Corporate & Commercial

After a lengthy battle with the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (FGCO) regarding Facebook’s data protection policies, the Berlin Regional Court (BRC) has found that Facebook’s use of its users’ data was illegal. Facebook had failed to obtain consent to use personal data for their advertising purposes, according to the BRC. The social media giant’s failure to […]

I first heard about a company called Cambridge Analytica in January 2017. Having an interest in data protection matters due to the nature of my work, I was actually fascinated by a company that claimed it could assist political campaigns to produce highly precise targeted Facebook ads and that their services were employed by both […]

When a sole director/shareholder dies, his or her shares automatically pass to their personal representatives (PR’s). These are the Executors (if there is a valid Will), or the Administrators of his or her Estate (if the shareholder dies intestate), under section 773 of the Companies Act 2006. This makes the PR (or whomever they elect […]

Data is increasingly becoming the most valuable commodity for businesses and as such, one of the most protected. Considering the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an update to the Data Protection Act which first came into force in 1998, when one gigabyte of data cost one thousand times what it does today, the new […]

Intellectual property owners have always had to tread carefully when it comes to enforcing their rights.  Until recently, part of the law known as the unjustified threats provisions meant that it was possible for someone on the receiving end of threatened proceedings for patent, design right or trade mark infringement to issue their own proceedings […]

The recent seizing of 300 boxes of Weetabix by New Zealand customs officials has highlighted the importance of brand protection and ensuring that your brand is protected in all territories in which you trade. The boxes of Weetabix were imported by a specialist shop in Christchurch which carved out a niche for itself by selling […]

Computer games have historically been considered the preserve of children and students with too much time on their hands. However, as those children and students have grown up and become adults, a lot of them have retained their love of computer games and it has become a more mainstream and acceptable hobby. As often happens […]

What is the PSC register? Since 6 April 2016, all UK companies and limited liability partnerships (LLP’s) have been required to keep a register of any ‘persons with significant control’ (PSC) of the company or LLP. Current requirements PSC information must be delivered to Companies House: upon the incorporation of a company; and each year […]

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was approved and adopted by the EU Parliament in April 2016. The regulation will take effect after a two-year transition period and come into force on 25 May 2018. The impact of these changes and identifying potential compliance issues under the GDPR will be a challenge for many organisations. […]

Music has been big business for a long time. The rewards for artists and their record companies, as everyone knows, can be immense. Not surprisingly, this means that the rights which make money from the music at the heart of it all are jealously guarded. The most recent example to reach the news has been […]

Family, friends and other investors can often play a vital role in building a successful company, bringing money, experience and contacts to the table, often in exchange for shares in the company. During the honeymoon period shareholders often forget, or do not recognise, the importance of formalising their relationship and how it is to be […]

Have you managed by some miracle to avoid the furore which surrounds the Bake Off, or The Great British Bake Off as it is properly entitled? News of its sale to Channel 4 has reached unprecedented levels of media coverage this week. An eye watering £75m was paid for a three-year deal for the show. […]