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Copyright: England and Wales Cricket Board Limited v (1) Tixdaq Limited [2016] EWHC 575 (Ch)
Did the fair dealing defence cover the online publication of eight second clips of sports matches?
Read moreData protection: US privacy shield
The EU published the draft text of the much-anticipated “Privacy Shield” deal on 29 February. This was amended following criticisms and the revised text was formally adopted by the European Commission on 12 July 2016. Companies have been able to certify with the US Department of Commerce since 1 August 2016.
Read moreData protection: Bangura v Loughborough University [2016] EWCH 1503 (QB)
Can an organisation’s breach of its data protection policy give rise to a claim under the Data Protection Act 1998 (the DPA) and/or a breach of contract claim?
Read moreChanges to the BCAP code regarding “pester power”
Can you tell when an ad is “persuading” kids to get their parents to buy them something, as opposed to simply “encouraging” them? And did you remember that “pester power” falls within the “Banned List” of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs)?
Read moreCopyright: E-books and the Rental and Lending Right Directive
Advocate General opinion
Read moreASA - Advertising to children: Inappropriate targeting
Will an age warning be enough if placed before a scary ad?
Read moreA new and better approach to claims against financial advisers?
A Judge has found in favour of Coutts in a claim for negligent investment advice for just under £3.3m plus interest. The Judge’s findings are of interest given that he refused to assess whether the investments recommended were suitable for the Claimants according to a body of accepted professional opinion (the so called “Bolam Test”). Instead, the Judge focused on whether the risks of the investments were properly explained to the Claimants, whether they could afford to take such risks and showed themselves willing to do so.
Read moreSidestepping Limitation: A Cautionary Tale
The defendants were able to make a contribution claim from a third party after settling a competition damages claim with the claimant, even though the third party had a limitation defence against the claimant, which could have extinguished both the defendant's and the third party's liability to the claimant.
Read moreTime for the navigator!
Why the current clouds of Brexit uncertainty present a unique opportunity for you
Read moreABI releases checklist on effective counter fraud practices
Earlier this month, the ABI released a checklist on effective counter fraud practices. The checklist is designed to assist insurers in putting in place strong fraud defences. It is particularly aimed at smaller insurers with limited counter fraud functions.
Read moreHealth and Safety update, September 2016
This edition includes details of Merlin Attractions' £5 million fine following the Smiler crash in 2015 at Alton Towers, in addition to the latest case law and health & safety news.
Read moreFAPL v Wells: High Court orders Norwich Pharmacal Relief Against Publicans Screening Premier League Matches Without Permission
In this article for Entertainment Law Review first published in June 2016, Andrew Crystal and Joshua Charalambous discuss Snowden J's decision in the Football Association Premier League Limited -v- Richard Alan Wells (& Ors) [2015] EWHC 3910 (Ch).
Read moreVat update, September 2016
In this update we report on changes to the VAT treatment of single dwellings with more than one building, an extension to the simplified mechanism for employer input tax deductions in relation to investment management services and new guidance on HMRC’s powers to seek to recover underpaid VAT from online marketplaces. We also report on three recent cases involving MTIC fraud, reasonable excuse for late payment of VAT and whether supplies relating to fractional ownership interests in a property are exempt from VAT.
Read moreN Brown Group Plc: Tribunal confirms there is no going back once a taxpayer has opted out of the costs regime
In N Brown Group Plc and Another v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 445 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT), has confirmed that it did not have the power to permit a taxpayer to withdraw its written request that the proceedings be excluded from the costs regime.
Read moreWhat do you know about hyperlinking to infringing content online?
CJEU clarifies position on linking to infringing content - here's what you need to know
Read moreBig data in insurance: The FCA offers its view
Last week the FCA published a feedback statement on the use of big data in the retail general insurance sector. Its findings are likely to come as welcome news to insurers who are keen to exploit the advantages that big data can offer.
Read moreClaimant investors establish advisory duty against bank
In the most recent so-called 'mis-selling' case in Hong Kong, three claimant investors succeeded in establishing that a bank owed them a contractual duty to exercise reasonable care and skill with regard to their portfolio of investments held with the bank.
