Publishing & social media

Policies for Intermediary Immunity

January 27, 2009

Chris Reed considers the development of intermediary immunity, changes in technology and social use that bring it into question and the balancing exercise involved in the formulation of a new policy. Most tellingly, he puts forward a suggestion for the future of the immunity and reforms of the legislation that created it. This article arises from a presentation at the SCL Forum held in September 2008 ‘Legislating for Web 2.0 – Preparing for the Communications Act?’…

The ‘Future-proof’ Communications Bill: Thinking Afresh

January 27, 2009

Tom Gibbons ponders the best approach to drafting new legislation and considers the broad social influences which Web 2.0 has created or reawakened that should influence that approach. This article arises from a presentation at the SCL Forum held in September 2008 ‘Legislating for Web 2.0 – Preparing for the Communications Act?’…

Towards an (Electronic) Communications Act 2011

January 27, 2009

Jean-Jacques Sahel, writing purely in a personal capacity, considers the approach which should underpin any legislation on electronic communications and argues that the extraordinary nature of the Internet requires a principles-based approach to inform legislation rather than narrow sectoral regulation. This article arises from a presentation at the SCL Forum held in September 2008 ‘Legislating for Web 2.0 – Preparing for the Communications Act?’…

Editorial

January 5, 2009

This issue is dominated by expert predictions on IT law, IT applications for lawyers and all manner of related issues. I am refraining from including my predictions (which can be read online) simply because we have an abundance of riches here. I am absolutely delighted with the level and the quality of the response to…

Predictions 2009: IT & Social Trends

January 5, 2009

This is a selection of the predictions on the SCL Web site. These predictions cover developments in IT law and expected changes in social trends that have an impact on IT law….

Web Site Operators & Liability for UGC – Facing up to Reality?

December 31, 2008

Social networking and other Web sites that enable user-generated content (known as UGC) to be uploaded and viewed by users are big news and big business. Robert Goldstone and James Gill review the dangers that arise in relation to copyright infringement….

Tiscali v BT: ISPs Competing for Customers and ‘Unlawful Means’

December 18, 2008

A novel use of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 has received an important, albeit partial, endorsement in the High Court. Tiscali is suing BT for interference with its business by unlawful means….

Tiscali v BT: ISPs Competing for Customers and Unlawful Means

December 18, 2008

Tiscali v BT: ISPs Competing for Customers and Unlawful Means

December 18, 2008

An interesting judgment in Tiscali UK Ltd v British Telecommunications Plc [2008] EWHC 3129 (QB) sheds some startling light on what standards may be expected of ISPs when competing for customers. Tiscali and BT are in dispute over approaches made by BT to Tiscali customers. In his second judgment concerning the case, Mr Justice Eady…

Predictions 2009: Part 3

December 11, 2008

Another set of predictions for 2009 dealing with a range of issues. This set has predictions from Charles Christian, Chris Dale, Paul Heritage-Redpath, Rosemary Jay, Iain Mitchell QC, Gregor Pryor, Pearse Ryan and Linda Webster…