Each year we ask leading experts in IT law and the application of IT to legal practice to give us their predictions for the year and years ahead. Here is a preview of the predictions that will be published in December, drawn from some early responses….
Contact! The ECJ Sets E-commerce Obligations
Dr Julia Hörnle reviews a new case before the ECJ which clarifies the obligations of e-commerce service providers to provide effective means of communication….
Read More… from Contact! The ECJ Sets E-commerce Obligations
Updated: Patenting Computer Programs – the Symbian Effect!
Mark Daniels and Nick McDonald examine the latest judgment from the Court of Appeal on computer patents and its wider implications. A version of their article was first published here on 21 October. This version includes an update to reflect the change of stance of the EPO….
Read More… from Updated: Patenting Computer Programs – the Symbian Effect!
Countdown to .tel Registration
The sunrise period for .tel registration begins on 3 December…
Outsourcing to Gain Control
Richard Barker understands the problems partners in law firms face with expanding IT requirements. He believes that it is time for more solicitors to consider gaining increased control of their technology. Paradoxically, he believes that this is best achieved by passing day-to-day control to experts outside their firm….
October / November 2008 Online Course
The CPD questions relating to the October/November 2008 issue of Computers & Law (Online course code HW/SFCL40 – 1 hour)…
Editorial
I am very much aware that the Internet is plagued with copyright protection problems. Two articles in this issue are concerned with those problems so I could hardly be ignorant of the problems. But it was a bit of a surprise nevertheless to discover recently that SCL itself is plagued with those problems. We operate…
Terminating the PA Consulting Contract
Andrew Rigby looks at the likely legal issues surrounding the Government’s decision to terminate its contract with PA Consulting for breach of data security provisions in its contract….
P2P File-sharing: SCL Response to the BERR
SCL’s Internet Interest Group has framed a striking response to the BERR Consultation on legislative options to address illicit file-sharing. The response expresses particular concern about the danger of smaller ISPs opting out of any voluntary solution and questions the underlying assumption that the current regime does not work or is too expensive….
Data Retention Directive: SCL Response on Transposition
A document which is highly critical in crucial respects has been adopted by SCL as its response to the Home Office Consultation on transposition of the Data Retention Directive. The response, drafted by the SCL Privacy and Data Protection Interest Group, points out a number of failures and inadequacies in the draft regulations….
Read More… from Data Retention Directive: SCL Response on Transposition