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FCA consultation on British Steel redress scheme published
The FCA has now published its consultation paper on the proposed redress scheme for British Steel Pension transfers under s.404 of FSMA. The scope of this is wider than anticipated and the proposals contain some surprises around the lack of an opt-in process and potential involvement of FOS.
Read moreSIPPs and FOS - does the Rowanmoor decision change anything?
Last week FOS published a decision it reached last year in a complaint against a SIPP provider involving advised sales. The FOS upheld the complaint, finding that the SIPP provider should have rejected business from the regulated financial adviser, CIB Life and Pensions Limited (CIB), given, broadly, red flags available to the SIPP provider with respect to the operation of CIB's business model including that CIB was not advising on the ultimate investment within the SIPP and as a result such introductions involved a significant risk of consumer detriment. The decision has received quite a bit of press attention - but has it moved the dial for SIPP complaints before FOS or not?
Read moreThe Future of Insolvency Regulation
On 21 December 2021 the Government launched a consultation into the future of insolvency regulation. The changes proposed in the consultation document will have a wide ranging impact on the insolvency profession (and its insurers) with the proposals including: the direct regulation of insolvency firms, the introduction of a single regulatory body with powers to order compensation against insolvency practitioners and firms, a new additional requirements regime, changes to the bond regime and a public register of insolvency practitioners and firms. Many of the changes proposed require primary legislation and so it may be some time before the changes to take effect (if adopted). But there does appear to be some wind behind these proposals given they follow on from the Call for Evidence in 2019 and a more general focus on insolvency issues in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read morePhilip Warren & Son v Lidl – No case of mi-steak-en identity
The High Court has dismissed a passing off claim brought by Philip Warren & Son Limited (PWS) against well-known supermarket, Lidl. The decision ultimately turned on the fact that PWS presented "insufficient evidence of a significant level of operative misrepresentation to any category of PWS' customers".
Read moreThe EU's Green Claims Directive
The EU's proposed Green Claims Directive (GCD) sets out expansive new rules for companies making green claims in the EU.
Read moreConsumer friendly compliance – guidance for retailers and consumer brands on the DMCC Bill
Following receipt of some 372 responses to the "Smarter Regulation: Improving consumer price transparency and product information for consumers" Consultation, the government has published its response in which it proposes significant amends to the Price Marking Order alongside new additions to the DMCC Bill.
Read moreHigher stakes cybercrime – prepare now
Cybercrime continues to increase and shows no signs of stopping.
Read moreFood and beverage 2050: The transition to net zero
Following publication in October 2023 of its final Disclosure Framework for private sector entities to transition to a net zero economy, the TPT published draft Food & Beverage Sector Guidance in November 2023.
Read moreVirtual advertising: a glimpse into the future
Virtual advertising and experiences are transforming the way real world property can be used by turning it into a canvas for digital content.
Read moreThe rise of recommerce
Recommerce (which includes reselling, renting, refilling, repairing or reusing goods) is already an extremely valuable business model, estimated by Barclays to be worth almost £7bn in the UK alone and expected by Visa to increase to £82bn by 2030. This growth – particularly in respect of resale – is widely regarded as being driven by Gen Z consumers, over two thirds of whom now prefer to buy second-hand over new goods, in part, due to sustainability concerns.
Read moreGreen claims: key takeaways from the CMA's first investigation
After much anticipation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has finally published the results of its investigation into green claims made by ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda. All three retailers have signed undertakings committing to change the way they promote their green credentials and to set up robust internal processes to ensure future green claims are not misleading.
Read moreProgress on sustainability in fashion: the move to circularity
According to the WRAP report, it is estimated that the fashion and textiles sector accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and uses 93 billion cubic meters of water each year.
Read moreWhat if the CEO asks me about… preparing for new sustainability reporting requirements?
There is an increasingly complex web of sustainability reporting requirements for companies across the world (either in force or in the pipeline). The ISSB standards seek to set a global baseline for sustainability reporting to ensure consistency and comparability of companies' disclosures. With UK implementation of the standards expected next year, retailers and consumer brands should take steps now to prepare. We outline the current plans for sustainability reporting under the ISSB standards in the UK and flag practical steps that businesses should take to prepare.
Read moreTimely reminder of risks in cloud contracts
Over the last decade, cloud solutions have become popular tools to facilitate the digital transformation of businesses, and the retail sector is no exception in its uptake of cloud services.
Read moreIs TikTok the key to the bricks-and-mortar retail revival?
Against the backdrop of sustainably-minded shoppers and cost-conscious consumerism, one of the key focuses for the retail sector in 2023 was (and still remains) the 'revival' of the UK high street.
Read moreWhat is driving the fashion retail insolvencies spike?
What is driving the fashion retail insolvencies spike?
Read moreTHE RISE OF THE DE-INFLUENCER: What does this mean for brands?
Over the past decade, advertisers have increasingly capitalised on the 'influence' of influencers to help shape and create consumer demand for their products and services. In turn, influencers are able to monetise their social media content and connections with brands, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.
Read moreEU set to tackle greenwashing with Green Claims Directive
On the 22 March 2023, the European Commission published its proposal for a new 'Green Claims Directive' setting out standardised rules for the assessment, substantiation and communication of green claims.
Read moreLuxury today - go green or go home?
"Sustainability" is the new buzzword in marketing.
Read moreA bolstering of the consumer protection regime and some sharper teeth for the CMA – a first look at the new UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
It's been a little over a year in the making, and it's been one of the most hotly anticipated legislative updates since it was first announced in April 2022, but the first draft of the UK's catchily titled Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, is finally here.
