Expert Analysis

• Rowing Machine IP Loss Waters Down Design Protections

  

  The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court's recent judgment dismissing WaterRower's claim that its wooden rowing machines were works of artistic craftsmanship highlights divergence between U.K. and European Union copyright law, and signals a more stringent approach to protecting designs in a post-Brexit U.K., say lawyers at Finnegan.

• Preparing For The Next 5 Years Of EU Digital Policy

  

  The new European Commission appears poised to build on the artificial intelligence, data management and digital regulation groundwork laid by President Ursula von der Leyen's first mandate, with a strong focus on enforcement and further enhancement of previous initiatives during the next five years, say lawyers at Steptoe.

• Hawaii Climate Insurance Case Is Good News For Energy Cos.

  

  The Hawaii Supreme Court's recent ruling in a dispute between an oil company and its insurers, holding that reckless conduct in the context of activities that can cause climate harms is covered by liability policies, will likely be viewed by energy companies as a positive development, say attorneys at Fenchurch Law.

• Can Romania Escape Its Arbitral Award Catch-22?

  

  Following a recent European Union General Court decision, Romania faces an apparent stalemate of conflicting norms as the country owes payment under an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes award, but is prohibited by the European Commission from making that payment, say attorneys at Orrick.

• Key Takeaways From EU's Coming Digital Act

  

  The European Union's impending Digital Operational Resilience Act will necessitate closer collaboration on resilience, risk management and compliance, and crucial challenges include ensuring IT third-party service providers meet the requirements on or before January 2025, says Susie MacKenzie at Coralytics.

• State Immunity Case Highlights UK's Creditor-Friendly Stance

  

  The English Court of Appeal's decision in a conjoined case involving Spain and Zimbabwe, holding that the nations cannot use state immunity to escape arbitral award enforcement, emphasizes the U.K.'s reputation as a creditor-friendly and pro-arbitration jurisdiction, says Jon Felce at Cooke Young.

• Looking Back On 2024's Competition Law Issues For GenAI

  

  With inherent uncertainties in generative artificial intelligence raising antitrust issues that attract competition authorities' attention, the 2024 uptick in transaction reviews demonstrates that regulators are vigilant about the possibility that markets may tip in favor of large existing players, say lawyers at McDermott.

• When Investigating An Adversary, Be Wary Of Forged Records

  

  Warnings against the use of investigators who tout their ability to find an adversary’s private documents generally emphasize the risk of illegal activity and attorney discipline, but a string of recent cases shows an additional danger — investigators might be fabricating records altogether, says Brian Asher at Asher Research.

• New Offense Expands Liability For Corporate Enviro Fraud

  

  The Economic Crime Act's new corporate fraud offense — for which the Home Office recently released guidance — underscores the U.K.'s commitment to hold companies accountable on environmental grounds, and in lowering the bar for establishing liability, offers claimants a wider set of tools to wield against multinational entities, say lawyers at Bracewell.

• Decoding Arbitral Disputes: State Immunity And ICSID Awards

  

  In a landmark decision in cases involving Spain and Zimbabwe, the English Court of Appeal grappled with the intersection of state immunity and the enforcement of arbitration awards, setting a precedent for future disputes involving sovereign entities in the U.K, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

• Inside The Premier League's Financial Regulation Dilemma

  

  The Premier League's arbitration award in its dispute with Manchester City Football Club has raised significant financial governance concerns in English football, and a resolution may set a precedent in regulatory development, say consultants at Secretariat.

• What UK Procurement Act Delay Will Mean For Stakeholders

  

  The Procurement Act 2023’s delay until February 2025 has sparked debate among contracting authorities and suppliers, and the Labour Party’s preference for a broader reform package demonstrates the challenges involved in implementing legislative changes where there is a change in government, say lawyers at Shoosmiths.

• 2 Highlights From Labour's Notable Employment Rights Bill

  

  The Labour government’s recently unveiled Employment Rights Bill marks the start of a generational shift in U.K. employment law, and its updates to unfair dismissal rights and restrictions on fire-and-rehire tactics are of particular note, say lawyers at Covington.

• Inspecting The New Int'l Arbitration Site Visits Protocol

  

  The International Bar Association's recently published model protocol for site visits is helpful in offering a standardized, sensible approach to a range of typical issues that arise in the course of scheduling site visits in construction, engineering or other types of disputes, say attorneys at V&E.

• Opinion

  Why The UK Gov't Should Commit To An Anti-SLAPP Law

  

  Recent libel cases against journalists demonstrate how the English court system can be potentially misused through strategic lawsuits against public participation, underscoring the need for a robust statutory mechanism for early dismissal of unmeritorious claims, says Nadia Tymkiw at RPC.