Read moreSelect Committee Inquiry into the impact of Solvency II
Last week, the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee announced on the parliament website that it is holding an inquiry into the new regime for insurance regulation under the Solvency II Directive (2009/138/EC).
Read moreBrexit - A brief update on investment funds
RPC facilitates conversations between a number of private equity fund sponsors and the BVCA
Read morePragmatism in the High Court: Correcting errors in arbitration
The High Court has held that the words "any errors of a similar nature" within r27.1 of the London Court of Arbitration Rules 1998 covered clarifying or removing ambiguity within an award by a tribunal.
Read moreRevisiting the Referendum
Never afraid to shy away from the most challenging of topics, in May of this year – with the EU Referendum vote looming – the blog’s Editorial Team decided to tackle Brexit head on.
Read moreCopyright test match
Copyright test match—High Court provides guidance on substantiality and fair dealing in relation to sports clips
Read moreHow ISP blocking orders provide a new and welcome form of redress against e-commerce counterfeiting
Ciara Cullen, Partner in IP and Technology, tackles the topic of counterfeiting online, how it's impacting sectors such as retail and pharmaceuticals, and the new remedy available to brand owners.
Read moreJaved And Azra Mughal - Tribunal considers the rules relevant to "hardship" applications
In Javed and Azra Mughal (Partnership) Trading as Dallas Chicken and Ribs v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 456 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has considered the extent of information necessary for a 'hardship' application.
Read moreRefusing to pay up? You'll need a good case
TCC enforces adjudicator's decision, finding no breach of natural justice or jurisdiction.
Read moreTribunal allows set-off of corporation tax loss against income tax profit
In English Holdings Ltd v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 0346 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) allowed an appeal by a non-UK resident company against a decision of HMRC refusing its claim to offset losses arising in its UK permanent establishment (PE) against profits earned by its UK property rental business.
Read moreFAMR keeps on giving
The launch of a public consultation on the pension advice allowance at the end of August is another product of the Financial Advice Market Review (FAMR).
Read moreBlocking the blockers: EU prohibits network-wide ad-blocking
Mobile phone operators' plans to introduce network-wide ad-blocking technology are in jeopardy following new guidance from EU telecoms regulators, a move which highlights the divide between content providers and telecoms companies in their attitude towards ad-free content.
Read moreErrors of law in MTIC case leads to case being remitted to the First-tier Tribunal
In HMRC V Pacific Computers Ltd [2016] UKUT 350 (TCC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) has concluded that the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) made errors of law that had been material to the outcome of a taxpayer's appeal in a case involving missing trader intra-community (MTIC) fraud.
Read moreChanging experts - a risky business
The recent case of Allen Tod Architecture Ltd (In Liquidation) v Capita Property and Infrastructure Ltd (previously known as Capita Symons) provides a timely reminder of the risks of changing experts. In this case, the Defendant made an application for specific disclosure of documents prepared by the Claimant’s first expert. The High Court held that privilege in such documents should be waived and the documents should be disclosed where a party seeks to rely upon the evidence of an alternative expert.
Read moreIt doesn't rain it pours… New capital adequacy rules for SIPP firms introduced from 1 September
SIPPs are never far from the headlines at the moment. The most recent issue for SIPP firms to deal with are the new capital adequacy requirements. The effect of the new rules is to place an increased capital burden on SIPP firms holding so-called "non-standard assets".
Read moreAs the FOS sees a spike in fraud complaints, we take a look back at a year of FOS complaints
The FOS has recently ordered a financial adviser to pay out after falling foul of an email fraud that caused the adviser to authorise the transfer of its client's money to the fraudsters' account.
Read moreDon’t blag it!
Yesterday the FCA fined and prohibited a sole trader for failure to act with integrity and repeatedly misleading the regulator.
Read moreTribunal finds in taxpayer's favour in IBA case
In David Wellstead v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 0492 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has held that where a developer acquired a lease of land, constructed industrial units on that land and sold one of the units by way of an under-lease, the grant of the under-lease amounted to the sale of a relevant interest for the purposes of section 296, Capital Allowances Act 2001 (CAA 2001), entitling the purchaser to claim industrial buildings allowances (IBAs) on the purchase price.
