Hi, here is your weekly round-up of highlights from Out-Law News. As always, there are plenty of other stories from this week. You can also access our archive of weekly emails. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) should apply copyright protection to the functions of computer programs, a software company has told it, according to media reports. The European Commission will not sign a controversial new trade agreement on behalf of EU member countries this weekend, despite Japan organising a signing ceremony for key negotiators, a spokesperson for the European Commission has told Out-Law.com. A privacy campaigner hopes the Government will close a "clear gap" in UK privacy laws after failing in his bid to have his case to overhaul media behaviour heard by Europe's top human rights court. Electronic Arts (EA) is asking US customers to agree to a new user contract that restricts their rights of redress. University workers must release information from personal webmail accounts on request if it is related to public business, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has said. Companies should be vigilant about employees using their equipment to sell counterfeit goods or doing so on work premises, according to a guide published by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Shareholders should be actively involved in deciding how much board directors are paid and should "strongly resist" bonus payments when a company does not perform well, the latest edition of influential guidelines has said. European Commission plans to allow courts to freeze business assets in UK bank accounts deal a "severe blow" to UK insolvency laws, a trade body has said. The UK is yet to decide whether or not to opt in to the proposals. An arbitrator is not likely to be biased by the mere fact that he is working for one of the parties on an unrelated case, a judge has said. The European Commission is investigating whether members of a banking standards body are unlawfully restricting other institutions from using an online payment process they developed. OPINION: There is still a lack of clarity about exactly how the Government's new schools-building programme is going to work, but details are beginning to emerge and they show that achieving improved value for money will be a major focus. A new pan-European contract law will not cover insurance and financial services contracts, Out-Law.com can reveal. A European Commission spokesman said that the full proposal for the new law will be published in the middle of October. Out-Law.com, a website with more than 10,000 pages of free legal news and guidance. If and when you need further advice, we hope you'll choose Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com.This week's news on Out-Law.com
TMT & Sourcing and IP
Copyright protection should apply to functions of computer programs, software company claims in ECJ case
29/09/2011EU will not join countries in signing ACTA this weekend
28/09/2011Mosley loses bid to have privacy case heard by Europe's top human rights court
28/09/2011Software giant's terms of service restricts users' redress rights
28/09/2011ICO publishes guide to university research disclosure
27/09/2011Companies should be vigilant about on-premises sales of fakes, says IPO
26/09/2011Corporate
ABI guidance outlines investor concerns about the size of directors' pay packets
28/09/2011Banking & Restructuring
Insolvency body says EU asset freeze plans will undermine debt recovery
28/09/2011Litigation & International Arbitration
Arbitrator's work with lawyers on separate case will not make him biased, rules High Court
28/09/2011EU & Competition
EU Commission will investigate banks over e-payments competition fears
27/09/2011Projects & Construction
Detail of schools building programme reveals focus on efficiency, says expert
26/09/2011Insurance
Pan-EU contract law will not cover insurance or financial services, says Commission
26/09/2011
Friday, 30 September 2011
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