On 12 March 2014, the European Parliament voted in favour of the revised draft EU Data Protection Regulation.  To become law the proposed Regulation must be adopted by the EU Council using the "ordinary legislative procedure".  The EU Council is due to meet in June 2014.

Background

The proposed Regulation was originally presented by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.  It has been the subject of voracious debate both in Brussels and across the EU, and has been subject to much re-drafting.   
 Continue Reading European Parliament Approves Draft EU Data Protection Regulation

Zatori Results Limited, an online retailer, has initiated High Court proceedings against Shop Direct Ireland Limited, trading as Littlewoods Ireland, seeking a High Court injunction preventing the defendant from selling their version of a Christmas jumper. They are also seeking damages for alleged infringement of its unregistered design rights, with sales of their jumper down 75% compared with sales in 2012.

The jumper in question was initially designed and sold by the Plaintiff in 2012 and became a commercial success, being one of the top selling Christmas jumpers on Amazon. Their design features a snowman, Christmas trees and stars on a navy blue background, similar to the alleged infringing jumper being sold by the Defendant.Continue Reading Festive Battle in the High Court