Read moreGoing Green - Draft Sustainability Guidance from the CMA
Following its public consultation, the CMA has published its advice to government on how competition and consumer laws can help meet the UK's environmental goals.
Read moreNew virtual insurer for Hong Kong
This month saw the award of a further virtual insurer licence in Hong Kong – this time for OneDegree (on 15 April 2020). The start-up will focus, initially, on the burgeoning Hong Kong pet insurance market, before a proposed expansion into health and cyber risk.
Read moreICO fines online travel insurer £175,000 for failing to keep customers’ personal information secure
The Information Commissioners Office (the “ICO”) has fined Staysure.co.uk Limited (“Staysure”), an online travel insurance company, £175,000 for its failure to comply with the seventh data protection principle, after IT security failings allowed hackers to access up to 100,000 customer financial records.
Read moreThe El Niño year and impact on subsidence claims
Insurers should be bracing for a wave of subsidence claims arising from the increasingly warm weather. The UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has declared that an El Niño climate event is in progress, which helps explain why June 2023 was the hottest on record in the UK.
Read moreHow will the "Genny lec" impact the world of cyber and tech?
On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stood in the pouring rain to announce a General Election, thus commencing a summer of political and meteorological uncertainty for those in the UK.
Read moreDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act becomes law
Following the announcement of a date for the general election, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) rapidly sped through the final stages of parliamentary processes to become law on 24 May 2024
Read moreFines for PDPA Breaches: How Clear is the Crystal Ball?
The Singapore Personal Data Protection Commission ("PDPC") has recently issued a number of new enforcement decisions.
Read moreCriminal Liability for Senior Managers under the Online Safety Act
Under the Online Safety Act (OSA), senior managers of in-scope services could be held personally liable in certain circumstances for the company's non-compliance with obligations within the legislation.
Read moreTelecoms supply agreement excludes "loss of profit" claim under "anticipated profits" liability exclusion (EE v Virgin Mobile)
In line with a number of recent cases, in EE Limited v Virgin Mobile Telecoms Limited [2023] EWHC 1989 (TCC) the courts have shown that parties generally cannot avoid clear wording contained in exclusion clauses in order to recover losses that have been expressly excluded (in this case, loss of profits).
Read moreRolls-Royce entitled to hit the brakes in dispute over termination of a software services agreement (Topalsson v Rolls-Royce)
In Topalsson GmbH v Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited [2023] EWHC 1765 (TCC), the High Court has provided useful guidance on how to determine whether a software implementation timeline agreed by the parties is binding, when implementation is considered complete and in what circumstances failing to complete implementation by the contractual deadlines entitles the customer to terminate the contract.
Read moreA narrow escape – software services provider entitled to rely on single aggregate liability cap (Drax v Wipro)
When it comes to bespoke software development projects, a lot can go wrong. There's risk for the customer such as project delays, software defects, functionality issues and a lack of meeting of minds in terms of project requirements.
Read moreLegislation Empowering the CMA's Digital Markets Unit Introduced into Parliament
The long-anticipated Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the Bill) has now begun its parliamentary journey following its introduction on 25 April 2023. Described as a "flagship bill" by the CEO of the Competition and Markets Authority (the CMA), the Bill not only introduces major landscape reforms to the UK's consumer protection regime and significant enhancements to the CMA's competition law powers, it also ushers in a new regime for digital markets. The Bill has the potential to be a "watershed moment" in how UK digital markets are regulated.
Read moreHong Kong's enhanced e-reporting system for internet fraud
On 19 September 2022, the Hong Kong Police Force announced its upgraded e-reporting system for internet crimes and frauds, which aims to improve the processing and analysing of cyber crimes.
Read moreEuropean Parliament formally adopts Digital Services Act
Following provision political agreement by the Council and the European Parliament in April 2022, on 5 July 2022 the European Parliament formally adopted the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA has yet to be adopted by the Council.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - January 2022
Welcome to the January edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - October 2021
Welcome to the October edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - September 2021
Welcome to the September edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - August 2021
Welcome to the August edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - July 2021
Welcome to the July edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - June 2021
Welcome to the June edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief - May 2021
Welcome to the May edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief April 2021
Welcome to the April edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief – March 2021
Welcome to the latest edition from RPC of Insurtech in brief, providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreCommercial Court cracks down on crypto-fraudsters (if it can find them)
In the first initial coin offering 'ICO' fraud case before the Commercial Court, Ion Science Limited & Duncan Johns v Persons Unknown & Ors, the court granted permission to serve disclosure orders on two cryptocurrency exchanges through which the claimants' stolen bitcoin had been traced, granted a world-wide freezing order against persons unknown, and gave ground-breaking guidance on the lex situs of crypto-assets.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief – January 2021
Welcome to the latest edition from RPC Insurtech in brief providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreRPC Insurtech in brief – December 2020
Welcome to the latest edition from RPC Insurtech in brief providing you with a handful of snappy monthly updates from the industry.
Read moreMajor overhaul of UK telecoms regulation to go ahead by the end of December 2020
The UK still pushing ahead with implementing wide ranging European regulatory changes, but obligations for many "over the top" providers are likely to be postponed.
Read moreCK Hutchison wins in the ECJ – better late than never?
CK Hutchison wins its appeal against the EC's decision to block Three UK’s 2016 merger with O2.
Read moreFuture Fund
The Chancellor has announced the launch of a £500m co-investment fund for start-ups adversely impacted by the coronavirus. The 'Future Fund' operates through the government matching private sector money with state-backed loans that can convert into equity stakes in the start-up.
Read moreLoot Boxes: what's in the box?
On 12 September 2019 the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) released its report into what it calls "immersive and addictive technologies".
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