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Online Safety Bill: Latest amendments increase focus on children safety
What is the focus of the latest round of amendments proposed to the Online Safety Bill and how will these impact online platforms?
Read moreSnapshots Winter 2022
A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.
Read moreGovernment to cover negligence claims against GPs
Government to cover negligence claims against GPs
Read moreHow to comply with the FCA's new diversity and inclusion targets for listed companies
The FCA has finalised its new rules on diversity and inclusion on listed company boards and executive committees. The rules, which are set out in the FCA's policy paper PS22/3: Diversity and inclusion on company boards and executive management, are substantially in line with the proposals set out in the FCA's consultation paper CP 21/24. In scope listed companies are required to include a statement in their annual financial report on whether they have met specific board diversity targets on a ‘comply or explain’ basis, as at a chosen reference date within their accounting period.
Read moreBalance on the board: Eight things UK PLCs need to know about the FCA's diversity targets
The Financial Conduct Authority's proposals will mean UK listed companies need to disclose whether their boards and senior management teams meet new gender and ethnic diversity targets.
Read moreTakeover Code: What has changed?
On 5 July 2021, the most significant changes to the Takeover Code (the Code) since 2011 took effect. The changes are intended to standardise the treatment of regulatory clearances and simplify the offer timetable. An overview of the main changes is set out below.
Read moreUK Listing Review wants companies to stay at home
Recommendations will make it easier to list and fundraise on the London Stock Exchange
Read moreTime for public companies to come clean: New UK climate-related disclosures and ESG guidance
Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market will need to include a statement in their annual report confirming if they have made climate-related disclosures consistent with the recommendations of Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Companies planning to IPO, or move from AIM to the Main Market, are also affected by these new Listing Rules.
Read moreThe Times recognises RPC among Best Law Firms 2024
International law firm, RPC, has been recognised by The Times in its Best Law Firms 2024 report, an annual ranking of the top 250 law firms in England and Wales.
Read moreSilicon Valley, Signature and Credit Suisse: what do they all share(holder) in common?
In what has been termed "the biggest banking crisis since 2008", both Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank have collapsed, and Credit Suisse has been rescued. Whether more banks are to follow suit is yet to be seen.
Read moreCompulsory mediation in small claims: a quick guide for the busy lawyer
A new pilot scheme requiring parties in money claims valued at up to £10,000 to take part in a compulsory free one-hour mediation appointment, provided by HMCTS' Small Claims Mediation Service – before the claim can then proceed to Court if no settlement is reached.
Read moreA matter of interpretation – the Supreme Court look at contractual interpretation once more
In their recent Judgment in Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd (a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands) v Blacks Outdoor Retails Ltd [2023] UKSC 2 the Supreme Court adopted a commercially balanced interpretation of a lease; rejecting the overly textual approach of the Court of Appeal in favour of reading the relevant clause in the context of the lease as a whole.
Read moreYour statement or mine? Witness statements under Practice Direction 57AC
The judgment of Mr Justice Fancourt in Mackenzie v Rosenblatt Solicitors & Anor [2023] EWHC 331 (Ch) has highlighted, in no less than 36 paragraphs on the matter, the importance of ensuring compliance and understanding of Practice Direction 57AC - Trial Witness Statements in the Business and Property Courts ("PD 57AC"), when preparing witness statements.
Read moreThe collapse of FTX: lessons for many
From investors to regulators, FTX Trading Ltd (FTX) filing for bankruptcy was unexpected by all. A catalyst for litigation and regulation over the years to come, this collapse will serve as a warning, particularly to cryptocurrency insurers.
Read moreSLAPPs – a round up of the latest developments for the SRA
The last week or so has seen a burst of activity on SLAPPs, alongside criticism of the SRA. This will be of interest to lawyers and their insurers.
