UK law Ofcom publishes letter to online service providers on generative AI and chatbots Ofcom has published an open letter to online service providers in the UK about how the Online Safety Act 2023 applies to generative AI and chatbots. Websites or apps which use a generative AI chatbot that enables users to share text,…
European Commission and national authorities call on Apple to stop geo-blocking practices
Following investigation, the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities (led by those in Belgium, Germany and Ireland) and the European Commission have notified Apple about several potentially prohibited geo-blocking practices that the CPC Network has identified on certain Apple Media Services, including App Store, Apple Arcade, Music, iTunes Store, Books and Podcasts….
European Commission and national authorities urge Temu to comply with EU consumer protection laws
Following investigation at European level, the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities and the European Commission have notified the online marketplace Temu that some of its practices infringe EU consumer law. The CPC Network directed Temu to bring those practices in line with EU consumer laws. Temu remains under investigation and was…
ICO issues tech futures report on emerging genomics
Over the last decade there has been a rapid increase in investment and influence in genomic technologies in a range of sectors. The technology offers well-known benefits in areas like advanced disease treatment and personalised healthcare, and there is a drive to deliver a genomic-focused healthcare system. However, the rapid growth of applications in sectors…
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High Court considers cryptocurrency status in English law and key aspects of cryptocurrency fraud claims
For the first time following a full trial, the English High Court in D’Aloia v Persons Unknown, Bitkub and others [2024] EWHC 2342 (Ch) has confirmed that cryptocurrency, specifically USD Tether (USDT), can be traced and can constitute property under English law. The court also made observations as to key legal and evidential links needed…
This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up
UK law CMA consults on draft guidance for the markets regime in the Enterprise Act 2002 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is consulting on its draft new guidance for the markets regime in the Enterprise Act 2002, as amended by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The consultation ends on 3 December…
The return of the great SaaS debate: is it goods or services?
James Gill and Fiona Vickerstaff of Lewis Silkin summarise a recent case on the legal status of software as a service. Those of us working in the tech space will remember the relatively recent case of The Software Incubator Ltd v Computer Associates UK Ltd in which the CJEU decided that a perpetual licence to use software constituted…
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European Commission publishes results of Digital Fairness Fitness Check
The European Commission has published the findings of the Digital Fairness Fitness Check, which assessed if current EU consumer protection laws are fit for purpose to ensure a high level of protection in the digital environment. The Fitness Check covered three core Directives: the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, the Consumer Rights Directive, and the Unfair…
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Ofcom issues update about its progress to bring Online Safety Act into effect
Ofcom has published an update on its progress to bring the Online Safety Act 2023 into effect. The Act means that companies that operate a wide range of online services are legally responsible for keeping people, especially children, safe online. Online platforms and services will soon have new duties to protect UK users by assessing…
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This Week’s Techlaw News Round-up
UK law CMA launches court action against Emma Sleep to protect UK consumers Back in 2022, the CMA opened an investigation into Emma Sleep over concerns that some of its online sales practices, such as discounts and urgency claims, including countdown timers and high demand prompts, may mislead consumers. The CMA called on Emma Sleep…