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RPC Bites #25 - Dry January further boosts no/lo sales, PepsiCo and Beyond Meat join forces and Mondelez faces price fixing allegations

Published on 18 Feb 2021. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

RPC Bites #24 - Brexit hits Percy Pigs, HFSS restrictions to become law in 2022 and a reminder that despite popular belief, honey is not medicinal

Published on 27 Jan 2021. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

RPC Bites #23 - Northern Ireland Protocol breakthrough, victory for the UK organics sector and eco faux pas for Gousto

Published on 17 Dec 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

Brexit and Beyond panel discussion

Published on 11 Dec 2020.

Top tips for the food and drink sector

RPC Bites #22 - Brexit tips with 30 days to go, ASA rulings and farming subsidy reforms

Published on 03 Dec 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

Know where you stand

Published on 25 Nov 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Whether you’re just starting out or launching a new beer, there are a wealth of intellectual property issues to consider in the world of brewing. Here, Ciara Cullen and Ben Mark, outline those do’s and don’ts, the changing brewing landscape and how to thrive in 2021 and beyond.

European Parliament votes on plant-based food labels

Published on 25 Nov 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate

On 23 October 2020, the European Parliament voted on proposed amendments to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which would affect how plant-based products can be labelled in the EU.

RPC Bites #21 – burgers, Brexit and bans for online ads

Published on 20 Nov 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

CMA launches Investigation into green claims

Published on 20 Nov 2020. By Sophie Tuson, Senior Associate and Ciara Cullen, Partner

The CMA, the UK's consumer watchdog, has launched an investigation into environmental claims made by businesses to promote their products.

RPC Bites #20

Published on 06 Nov 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

Neat infringement claim leaves whiskey competitor’s trade mark on the rocks

Published on 02 Nov 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Harris, Associate

The producers of Eagle Rare bourbon whiskey have succeeded in their trade mark infringement claim against competitor, American Eagle. The case highlights the impact of market-specific context in determining whether consumers are likely to be confused by similar trade marks. Whilst the case has general relevance, it will be of specific interest to alcohol and luxury goods brands.

RPC Bites #19

Published on 20 Oct 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

RPC Bites #18

Published on 08 Oct 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!!

RPC Bites #17

Published on 24 Sep 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure.

RPC Bites #16

Published on 10 Sep 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure.

CBD products no longer ex-hemp from regulation

Published on 02 Sep 2020. By Sarah Mountain, Partner

In recent years, there has been a surge in demand for food and drink products containing cannabidiol (CBD). Popular items have ranged from oils with added CBD to CBD-infused chocolate and kombucha. With the market experiencing double digit growth year on year and a recent spike in demand during 'lockdown', UK consumers continue to demonstrate ever greater interest in CBD products. But with new regulatory requirements on the horizon, are things about to change?

RPC Bites #15

Published on 26 Aug 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure.

RPC Bites #14

Published on 07 Aug 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure.

RPC Bites #13

Published on 21 Jul 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

VAT'll do nicely – temporary VAT rate cut to boost hospitality and tourism sectors

Published on 13 Jul 2020. By Ben Roberts, Partner

Last week, as part of efforts to boost the UK economy in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chancellor announced a temporary (6 month) cut in the rate of VAT for certain supplies of hospitality, hotel and holiday accommodation, and admissions to certain attractions.

RPC Bites #12

Published on 08 Jul 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

RPC Bites #11

Published on 24 Jun 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

Beware the desire to "make hay while the sun shines" – the ASA warns marketers to "think very carefully" before making COVID-19 claims

Published on 17 Jun 2020. By Sarah Mountain, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate

There is no denying the recent popularity of health and wellness trends: As at the end of 2018, the market had an estimated global value of $4.2 trillion. During the current climate, it has understandably gathered even more traction, with consumers increasingly concerned about obtaining and maintaining healthy bodies and minds.

RPC Bites #10

Published on 10 Jun 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure.

RPC Bites #9

Published on 29 May 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Ben Mark, Partner

Welcome to RPC Bites. Our aim in the next 2 minutes is to provide you with a flavour of some key legal, regulatory and commercial developments in the Food & Drink sector over the last fortnight… with the occasional bit of industry gossip thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

The ASA bites back – Burger King 'Rebel Whopper' ads ruled to be misleading and in breach of advertising rules

Published on 07 May 2020. By Ben Mark, Partner

At the start of the year, Veganuary hit the headlines, with the British public challenged to ditch animal by-products in favour of a plant-based diet for the month of January.

Carluccio's serves up a rescue recipe

Published on 28 Apr 2020. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Olivia Whitehead, Hospitality & Events Executive

On Friday 24 April, RPC hosted a 30 minute webinar on the interaction of furloughing and insolvency law.

Food & Beverage

With experience across the food and drink supply chain, we understand the challenges you face. Partner with us to protect your interests and gain a competitive advantage.

Sports Ticker #111: New era for women's football, NFT football trading cards and Twickenham's naming rights deal – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 30 Aug 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics come to a close, Andy Murray's retirement from tennis and British Basketball's Manchester franchise acquired by a US-based investment group, we bring you updates on the "New Era" for women's football, the NFL and Sony's new partnership, and Twickenham's new naming rights deal.

Snapshots Summer 2024

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.