Read moreThe scope of a solicitor's duty to third parties in the spotlight again
The Claimant (Mr Syed Ul Haq), via his Estate, brought claims against the Defendants for damages arising out of two frauds in connection with the same property. It is central to this appeal to understand that Rees Page Solicitors never acted for the Claimant. It is indeed for that reason Rees Page Solicitors applied for summary judgment on the grounds that the Claimant had no reasonable prospects of success. After hearing the application, on 13 December 2019, Deputy Master Lloyd, granted summary judgment on the basis that as Mr Ul Haq was not a client of Rees Page Solicitors, they did not owe him a duty of care.
Read moreFCA 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 moreHealth and Safety Bulletin – March 2024
Welcome to this month's health and safety update. View the headlines below or click the pdf at the bottom of the page to read the full articles.
Read moreHealth and Safety Bulletin – August 2023
Welcome to this month's health and safety update. View the headlines below or click the pdf at the bottom of the page to read the full articles.
Read moreHealth and Safety Bulletin – November 2022
Welcome to this month's health and safety update. View the headlines below or click the pdf at the bottom of the page to read the full articles.
Read moreHealth and Safety Bulletin – February 2022
Welcome to this month's health and safety update. View the headlines below or click the pdf at the bottom of the page to read the full articles.
Read moreHealth and safety update - June 2021
Welcome to this month's health and safety update. View the headlines below or click the pdf at the bottom of the page to read the full articles.
Read moreHealth and safety update - September 2020
Welcome to this month's health and safety update. View the headlines below or click the pdf at the bottom of the page to read the full articles.
Read moreHealth and safety update December 2019
Welcome to our December 2019 health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update September 2019
Welcome to our September 2019 health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update June 2019
Welcome to our June 2019 health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update March 2019
Welcome to our March 2019 health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update December 2018
Welcome to the latest edition of our health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update September 2018
Welcome to the latest edition of our health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update June 2018
Welcome to the latest edition of our health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update March 2018
Welcome to the latest edition of our health and safety update where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety update December 2017
Welcome the the latest edition of our Health and safety update, where we look at the health and safety stories that have recently hit the headlines as well as well as the latest fines and sentences that have been handed down.
Read moreHealth and safety law update, December 2016
Welcome to the December issue of our Health & Safety law update.
Read moreHealth and Safety update, September 2016
This edition includes details of Merlin Attractions' £5 million fine following the Smiler crash in 2015 at Alton Towers, in addition to the latest case law and health & safety news.
Read moreHealth and Safety June Update
Health and safety update June 2016
Read moreNational Grid Gas plc hit with £2m fine for health and safety breach
National Grid Gas plc hit with £2m fine for health and safety breach
Read moreThe summer of discontent?
What comes to mind when you hear the word "summer"? The unbridled joy of no more school for 6 whole weeks? Buckets, spades and wind-swept beaches? Perhaps the call of a sun-soaked tropical island? For most, summer means taking some time out to recharge and switch off.
Read moreMcDonald's BIG MAC trade mark – General Court gives decision on evidence of genuine use
In a decision that, practically, provides for only a tiny loss of protection for the behemoth brand and trade mark, on 5 June 2024 the European General Court (General Court) partially revoked McDonald's BIG MAC trade mark (the EUTM) in the EU (Supermac's (Holdings) Ltd v EUIPO (Case T 58/23)).
Read moreSupreme Court dismisses Amazon's appeal in landmark decision on consumer targeting
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has dismissed Amazon's appeal against a Court of Appeal (CoA) decision, which found that the sale of branded goods on Amazon's US site, amazon.com, infringed UK and EU trade marks by virtue of the fact that UK consumers had been targeted.
Read moreBenchmarkalikes – Aldi's Taurus cloudy cider lemon leaves Thatchers Cider with a headache
In a recently dismissed claim for trade mark infringement and passing off brought by Thatchers Cider we see so called lookalike or "copycat" products continue to provide a major headache for brands. It's the latest in a line of cases showing that the answer to issues arising from supermarkets' "inspired" alternatives, increasingly is rarely found in trade mark or passing off rights.
