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Defamation & Malicious Falsehood
Inbrief
19 April 2016Reputation protection which embodies our law of defamation has become increasingly important. Together with the law of privacy, including confidentiality, reputation protection is a vital right for individuals and corporations, especially the advertising industry where image and celebrity rights attract so much attention.
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The media defamation and lawyers
Press
18 April 2016We have been quoted in an article by the Law Society Gazette about defamation in the media.
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Prevention of illegal working - a compliance guide for employers
PDF
13 April 2016This inbrief summarises how employers can reduce their exposure to fines and other penalties under the Home Office’s Prevention of Illegal Working regime.
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Don't proselytise at work, a court rules
Press
10 April 2016Because work-places are multi-faith arenas where people aren’t expected to leave their religious affiliations behind, employment disputes caused by inter-religious exchanges at work are likely to grow more and more contentious.
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RMT union calls for members to vote for Brexit
Press
08 April 2016James Davies and Bethan Carney have been quoted in an article by the Financial Times regarding the employment implications of Brexit.
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Three promoted to partner at Lewis Silkin
Press
04 April 2016Leading UK law firm Lewis Silkin LLP today announces the promotion of three new partners, effective 1 April. The addition of Shalina Crossley, Sam Pennington and James Storke to the partnership brings the total number of partners at the firm to 59.
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Lewis Silkin advises Next 15 on the acquisition of Twogether
Deal
01 April 2016Lewis Silkin LLP has advised Next 15, the AIM-listed digital communications group, on its acquisition of B2B creative and digital marketing agency, Twogether Creative Limited.
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Could Brexit change the face of football in the UK?
Press
31 March 2016Andrew Osborne was interviewed by BBC news on the impact of Brexit on British football and the potential loss of access to European talent which has helped make the Premier League hugely popular.
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Top-flight clubs warned Brexit would have far-reaching fallout
Press
29 March 2016Andrew Osborne has been quoted in an article by The Times which examines the consequences of the possible impact of Britain choosing to leave the European Union for football clubs across the country.
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To register or not to register… that is the question (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016Just because you can register your intellectual property, it doesn’t mean that you should. Sometimes attempts to register can have unintended consequences, as YouTube stars, the Fine Brothers, recently found out.
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The lesser spotted shape mark (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016A picture says a 1000 words or so the saying goes. So what about a shape? Several recent decisions have underlined the difficulties that can arise in trying to use shapes to protect a brand.
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Stop monkeying around (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016A judge in California has put a stop to all the monkey business surrounding the idea that animals can own copyright, in California at least.
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‘Glee’ less than happy after trade mark strife (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016We’re all familiar with the classic trade markdispute. But can you sue for trade markinfringement if the brand using your name is actually more famous than your own? In February, the Court of Appeal said you could.
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Trading secrets safely in Europe (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016In December 2015, while most of us were busy wrapping presents and eating mince pies, the representatives of the European Parliament and Council agreed the text of the Trade Secrets Directive.
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Play those bars again and end up behind… bars (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016The High Court has handed down a custodial sentence of 28 days for breach of an injunction against copyright infringement, albeit suspended for a period of 18 months. Two points rang out.
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Kylie v Kylie (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016It isn’t often that trade mark oppositions receive mainstream media attention. Kylie Minogue has bucked that trend by filing an opposition to reality TV star Kylie Jenner’s trade mark application for ‘Kylie’ in the US.
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But we settled that! (Brands & IP Newsnotes - Issue 2)
28 March 2016Parties will understandably often be relieved to sign on the dotted line of that “full and final” settlement agreement. But two decisions of the High Court earlier this year may give pause for thought. What is the practical effect of such a settlement and is it really what the parties want?
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UBS and Deutsche Bank tax cases: HMRC wins in Supreme Court
Press
24 March 2016Recently the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the UBS and Deutsche Bank bonus tax avoidance cases. After the banks had succeeded in the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court decided that in fact a “purposive interpretation” of the legislation meant that the schemes failed. HMRC therefore won and millions of pounds of PAYE and NIC will have to be paid. However the case is most interesting for the approach the Supreme Court takes. It shows the extent to which the courts are sometimes prepared to go in interpreting the legislation in such a way that tax avoidance schemes will not succeed. Lewis Silkin tax expert Matthew Rowbotham wrote about the case for the April 2016 issue of PLC Magazine.
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Pheasant sick as a parrot
21 March 2016Today, 21 March 2016, HHJ Pelling handed down his judgment in relation to the account of profits element of the long-running dispute between Jack Wills and House of Fraser over the use of a logo consisting of a pigeon with a top-hat and bow-tie on some of its own-brand “Linea” products. The logo was found by Mr Justice Arnold to infringe Jack Wills’ rights in its “Mr. Wills” pheasant with a top-hat and a cane.
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Roundtable: Brexit legal strategy
Press
14 March 2016The Law Society Gazette convened its latest roundtable to discuss the implications of the a Brexit vote.