Corporate & Commercial

It is not uncommon for businesses to spend substantial sums on marketing, but there are dangers involved in using a marketing campaign which aggressively targets a competitor by reference to its trade marks. Businesses should be aware that the Courts will not allow them to “ride on the coat tails” of others or build unfairly […]

The change in the law on “Cookies” “Cookies” allow a website to recognise a user’s device (i.e. PC, tablet, laptop or phone), applying user preferences and working in the background to enhance usability. This generally involves the website storing personal information about the user. Regulation 6(2) of the revised Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) […]

The NBA has found itself a new fairytale in the form of Jeremy Lin, a 6ft 3in point guard who is a decedent of the lesser known basketballing nation of Taiwan. In a matter of weeks Lin went from a basketball player twice cut by other NBA teams, sleeping on his brother’s sofa, to achieving […]

The Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker has claimed that certain dance moves in the music video for Beyoncé’s new single ‘Countdown’ are “pure plagiarism”. Beyoncé has acknowledged that sequences in the ‘Countdown’ video were inspired by De Keersmaeker’s ballet company Rosas Danst Rosas, amongst other influences such as Andy Warhol and the Audrey Hepburn film […]

On 12 September 2011 the EU Council adopted a Directive which modifies Directive 2006/116/EC ‘on the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights’ and extends copyright protection for performers and phonogram producers on music recordings from 50 to 70 years. This new Directive, dubbed ‘Cliff’s Law’ (after Sir Cliff Richard, who has been […]

In light of the recent spate of riots that have swept across London and other major cities, many home and business owners will be looking to be compensated for the damage that has been caused to their properties and businesses. Whilst many will expect their insurance to cover the cost of repairing the damage, most […]

Most businesses are already aware that it is necessary to obtain a PRS (Performing Right Society) for Music licence for the purposes of playing recorded music in business premises. However, it is less well known that it is also necessary to obtain a PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) licence for these purposes. The reason the above two separate […]

From 1 March 2011 all marketing communications on businesses’ own websites and in other non-paid-for web spaces under their control (e.g. Twitter and Facebook) will have to comply with the Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing rules as set out in the Committee of Advertising Practice (“CAP”) Code. These rules focus particularly on misleading advertising, […]