Read moreTax update, September 2016
In this month's edition we report on (1) HMRC's much anticipated consultation on proposals to tackle disguised remuneration (2) further amendment to the Finance Bill 2016 in relation to EBT settlement relief and (3) HMRC's consultation on proposed penalties for "enablers" of tax avoidance arrangements. We also comment on three recent cases concerning penalties, scheme sanction changes and industrial buildings allowance.
Read moreWhat Feng Shui says about your office space
Feng Shui holds significant influence over many business people in China. So what's it all about?
Read moreHarry Potter star loses £1m battle with HMRC
The First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has held that a taxpayer's new accounts did not meet the requirements of section 217, Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (ITTOIA), for a change in accounting date, as the accounts did not exist when HMRC were notified of the change.
Read moreVAT update, August 2016
In this month's edition of our VAT update we report on (1) the Law Society's response to HMRC's consultation on VADRA, (2) HMRC's new brief on TOGCs, and (3) HMRC's new policy paper on "Use and Enjoyment" of insurance repair. We also comment on three recent cases concerning Article 9 of the VAT Directive, repayment of VAT by an individual member of a VAT group, and a "hardship" application.
Read moreSponsors drop lying Lochte - the fallout from Rio 2016
Importance of anti-embarrassment clauses highlighted by US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte being dropped by sponsors, including Speedo and Ralph Lauren.
Read moreNew Guidance on when lawyers can attend an SFO section 2 interview
On 6 June 2016, the SFO issued 3 short guidance notes to replace the Operational Handbook that had previously governed interviews under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (Section 2).
Read moreSIPP scheme administrator avoids 'pension liberation' tax charge
In a recent case the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has found that HMRC was wrong to refuse Sippchoice's application for the discharge of liability to scheme sanction charges in circumstances where it was not aware of a pension liberation scheme being operated in respect of the pension scheme's invested funds.
Read moreHigh Court dismisses claimants' application for an independent re-review of defendants' disclosure
In a dispute about the treatment of protestors at copper mines in Peru, the English High Court reinforced the breadth of the test for disclosure and held that it has the power to order a party to appoint a separate law firm to conduct an independent re-review of its disclosure.
Read morePolitical adverts – freedom to misinform?
Promises of an additional £350m per week to be given to the NHS, posters featuring "white thugs" shouting at vulnerable old ladies, and billboards plastered with images of a flood of new refugees. These are just a few of the wildly misleading, harmful and offensive adverts that featured in the build-up to the EU referendum on 23 June.
Read moreSupreme Court clarifies the impact of a "collateral lie" made by an assured during the claims process
The Supreme Court has ruled that a lie told by an assured during the course of a claim presentation will not necessarily invalidate the assured's right to recover under his insurance.
Read moreLife sciences, August 2016
Here is our latest life sciences update. Read on for practical tips on the Insurance Act 2015, the implications of the NHS wading into the debate over diagnostic apps, how Brexit may affect medical regulations and impending litigation over fertility treatment. Some of these topics will be addressed in more detail in our next life sciences seminar on 20 September 2016. To register your interest, please email seminars@rpc.co.uk.
Read moreTechnology assisted review in English civil proceedings: the exception or the norm?
Hot on the heels of its first endorsement of the use of predictive coding in the widely publicised Pyrrho decision in February 2016, the English court has recently given judgment ordering the use of predictive coding in circumstances where its use was opposed by one party.
Read moreTaxpayer succeeds on penalties issue in Pendulum scheme
In a recent case the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) has found that a taxpayer was not fraudulent or negligent in the completion of his tax return when relying on the advice of his professional advisors.
Read moreOffer rejected by counter-offer - a cautionary tale
Non-Part 36 offer not capable of acceptance once rejected by a Part 36 counter offer
Read moreOffice to Residential Permitted Development Rights – an update
The rights to convert a building from office use to residential without needing to submit a planning application are not new, although a recent decision from the Planning Court have brought them back to the headlines and suggest that they may be more flexible than anticipated.
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