Viewpoints - Harbottle and Lewis

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07 December 2023

Levelling-up: Local authorities granted powers to let empty high-street premises

The much-anticipated Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, though it is not yet in force. The Act seeks to address a range of issues in the real estate sector and was introduced to (amongst…

06 December 2023

How Spotify and Deezer are changing the streaming payment model

In a move to give more money to professional musicians and to reduce payments to amateurs, bots and white noise, Spotify has announced an overhaul to its music streaming payment model — a model that’s remained unchanged since music streaming…

30 November 2023

The Strike is Over! But What Does the Deal Say?

The tentative agreement between the USA producers’ union, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Screen Actors’ Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists was reached on 9 November 2023 ending the 118 day strike,…

09 November 2023

Ofcom publishes first code of practice in relation to the Online Safety Act

Ofcom has today published the first of four consultations on the long awaited codes of practice in relation to the new the Online Safety Act, which was signed into law a week ago. Under the Act, providers of online services…

06 November 2023

Dispute Resolution in the Metaverse

The metaverse as an immersive digital world where users can live, socialise, work and play is an exciting advancement. But, just as disputes arise in ordinary life and business, disputes arise in the metaverse. The question is, will your metaverse…

27 September 2023

Court agrees limited publication is no bar to privacy injunction

The recent judgment of Mr Justice Ritchie in JRV & Anor v BRG [2023] EWHC 2238 (KB) granting an interim injunction to restrain details of an extra-marital affair from being published is another helpful decision on the issue of public…

26 September 2023

Digital assets: impact of Law Commission report on causes of action and remedies

In late June 2023, the Law Commission released their Digital Assets Final Report. As previously reported, the key takeaway is that the Law Commission stands by the notion of a “third category” of personal property which would cover digital assets,…

24 September 2023

Incoming: the new Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC)

In March this year, the UK Government announced the introduction of the Video Games Expenditure Credit (“VGEC”). This will come into force on 1 April 2024 and will eventually replace the current Video Games Tax Relief (“VGTR”). What is the…

24 September 2023

Children’s online safety concerns continues to fuel regulator appetite for enforcement action

The safety and privacy of children online continues to be the focus for regulators in the EU and UK. In this article, we look at the latest from the data protection regulators, what we may expect from other regulators in…

21 September 2023

The UK Government bridges the gap for UK-US personal data transfers

Yesterday, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced that from 12 October 2023, UK organisations can transfer personal data to US organisations certified under the "UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework" without the need for additional safeguards…