Acas has published new guidance on collective redundancies, which reflects the statutory changes that came into force on 6 April 2013. On 6 April 2013, the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (Amendment) Order 2013 made several changes to the rules governing collective redundancy consultations where 100 or more employees at one establishment… Learn more
The Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 received Royal Assent on 25 April 2013 and, amongst other things, introduces a new ‘employee shareholder’ employment status, under which employees can give up some of their traditional employment rights in exchange for shares in their employer’s business. Section 31 of the Act inserts clause 205A into the Employment… Learn more
In the recent Queen’s Speech, the Government has announced details of new Bills that include measures that will have an impact on employment law: 1. National Insurance Contributions Bill. The Bill aims to reduce the cost of employment and to help small businesses grow. It will reduce employer national insurance contributions (NICs) bills each year… Learn more
The Defamation Act 2013 has received Royal Assent and become law. The Government has sought to make defamation law fairer and less costly, and also more up-to-date to reflect the Internet. The main changes are the following: Section 1 – There is now a requirement for claimants to show they have suffered serious harm. This… Learn more
The Caldicott Review has been published. Announcing its publication, the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said that it struck the right balance between sharing people’s health and care information to improve services and develop new treatments whilst respecting the privacy wishes of patients. The Government had commissioned Dame Fiona Caldicott to examine the handling of information… Learn more
Doctors have reported concerns to the Information Commissioner’s Office and, in turn, the ICO has the same concerns – over the powers of a new HSCIC to require patient data to be handed over. Under the Health and Social Care Act, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) can require health bodies to hand… Learn more
Google has been under the spotlight from the European Commission since 2010 for allegedly abusing its dominant position in the online search market (which the Commission believes is up to 90% for many online searches), contrary to Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The EU’s competition law regulator has… Learn more
The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act has finished its passage through Parliament. The Act does a number of things, including changing the copyright landscape. Creative designs manufactured through an industrial process will now last for the designer’s life plus 70 years. In addition, the Act paves the way for the Government to introduce new Regulations… Learn more
PRCA v NLA, Supreme Court The Newspaper Licensing Agency managed the intellectual property rights of its members by licensing and collecting fees for making copies of newspaper content. Meltwater provided a media monitoring service by monitoring websites, reading the websites and then providing a digest. Meltwater gave its customers the opportunity to receive the digest… Learn more
Colloseum v Levi Strauss, European Court of Justice Levi Strauss owned a European Community Trade Mark containing “LEVI’s” in a particular rectangle by a pocket (the overall mark). Levi Strauss also owned a separate European Community Trade Mark just for the particular rectangle element without the LEVI’s name (the component mark). Colosseum marketed jeans with… Learn more