Technology & Media update - Enews - November 2011

Updated February 2012

Data Protection, Privacy and Information

Website privacy protocols to be standardised (BBC)

The web's standards setting body, The World Wide Web Consortium (known as W3C), is developing new tools to increase the privacy of users online. The aim is to standardise website privacy controls through the use of 'Do Not Track' technologies which will give users more control over how their personal data is managed.

Social networks could suffer under new EU Data Protection rules (The Register)

Proposals under the new EU Data Protection Directive, which is due to be published in January 2012, are expected to make life very difficult for social networks such as Facebook as they could require users' explicit consent before their data is used and allow users to delete their data at any time.

Intellectual Property

IP rights vital to innovation (WIPO)

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has published its annual World Intellectual Property Report. This documents the growing importance and demand for IP rights with IP policy central to the development of innovating firms worldwide.

New court process for intellectual property (UK IPO)

The UK Government has announced the introduction of a small claims service to the Patent County Court, which will encourage small and medium sized businesses to protect and enforce their intellectual property rights. Previously smaller firms had been put off by high court costs.

Ecommerce & information technology

Google launches cloud analysis service (The Register)

Google has launched its BigQuery data analysis service, which allows users to upload and analyse data through use of the Google cloud service. The service allows firms to make substantial savings on the costs of operating their own data centre resources.

Prime Minister praises success of London's Tech City (BBC)

David Cameron visited Tech City on its first anniversary to praise its success and launch the 'National Virtual Incubator' network. The network will link research centres, universities and science parks around the country to aid the UK in its bid to become an internationally recognised centre of high-tech research and innovation.

Technology and Media Litigation

Apple suffers legal defeat in iPad copy claim (CNET UK)

Small Spanish firm NT-K, which manufactures the NT-K Android tablet, has successfully defended itself against a claim that it was copying Apple's iPad. Aside from the commercial dispute, Apple also brought criminal charges against NT-K, whose name was temporarily placed on a list of product pirates. All claims have now been dismissed.

Gene sequence patent upheld (Bloomberg)

Earlier this month the Supreme Court upheld the patent for a gene sequence intended to treat people with immune diseases. The sequence, patented by Human Genome Sciences Inc., had been contested by Eli Lilly & Co on the basis that the list of potential uses for the gene was too vague. The decision comes amid fears that failures to support the patent protection of gene sequences will reduce investment in bioscience in the long term.

Communications

O2 starts nine-month 4G trial (BBC News)

The mobile network O2 has begun a nine-month trial of a Long Term Evolution network, in a move which it states shows its commitment to providing its users with a 4G network as soon as possible. Over 1000 people from across London are expected to take part and have been promised download speeds of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps).

BT launches its fastest ever broadband package (Silicon)

BT has launched a 100Mbps service in direct competition to the fastest download speeds currently offered by Virgin Media. The service will only be available to a limited amount of customers but BT has also invested £2.5bn in fibre optics which will make faster broadband speeds available to at least two-thirds of the UK population by 2014.

This publication is intended for general guidance and represents our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at November 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.

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