Read moreThe status of parallel trade in the European Union and the UK
The following article is a collaboration between Jani Ihalainen of RPC and PDGB (Virginie Coursière-Pluntz and Benjamin Jacob), RPC's partner firm in France through its TerraLex network.
Read moreGinfringement: Success for M&S in the Court of Appeal in registered design spat with Aldi
M&S and Aldi's gin bottle battle over design rights has reached a conclusion (for now) as the Court of Appeal has unanimously upheld the IPEC's decision that Aldi's bottle infringed M&S' design.
Read moreClear as gin: M&S and Aldi take liquor bottle battle to the Court of Appeal
Intellectual property enthusiasts' favourite supermarket adversaries were back at loggerheads this week as M&S and Aldi appear before the Court of Appeal. The pair sought to thrash out a first instance decision handed down in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) regarding alleged infringement of M&S' registered design rights in a gin bottle.
Read moreM&S v Aldi – lookalike claims lit up by design rights
As lookalike products rise in prominence, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court's (IPEC) recent ruling that the sale and advertisement of Aldi's 'Infusionist' range of favoured gins infringed M&S's UK registered designs protecting the light-up bottles containing its 'Snow Globe' gin range (Marks and Spencer PLC v Aldi Stores Limited [2023] EWHC 178) highlights the utility of registered design rights in circumstances where other intellectual property rights (IPR) are often less able to provide protection.
Read moreLookalikes and passing off—bottle design get-up claim (Au Vodka)
Currently there's significant activity in the lookalikes space. The Au Vodka claim (Au Vodka v NE10 Vodka [2022] EWHC 2371), which focuses on bottle design 'get-up', arrived in the courts for an interim injunction hearing in September 2022. Au Vodka's application was dismissed. The judgment shows that passing off—get-up claims based on shape can be challenging to bring, particularly at the interim stage, and prompts the question of whether it's possible to bring Cofemel and copyright into the lookalikes arena.
Read moreGin-uine use? The UKIPO concludes yes, despite limited evidence and variances between the trade mark as registered and as used
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has rejected an application by Inver House Distillers for the revocation of a competitor's trade mark. The mark in question is owned by Destileras M.G., S.L and Importaciones y Exportaciones Varma, S.A (the Proprietors) and consists of a 2D image of a distinctively shaped bottle, featuring the 'Master's logo' and a lion device (the Master's Mark). The decision was reached on the basis that the Proprietors had successfully demonstrated genuine use of their mark, in the UK.
Read moreGame over for hyperlinking sites, following Nintendo's recent blocking order success
In a helpful and clear judgment from the IPEC, Nintendo has succeeded in obtaining a broad website blocking order, which includes websites that merely redirect, or link to, third party piracy websites. The decision represents an important win for Nintendo in its continuing efforts to curtail the spread of online piracy in the UK.
Read moreMcDonald's battles to protect its 'Mc'-family
McDonald's has successfully defended its 'Mc' branding, following an application by Children's Cancer Aid Limited (CCA) to register 'MCVEGAN' as a trade mark (the Application).
Read moreCounterfeiters beware: It all ends in tiers…
The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) recently published the 2020 – 2021 IP Crime and Enforcement Report (the Report). The Report highlights the current and emerging threats surrounding counterfeiting and is a collaboration between the IPO and the IP Crime Group (which is made up of enforcement agencies and industry representatives). The Report details the work carried out by these organisations, to prevent IP crime.
Read moreClutching at draws - whose moral rights are they anyway?
In what amounts to a really bad day at the office for architecture practice, Richard Reid Associates (RRA), the High Court recently refused its applications to: (1) add additional defendants to ongoing proceedings; and (2) amend its pleadings to include additional moral rights infringement and breach of contract claims. To make matters even worse, the original defendant, property developer LME, also succeeded in striking out parts of RRA's original claim. We look at the procedural lessons that can be learnt from the judgment below.
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