More UK Innovators Filing Patent Applications with EPO
Increasing numbers of UK innovators are filing patent applications with the European Patent Office (EPO), according to the EPO’s latest report. 5,736 patent applications were received by the EPO from UK applicants last year, representing a 7.8 per cent increase on the previous 12 months. Patent applications to the EPO as a whole have increased […]
Agricultural Businesses Warned of H&S Risks & Fines
The charging scheme imposed on farm businesses found to be in breach of health and safety legislation has increased today by almost 20%. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is able to recover the ‘Fee for Intervention’ (FFI) where a farm business is investigated and subsequently found to be in breach of health and safety […]
Customers Sue Ticketmaster Over Major Data Protection Breach
Ticketmaster is facing a £5 million claim following a major data breach of its UK websites last year. More than 650 customers affected by the security breach are taking legal action against the ticket sales company. Up to 40,000 UK Ticketmaster customers are believed to have had “some personal or payment information” stolen following the […]
Greater Protection for Consumers as Claims Management Companies Come Under FCA Regulation
Regulation of Claims Management Companies has, from 1st April 2019, been transferred from the Claims Management Regulator to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Claims management companies in England, Scotland or Wales will now have to apply to the FCA for authorisation and adhere to a new set of industry rules. Claims management companies charge to […]
RICS’ New Commercial Property Service Charge Rules Take Effect
New rules governing commercial property service charges come into force today. In its ‘service charges in commercial property’ professional statement, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) introduces new mandatory requirements on all of its members and relevant RICS-regulated firms. The new standards have the aim of ensuring charges are both fair on tenants and […]
New Cars to have Automatic Speed Limiters as Standard by 2022
New car safety rules agreed by the European Union will see automatic speed limiters become standard features in all new vehicles from 2022. All new cars sold in the EU are to be fitted with intelligent speed assistance technology to stop drivers exceeding speed limits. Intelligent speed assistance (ISA) limiters work by using road sign recognition cameras […]
Personal Injury Compensation is Available for Loss of In-Work Rest Breaks
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that personal injury compensation is available to employees for breaches of in-work rest break entitlements under the Working Time Regulations (WTR) 1998. In Grange v Abellio London Ltd, the EAT upheld the tribunal’s award of £750 to the employee following the employer’s failure to comply with the WTR to […]
Motorists Face New Fines for Driving with Loud Music
Drivers caught playing loud music are to face a fine of £100 under a new trial scheme. In a move designed to tackle anti-social behaviour, Bradford Council is implementing a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for a range of car-related nuisance behaviours, including playing loud music when driving. Other motoring anti-social behaviours and vehicle […]
Personal Injury Claim Against Untraced Driver Refused by Supreme Court
The UK insurance industry has breathed a sigh of relief following the Supreme Court’s ruling that personal injury compensation claims cannot be brought against untraced drivers in road traffic accidents. In the case of Cameron v Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co Ltd, the court held that where a driver cannot be identified as a result of […]
First 12 Months a Mixed Bag for GDPR Impact
The first 12 months of the GDPR have seen mixed results, according to European watchdogs. While the new regulations have been a success in providing a unified framework for data breach notification, this impact has not been matched in imposing fines on companies that mishandle or fail to adequately protect their customers’ personal data. At […]
UK Court Rules Brexit Does Not Invalidate Long-Term Commercial Lease
The High Court has ruled that the UK’s exit from the European Union does not have the effect of invalidating a long-term commercial lease. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had attempted to end the £500 million office lease on its Canary Wharf headquarters on the basis that it had “no choice” but to leave London […]
Government Allocates New Grants to Support Domestic Abuse Victims in Court
The government has announced it is to make just under £900,000 available in grants to provide in-court support to victims of domestic abuse. Scheduled to run until 31st March 2020, the funds have been awarded to two organisations, the Personal Support Unit (PSU) and the Citizens Advice Witness Service, who offer support service to victims […]
Data Protection Survey Shows Companies Failing in GDPR Accountability
UK businesses are falling short in meeting internal auditing and incident response obligations under GDPR, according to a new report from the Global Privacy Enforcement Network. The Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) is an informal network comprising over 60 privacy enforcement authorities in 39 jurisdictions around the world, including the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) […]
Proposed Consumer Law Reforms Include GDPR-Level Penalties
Proposals have been published at both an EU and UK level to radically strengthen the enforcement powers of industry regulators in a bid to champion consumer rights. The ‘New Deal for Consumers’ legislative initiative comes in response to concerns that consumer law is being poorly enforced and that sanctions are inadequate. What is being proposed? […]
Estate Agents Subject to New Transparency Rules on Referral Fees
New regulations from the National Trading Standards Estate Agency have been published with the aim of improving transparency for consumers about referral fees received by estate agents. Produced by a collective of experts from RICS, the Guild of Property Professionals, the Property Ombudsman, NAEA Propertymark and Property Redress Scheme, the new guidance is designed to […]
Consumers Urged to Check for Unclaimed Power of Attorney Refunds
Less than 20% of a rebate fund for Power of Attorney applications has been claimed, according to figures obtained from the Ministry of Justice by Royal London. Refunds are available for applicants who were overcharged for part of a Power of Attorney application fee during a specific three-year period. An estimated one million people are […]
Hotel Booking Sites Given Deadline to End Misleading Sales Tactics
Industry regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has confirmed six of the largest hotel and holiday booking websites have agreed to change their online practices in response to concerns that consumers are being misled and prevented from finding the best deals. Agoda, booking.com, ebookers, Expedia, Hotels.com and trivago have all undertaken to abide by […]
New Stamp Duty Land Tax Rules in Force
The time period in which to submit Stamp Duty Land Tax returns and pay the tax due on commercial and residential property transactions in England has been shortened to 14 days, under new rules that take effect today. SDLT is a self-assessed tax and liability lies with the property buyer, as such, the change in […]
Employers told to do more to ensure workers receive full holiday pay entitlement
A new government campaign has been launched urging employers to do more to ensure correct payment for annual leave and to improve awareness among employees of their holiday pay entitlement. The responsibility to ensure the correct calculation and payment of workers’ holiday pay lies with employers, but recent figures show an alarming number of employees […]
Leaseholders Pursuing Claims Against Conveyancers Over Ground Rent Advice
Growing numbers of UK leaseholders are taking legal action against conveyancers over legal advice they received when purchasing their leasehold house. Leaseholders who believe they were not clearly informed of the risks of leasehold ownership or that they were buying a leasehold property at the point of purchase are now seeking compensation from their legal […]