The Lens Newsletter - November 2021

3 min read

‘Are we human, or are we dancer?’ UKIPO rethinks IP protection for AI-generated works.

The Killers, in their song ‘Human’, ponder whether human tendencies hold us back when opportunity presents itself. So too, the UK Intellectual Property Office (the “UKIPO”) has decided to consider the significance of being human when it comes to... Read more

A busy week for cyber: new rules for digital service providers and supply chains?

Last week was a busy week for cyber. The Government published its response to both its call for views on the security of digital supply chains and to proposed changes to the NIS Regulations. In the same week, the NCSC published its annual report... Read more

Will you be ready when quantum breaks encryption? Steps to take now to prepare...

While the potential opportunities quantum brings are impressive, the seismic risk it poses to current encryption methods cannot be ignored. Do you know the steps your organisation should be taking now to reduce your quantum cyber risk? Last week... Read more

Anti-virus subscription contracts: time to renew your practice.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published compliance principles on 19 October 2021 concerning auto-renewal for anti-virus software suppliers. The release of this guidance marks the latest step by the CMA in tackling its concerns... Read more

Lloyd v Google LLC: Supreme Court judgment makes it personal.

Background: old facts, new claim? This case (and the now-settled Vidal-Hall claims) all derive from Google’s alleged historic use of the ‘Safari Workaround’, which enabled the tech firm to track iPhone users’ internet browsing habits without... Read more

UK CBCD? Still TBC.

Yesterday John Glen, the economic secretary to the Treasury, made a statement on the progress made regarding the development of a UK central bank digital currency (CBDC) by a joint HM Treasury and Bank of England taskforce set up in April for the... Read more

The beginning of the end? Google loses General Court challenge over Shopping fine.

Today the General Court, the EU’s second highest court, largely dismissed Google’s challenge to the European Commission’s 2017 finding that Google had abused its dominant position and the EUR 2.42 billion fine imposed. The Commission decision in... Read more

Open Source Software enforcement – helping to reduce e-waste?

The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) has commenced litigation in the US against smart TV manufacturer Vizio for alleged breaches of open source software (OSS) licences. While a US case, this is interesting to monitor as the SFC is taking a novel... Read more

Blockchain and ESG - Legal 500 Blockchain UK Chapter Published.

The Legal 500 Blockchain UK chapter for 2021—contributed by Slaughter and May—has been published. For the first time, this year's chapter includes consideration of the extent to which blockchain has intersected with ESG (Environment, Social and... Read more

Is it only a slap in the face when you have been quickly replaced?

Alanis Morissette suggested as much in her iconic song ‘You Oughta Know’. But what happens when you have won a competitive tender, done a significant about of work on a project only to find that you have been replaced by another company... Read more