Sports Ticker #110: Special Edition - 2024 Summer of Sport - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which has seen Euro 2024 final heartbreak for England's men and a spectacular (but wet) opening ceremony at Paris 2024, we bring you a very special edition of the Sports Ticker: the 2024 Summer of Sport! Read on for a Ticker roundup of the biggest events this summer: Euro 2024 and the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

What in the AI is going on… April to June 2024

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

Meta launched its newest generation of its open-source LLM (large language model), Llama 3, which is the technology that powers its AI systems. The launch of Llama 3 signals a step closer to human-like AI that can reason and bestow a memory. OpenAI also discussed plans for its next AI model, GPT-5. Like Llama 3, GPT-5 will see improvements to the model’s planning and reasoning capabilities, going beyond its current capability to deal with discrete tasks. GPT-5 is expected to be released later in the year.

CMA publishes update paper on AI Foundation Models

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

What is the state of play for the market of AI Foundation Models (FM) and what issues in the market is the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) most concerned about?

EU AI Act is signed!

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

What are the core elements of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act and how does it impact the regulation of AI systems?

Online Safety Act: Ofcom consults on draft codes to protect children online

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

What must businesses do to ensure online safety for children under the latest codes of practice published by Ofcom?

UK’s Digital Regulation Co-operation Forum announces new AI and Digital Hub Pilot

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

What is the AI and Digital Hub and how can AI innovators use it?

EU designates Apple a gatekeeper for iPadOS but not for iMessage

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

Can a business avoid being designated a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) even if it satisfies the quantitative criteria under the DMA?

New EU guidelines on mitigating risks for electoral

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

What are the European Commission’s new guidelines and how do they protect the integrity of electoral processes?

Sports Ticker 109: Wimbledon esports, Euro 2024 sustainability and renaming Old Trafford – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 17 Jul 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Southgate step down as England manager after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, Alcaraz and Krejcikova win the Wimbledon's singles tournaments, and Tadej Pogačar lead the Tour de France, we bring you updates on a new Wimbledon esports tournament, Old Trafford naming rights and UEFA's sustainability goals.

How will the "Genny lec" impact the world of cyber and tech?

Published on 24 Jun 2024. By Rachel Ford, Partner and Helen Monachan, Associate

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.

Sports Ticker #108: football governance, F1 in Asia and AI marketplaces

Published on 14 Jun 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Real Madrid lift the Champions League Cup once more, a new "Ultimate Championship" athletics event announced and Charles Leclerc win on home soil for the first time in the Monaco Grand Prix, we bring you updates on the now-halted Football Governance Bill, potential Formula 1 expansion into Southeast Asia and record-breaking interest in women's sports.

RPC @ London Tech Week 2024

12 Jun 2024

We are delighted to announce that we will once again be hosting several in-person official fringe events around London Tech Week in June 2024.

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act becomes law

Published on 04 Jun 2024. By David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech and Chris Ross, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

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

Parliamentary 'wash up' – which Bills made it through?

Published on 31 May 2024. By Paul Joukador, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer and Shahil Goodka, Trainee Solicitor

On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a General Election will take place on 4 July 2024. Parliament was then prorogued on 24 May 2024 which allowed a mere 2 days for 'wash up' - the process by which outstanding bills may be rushed through the parliamentary process.

Sports Ticker #107: football sustainability, AI team selection and new F1 tech – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 22 May 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw Manchester City bag its fourth consecutive Premier League victory, Brazil announced as the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup and Will Smith purchase his own electric powerboat team, we bring you updates on sustainability in football, AI in cricket, and bees in baseball.

Sports Ticker #106: Liverpool's Adidas kit, a new athletics venture and the London Marathon – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 01 May 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

In a fortnight which saw women's Rugby League launch its world-first player-run TikTok account, Ferrari's F1 partnership with HP, and Apple reportedly on the verge of a global broadcast deal for FIFA World Cup, we bring you updates on a new athletics joint venture, Wrexham AFC, and the disqualification of all three medallists in the Beijing half marathon.

Snapshots Spring 2024

Published on 17 Apr 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and David Cran, Partner, Head of IP & Tech

A roundup of key legal developments for the modern commercial lawyer.

Sports Ticker #105: WIPO's esports partnership, MotoGP takeover and Brighton's record profits – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 10 Apr 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw the UK Football Governance Bill introduced to Parliament, TNT Sports and Discovery+ win rights to show the 2024 Autumn Nations Series and rumours of "multiple proposals" to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, we bring you updates on a collaboration between WIPO and the Esports Integrity Commission, MotoGP's takeover and JPMorgan's formation of a specialist sports investment group.

Sports Ticker #104: European sponsorship record growth, Germany's Adidas to Nike swap and Formula E shifts gears – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 28 Mar 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Pete Distad named as CEO of the new Disney-Fox-Warner Bros sports streaming venture, Nottingham Forest losing four points for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules, and the announcement of a new fan engagement app for Swedish esports organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas, we bring you updates on German football's Adidas-Nike kit supplier swap, steps forward on the new structure for women's cricket and a bizarre bee blitz on Carlos Alcaraz.

Sports Ticker #103: Paralympics' media reach, Super League trade mark, and Red Bull Padel – a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

Published on 15 Mar 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Joshua Charalambous, Partner and Samuel Coppard, Senior Associate and Joseph Akwaboa, Associate

In a fortnight which saw Wimbledon recognised as having the highest ad engagement for women's sports events in 2023, the FIA President investigated for alleged race interference, and world No 1 Novak Djokovic knocked out of the Indian Wells tournament by world No 123 "lucky loser", we bring you updates on media deals for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, attempts to register an EU trade mark for "The Super League", and the partnership between F1 and Tommy Hilfiger.