Britannia Radio

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 This week's highlights from Out-Law News TMT & Sourcing and Intellectual Property ACTA rejected by European Parliament European Union countries will not sign up to a controversial international anti-piracy treaty after members of the the European Parliament (MEPs) voted overwhelmingly against approving it. 05/07/2012 Government must change copyright law to protect website browsing, says expert OPINION: The UK Government is considering reform of copyright laws in the wake of the Hargreaves Review. One change that it must make when reforming copyright law is to make it clear that the act of web browsing does not require permission from copyright holders. 05/07/2012 Orphan work usage will have to be paid for under new copyright law, Government says Businesses and public bodies that want to make use of so-called 'orphan' works will have to pay to do so under new plans unveiled by the Government. 04/07/2012 London unitary patent court seat for life science disputes is confirmed A new unitary patent court (UPC) will be based in London after agreement was reached between EU leaders to divide responsibility for overseeing unitary patent disputes under the proposed new system of protection. 02/07/2012 'Anti-competitive' allegations are no defence against trade mark infringement claim, rules Supreme Court Whether or not Sun Microsystems interfered with the free movement of goods within the European Economic Area (EEA) or distorted competition in the EEA market is not relevant to its claim against a rival for trade mark infringement, the Supreme Court has ruled. 29/07/2012 Information about individuals' communications can be passed on to foreign law enforcers, Home Office minister says Foreign prosecutors, courts and other international authorities can be given access to 'communications data' relating to individuals in the UK, a Government minister has said. 04/07/2012 Infrastructure Monthly construction figures show biggest fall in activity in two and a half years Business activity in the construction sector has contracted at its fastest rate for two and half years, according to a survey of purchasing managers at over 170 construction companies. 05/07/2012 Government encourages banks to underwrite private sector investment risk in exchange for guarantees Government plans to kick-start the economy through infrastructure investment will see banks encouraged to take on a larger share of the construction risk on new projects, according to press reports. 02/07/20 Pensions Proposed merger of London local government pension funds needs careful consideration, expert warns A proposal to combine 34 London local authority pension schemes into one £25 billion 'super fund' will need "careful consideration" before any positive action can be taken, a pensions law expert has warned. 05/07/2012 Energy Status of an oil well should be decided with reference to the original purpose for which is was drilled, court says The "predominant purpose" for which an oil well was originally drilled should be the most important consideration when deciding what type of activity it is used for and therefore what legal obligations apply, the High Court has ruled. 04/07/2012 Financial services Auto-enrolment standards work urgently needs to start, expert warns The development of technical standards to information sharing between those involved in the auto-enrolment of staff in pension schemes needs to start urgently, an expert has warned. 04/07/2012 Property Proposed telecoms site land reform would give landowners too many rights, says expert OPINION: Proposed changes to the law governing telecoms companies' use and access to land give landowners too many rights and could cause problems for telecoms operators and the industry in the future. 02/07/2012 Pinsent Masons: combining the experience, resources and international reach of McGrigors and Pinsent Masons