Privacy

Field Fisher partner exits continue as duo head for PwC and Bird & Bird

By Pui-Guan Man | April 10, 2014

Field Fisher technology star Stewart Room is departing for a role at PwC Legal, as it emerges that head of trademarks Mark Holah is set to join Bird & Bird.

1 minute read

The president and the actress - what are Hollande's legal options over affair claims?

By Legal Week | January 15, 2014

"It is no longer a rumour, just the truth. For the past six months, Francois Hollande has been meeting the actress, Julie Gayet, in her second home, nestled in a street adjacent to the Elysee." So began the seven-page exclusive published by the notorious French tabloid Closer last Friday (10 January).

1 minute read

Handle with care – Hong Kong's new data protection laws in the spotlight

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong | July 18, 2013

It would be an understatement to say that recent changes to Hong Kong's data privacy rules were a wake-up call for companies doing business in the region. The strict new Personal Data Privacy Ordinance (PDPO), which came into force on 1 April, has banned companies from using personal data in direct marketing without getting consent from the people being targeted. This threatens to curtail businesses' advertising campaigns and flood IT departments with opt-out requests.

1 minute read

A chorus of cant – you can't trust newspapers on Leveson

By Alex Novarese | November 29, 2012

I enjoy a laugh as much as anyone and the newspaper industry – and it is an industry – has done much to contribute to my mirth over the past two months with a series of pre-emptive strikes ahead of publication this week of recommendations from the Leveson Inquiry. Since I'm writing this the day before the report is issued on Thursday (29 November), what Leveson will recommend remains unclear, though the money has been on some form of beefed-up self-regulation with a statutory back-stop since day one.

1 minute read

Media in a spin: how the Leveson Inquiry will affect privacy law

By Legal Week | November 20, 2012

Will the Leveson Inquiry make a difference to press regulation in the UK, and where will it leave privacy law? Richard Lloyd assesses the results of the latest Legal Week Benchmarker, in association with Mishcon de Reya.

1 minute read

McAlpine settles with BBC over Newsnight claims as ex-Tory pursues social media users

By Pui-Guan Man | November 15, 2012

The scandal over a BBC report featuring allegations of child abuse by a former Conservative politician has placed renewed scrutiny on the legal implications of comments posted on social media sites such as Twitter. Following the Newsnight broadcast earlier this month, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord McAlpine rapidly became the subject of a number of allegations on social media sites, despite the fact he was not named by the programme.

1 minute read

The BBC, Lord McAlpine and libel law

By Legal Week | November 12, 2012

The past week has seen a series of extraordinary events arising out of a BBC Newsnight broadcast about sexual abuse in children's homes in North Wales in the 1970s and 1980s. This led to the wide dissemination of false allegations against the former Conservative Party Treasurer, Lord McAlpine and resulted in the resignation of the Director General of the BBC. The case gives rise to a number of interesting libel law questions and casts doubt on the appropriateness of a proposed new 'public interest defence'.

1 minute read

UK's top libel judge warns of death of specialist media bench

By Alex Novarese | October 4, 2012

The lot, it turns out, of a Queen's Bench Division (QBD) judge – and specialist judges in general – is not a happy one, according to the provocative keynote address at the highly-regarded 5RB Media and Entertainment Law Conference last week.

1 minute read

French privacy law, media cynicism and the likely penalties for publishing the Kate Middleton pics

By Legal Week | September 17, 2012

There is little doubt about the legal position: the publication of topless photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge by "Closer" magazine in France was illegal. The taking and publishing of the photographs constituted a criminal offence and a civil wrong. But the editor of the magazine, owned by Mondadori France, made a cynical calculation that the likely penalties were going to be much less than the financial rewards. Weighing worldwide publicity against potential penalties of a few tens of thousands of euros, it was no contest.

