitled to damages for negligence from a telephone bookmaker which had failed to implement an agreement to prevent him from placing telephone bets. The duty of care undertaken by the bookmaker was to prevent the claimant placing telephone bets with them, not to prevent him gambling altogether. The court could not ignore the fact that the claimant would probably have placed ruinous bets with other bookmakers had he been prevented from gambling with the defendant.”

WLR Daily, 17th December 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Burns v HM Advocate – WLR Daily

Posted December 18th, 2008 in criminal procedure, delay, human rights, law reports, Scotland by sally

Burns v HM Advocate [2008] UKPC 63; [2008] WLR (D) 392

Where a defendant, who was resident in Scotland, was interviewed in England by police officers who told him that there was sufficient evidence on which to charge him with offences relating to child pornography and that they would recommend such a course, the reasonable time requirement to which he was entitled under art 6(1) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as scheduled to the Human Rights Act 1998, was to be calculated from the date of that interview and not from the later date on which the Lord Advocate, as the competent authority in Scotland, required the defendant to answer charges on which he was indicted to stand trial in Scotland.”

WLR Daily, 17th December 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Local Transport Act 2008

Posted December 18th, 2008 in legislation, transport by sally

Local Transport Act 2008 published

Full text of Act

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk