Information Technology

  • Data Loss - What to Do

    The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued guidance for organisations that lose personal data, having reported that it has been notified of nearly 100 such incidents to date. One of the less intuitively obvious suggestions is to think...
  • Dealing With Breach of Patent

    When you discover that a business has breached your patent, what should you do? The answer to this question has two elements. The first is based on what you can do in law and the second is based on business strategy. Firstly, before picking a fight with...
  • Dealing With Subject Access Requests

    Many businesses regard the Data Protection Act 2018 as something that merely requires a lot of form filling and the payment of fees, but there is a lot more to it than that. The purpose of the Act is to protect a person's right to privacy with regard to...
  • Direct Marketing Via E-mail - Regulations

    UK law relating to the sending of unsolicited direct marketing material by electronic means are based on the EC Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications and are modified by the General Data Protection Regulation which started to be enforced in...
  • E-Commerce Law on Disclosure - Compliance Guide

    The Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations introduced specific legislation to underpin e-commerce. If your business has an Internet presence then you need to make sure that you are not falling foul of theserules. The Regulations do not just apply...
  • Enforcing Copyright - The Basics

    Copyright is a right that exists as soon as you create the copyright material. You do not have to apply for it. There are some exceptions to copyright, but unless one of these applies, anyone else using your material without your permission is infringing...
  • Freedom of Information - What it Means in Practice

    The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 came fully into force on 1 January 2005. It has serious implications for businesses doing business with the public sector. The reason for this is that because one of the aims of the Act is to engender greater...
  • ICO 'Must Do' Data Protection Guide

      The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published a guide to protecting personal data ,' hich it describes as outlining the procedures organisations must follow to ensure data security. In the wake of a fine of £200,000 being handed...
  • IPO Guidance on Brexit

    The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published a guide on how intellectual property (IP) law is likely to be affected following Britain's withdrawal from the EU. The IPO's aim is to 'continue to protect all existing registered European Union Trade...
  • Intellectual Property: Who Owns It?

    One of the biggest sources of disputes in industries based on innovation is a difference of opinion about who owns the intellectual property (IP) created in terms of designs, software, processes and systems. This is a general guide for businesses to the...
  • Patent Searches

    Checking for existing patents in force is easy (and free) if you use the UK Intellectual Property Office's (UKIPO) patent databases which are accessible online. The new databases replace the Patents Journal and are designed to make obtaining information...
  • Patents - The Basics

    Some people may think that once you have obtained patent protection for your product, you need do nothing further to protect your rights against infringement or to claim damages from an infringer. However, in many jurisdictions, merely being the owner of a...
  • Protecting Your Design Rights

    Protecting intellectual property has always been a complex area of law, but in one specific area things may be getting clearer. The Registered Designs Regulations 2001 include several protections for inventors of designs. If you have a new design which is...
  • Registering a Trade Mark

    Your business has its own unique brand and reputation and it is vital in a competitive marketplace to ensure that these are protected from unscrupulous third parties. Some business owners do not believe there is any point in registering their trading or...
  • The Eight Data Protection Principles

    Anyone processing personal data must comply with the eight enforceable principles of good practice. Here is a checklist. Data must be: fairly and lawfully processed; processed for limited purposes; adequate, relevant and not excessive; ...
  • What to do When Your IT Doesn't Work

    These days it is increasingly the case that when your IT doesn't work, neither does your business. Clearly, the best way to deal with IT problems is prevention, which means doing regular backups, proper systems maintenance, keeping anti-virus protection up...

Latest News

Nature of Confusion Considered in Pet Insurance Trade Mark Dispute
New Code Aims to Boost Music Streaming Licensing Transparency
Registering a Trade Mark is the Best Way to Protect Your Valuable Brand
Local Authority Pays the Price for Privacy and Data Protection Breaches
High Court Aids Professional Firm Targeted in Ransomware Cyberattack
Selling a Business? Warts and All Disclosure is Vital
Direct Marketing Company Pays Price for Relaxed Approach to Personal Data
Creators of John Lewis Dragon Advert Cleared of 'Copying' Allegation
Seen One Television Drama? You've Seen Them All - Copyright Ruling
New UK Version of GDPR Progressing Through Parliament
Fast Fashion Retailer's Founder Sees Off 'You Stole My Idea' Allegation
Design Rights - Supermarkets Battle Over 'Strikingly' Similar Gin Bottles
Passing Off - Injunction Refused in Battle Between Premium Vodka Brands
High Court Aids Company Facing $6.8 Million Ransomware Demand
The Sticky Story of Paddington Bear and the Royalty Distribution Litigation
Rock Band's Valuable Name Forms Focus of Bitter Passing Off Dispute
Registering a Trade Mark? Are You Sure No One Else Got There First?
Red Bull Wings to Victory in High Court Trade Mark Dispute
How to Limit the Damage of Commercial Data Leaks? Consult a Solicitor
Are You the Target of a Libellous Online Review? Consult a Lawyer Today
Design Rights - Inspiration is One Thing But Deliberate Copying Quite Another
Trade Union Targeted by Social Media Campaign Awarded £50,000 Damages
Christening a New Business? It's Madness Not to Seek Professional Advice
Design Rights - Tourist Hoodies and T-Shirts Lack Novelty, High Court Rules
High Court Aids Ship Designer in 'Blatant' Breach of Confidentiality Case
Internet Piracy - Gaming Giant Nintendo Granted Websites Blocking Order
Employers are Generally Entitled to Fruits of Their Employees' Creativity
Ticket Touts Cannot Justify the Unjustifiable - Landmark Court of Appeal Ruling
Is Data Centre 'White Space' Subject to Business Rates? Question Answered
Film Studios Faced by Piracy Scourge Granted Internet Blocking Orders
AI Machines May Take Over, But Not Yet - Landmark Patents Ruling
Indirect Consumer Confusion - Bourbon Supplier Wins Trade Mark Battle
Even Modest Sole Traders Can Reap the Benefits of Trade Mark Protection
Naming a New Business? Watch Out for Others' Intellectual Property Rights
Is It Acceptable to Poke Fun at a Competitor? High Court Tackles the Issue
Website Terms and Conditions Ruled Worthless in Online Gambling Test Case
UK Internet Entrepreneur Wins £75,000 Libel Damages from Overseas Website
High Court Aids Record Industry to Stamp Out Stream Ripping
High Court Contract Dispute Focuses on Online Gambling Domain Name
Inner Workings of Online Property Platforms Analysed in Shares Sale Row
Writer's Ex-Partner Wins Recognition as Co-Author of Hollywood Screenplay
Maker of 'Shapewear' Jeans Blocks 'Rip-Off' Product from the Market
Live Boxing Events Organiser Granted 'Dynamic' Internet Blocking Order
Rightmove Fails in 'Confusingly Similar' Website Complaint
Advent of Artificial Intelligence Poses Fundamental Questions in Patents Case
Mormon Church Wrests Control of 'Confusing' Domain Name
'Average Consumer' Takes Centre Stage in Beverages Trade Mark Dispute
British Gymnastics Scores 10 Out of 10 in Trade Mark Infringement Dispute
Revolutionary Garden Hose Design Too 'Obvious' for Patent Protection
Prosecco Producers Successfully Oppose 'Nosecco' Trade Mark Registration
Unfair Advantage Being Taken of Your Trade Mark? Don't Put Up With It