Technology & Media update - Enews - June 2011

Updated June 2011

Data Protection, privacy and information

ICO to investigate Facebook’s use of facial recognition technology (The Register)

The ICO has asked Facebook to explain whether it gave consideration to users’ privacy before it introduced its new facial recognition feature. This follows criticism from privacy campaigners of Facebook’s introduction of the new technology.

Hackers breach Acer database (The Register)

The Pakistan Cyber Army successfully accessed and stole personal data about 40,000 of Acer’s customers. This data breach follows similar hacking incidents affecting other technology companies.

Intellectual Property

Tax breaks for patents under new Government plans (The Treasury)

The Government has announced that businesses will pay reduced corporation tax on profits generated from patented inventions. The aim of the new 10% rate is to develop, retain and commercialise patents and patented products.

Copyright holders propose website blocking plan (Open Rights Group)

According to leaked documents, the Rightholders Group, an association of copyright holders, is planning to identify websites it considers are guilty of infringement. The plans also propose an expert body which would decide on whether to recommend the rights holder seeks a court injunction.

Ecommerce & information technology

FSA warns price comparison sites about regulatory breach (Financial Services Authority)

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has written to operators of price comparison websites saying that the sites may be offering financial advice, which is a regulated activity requiring formal FSA permission. The FSA is concerned that consumers may be being misled about the services offered and that some websites lead customers to inappropriate insurance deals.

European Commission to investigate mergers in hard drive disk sector (Europa)

The European Commission has announced it will investigate Seagate Technology's proposed acquisition of Samsung's HDD business, and Western Digital Corporation's planned takeover of Hitachi's storage business. The Commission will examine whether the acquisitions will impede competition and drive up consumer prices.

Technology and Media Litigation

BT and Talk Talk renew their challenge to the Digital Economy Act in the Court of Appeal

BT and Talk Talk are appealing the decision of the High Court following it's rejection of the companies' Judicial Review in April. The Act could force internet service providers to disconnect users who infringe copyrights online and the companies are arguing that the Act breaches European law.

Former T-Mobile employees fined over £73,000 for data theft

The ICO has issued a stark warning to employees seeking to profit from a large scale illegal trade in mobile phone contract information. Two former employees of T-Mobile have been fined just over £73,000 for stealing and selling on data.

Communications

Domain names to be registered with almost any suffix, under ICANN plans (BBC)

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has voted to increase the number of generic “top-level” domain names. Applications for these new suffixes will be received from January 2012.

Telecoms firms face higher fines increased for failing to share data with Ofcom (Ofcom)

Following changes to the EU Authorisation Directive, the Government has raised the maximum fine Ofcom can issue for failure to comply with an information gathering request. In a linked announcement, Ofcom also offered more detailed guidelines on how it will handle the resolution of disputes in the communications sector.

This publication is intended for general guidance and represents our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at June 2011. Specific advice should be sought for specific cases; we cannot be held responsible for any action (or decision not to take action) made in reliance upon the content of this publication.

The information you access via the links on this update is subject to the terms and conditions of the website provider accessible via their home page and we recommend that you read such terms.

TLT LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales number OC 308658 whose registered office is at One Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6TP England. A list of members (all of whom are solicitors or lawyers) can be inspected by visiting the People section of this website. TLT LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 406297.

Back to publications