1 minute read

Harbottle leads as Royals take legal action over Kate Middleton pictures

By Pui-Guan Man | September 14, 2012

Harbottle & Lewis is advising the Royal Family on its legal action against the publishers of Closer Magazine France, after topless photographs of Kate Middleton were printed by the French celebrity magazine. Pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge, taken during a recent private holiday with her husband Prince William in France, were made public after the French edition of Closer magazine published the images today (14 September).

1 minute read

Legaltech News

Will Giving Federal Jury BIPA Reins Mean Larger Damages, More Litigation?

By Isha Marathe | July 13, 2023

An Illinois federal court has allowed a jury discretion to decide damages in a BIPA case for the first time. For attorneys, this further complicates the contentious statute.

5 minute read

Legaltech News

Is the Third Try the Charm? EU Officials Say This Time the New Data Deal Is Legally Sound; Privacy Advocates Disagree

By Linda A. Thompson | July 12, 2023

Privacy activist Max Schrems says the new framework fails to protect EU citizens and does not address all of the concerns previously raised by the European Court of Justice. Once again, he says he will challenge the new agreement in Europe's highest court.

6 minute read

Corporate Counsel

Is the Third Try the Charm? EU Officials Say This Time the New Data Deal Is Legally Sound; Privacy Advocates Disagree

By Linda A. Thompson | July 12, 2023

Privacy activist Max Schrems says the new framework fails to protect EU citizens and does not address all of the concerns previously raised by the European Court of Justice. Once again, he says he will challenge the new agreement in Europe's highest court.

6 minute read

Law.com

EU Officials Claim 3rd Pass at New Data Deal Is Legally Sound, but Privacy Advocates Disagree

By Linda A. Thompson | July 12, 2023

Privacy activist Max Schrems says the new framework fails to protect EU citizens and does not address all of the concerns previously raised by the European Court of Justice. Once again, he says he will challenge the new agreement in Europe's highest court.

6 minute read

Legaltech News

Threading the Needle: 10 Things Legal Needs to Know About Threads

By Cat Casey, Reveal-Brainspace | July 11, 2023

For legal professionals, the rise of the new app Threads opens new avenues for engagement, networking, and information sharing, while also raising questions about privacy, data security, and the impact on legal professionals' online presence.

10 minute read

Corporate Counsel

Hackers Can Steal Encryption Keys From a Distance Using Video

By Dr. Michael Klipstein | July 6, 2023

On June 13, security researchers disclosed their findings that encryption keys for wireless devices are vulnerable to theft. This research found that cameras in cellular phones or commercial surveillance systems can be used to record power light emitting diodes (LEDs) from up to 60 feet away from a device, thus capturing encryption keys.

3 minute read

Corporate Counsel

As Privacy Laws Proliferate, So Does Mismatch Between Companies' Notices, Practices

By Cassandre Coyer | July 6, 2023

"It takes a mature organization to have processes that require a product developer or a marketer to always check in with their privacy team before they move ahead," said Lynn Parker Dupree, partner at Finnegan.

4 minute read

Corporate Counsel

Job-Hopping Biotech Lawyers Losing Leverage as Funding Challenges Chill Sector

By Maria Dinzeo | July 3, 2023

"Companies are not hiring at the same pace, for sure, and searches are taking longer to close, as companies are being a lot more introspective on who to hire," said Deb Thompson, a Major, Lindsey & Africa partner.

4 minute read

Law.com

'Threatened Injury Is Too Speculative': Federal Judge Tosses Elephant Insurance Data Breach Class Action for Lack of Standing

By Allison Dunn | July 3, 2023

The district court looked to case law out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for guidance.

5 minute read

Daily Report Online

'A Big Decision': New Ga. Court of Appeals Opinion Weighs HIPAA Compliance With Medical-Malpractice Defense

By Alex Anteau | June 30, 2023

"While the broader importance of this decision relates to medical malpractice cases, patient privacy and how the competing interests of litigants and privacy come together, for us it's a vindication [Scott Bailey] deserved," said defendant-appellant Page Powell.

5 minute read