latest news
Domain Tasting - Watch out or you could get bitten! 10 Nov 2006
Caroline Slater
Twelve months ago domain tasting was a little known phenomenon, but it has been brought to prominence in the last 6 months by PIR, the non-profit-making body which manages the .org registry.
High Court rejects copyright infringement claim in Da Vinci Code Case 10 Nov 2006
Michelle Moriarty
There has been much in the press about the recent case for copyright infringement brought by the authors of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail against the publishers of the bestselling The Da Vinci Code.
New Fire Safety Rules Coming into Force on 1 October 2006 27 Jun 2006
( Construction and Engineering )
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO 2005), originally intended to be brought into force on 1 April 2006, is coming into force on 1 October 2006 and anyone who is classed as a "responsible person" under RRO 2005 needs to be aware of the changes in relation to fire safety on premises and make provision for them.
All Change for the Contaminated Land Regime with Effect from 4 August 2006 06 Jun 2006
( Construction and Engineering )
With effect from 4 August 2006:
- The existing Contaminated Land Regime (the "Regime") will be extended (subject to certain modifications) to cover radioactive contamination.
- Appeals against contaminated land remediation notices, whether served by a local authority or the Environment Agency, will be heard by the Secretary of State pursuant to the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
Gas industry rocked by second landmark contaminated land case 31 May 2006
( Construction and Engineering )
The High Court has ruled in R (on the application of National Grid Gas plc) v Environment Agency (17 May 2006) that National Grid Gas ("NGG") is liable under the Contaminated Land Regime (the "Regime") for contamination caused by its statutory predecessors. The decision has significant implications for both the gas industry and other industries and undertakings which have been the subject of nationalisation, privatisation and local government re-organisation.
Leave to appeal to the House of Lords has been granted and NGG has already indicated that will be going ahead with an appeal. The appeal is expected to be expedited.
The High Court's decision comes very soon after the controversial outcome in the first landmark contaminated land case, Circular Facilities (London) Ltd v Sevenoaks District Council ([2005] EWHC 865).
