OUT-LAW Radio

EU investigates Google

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:14:00 +0100

We look at the European Commission's competition law investigation into Google and its biggest secret – its search algorithms.

UK turns its back on net neutrality regulation

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:20:00 +0100

We analyse the UK Government's assertion that market competition is enough to head off any problems caused by a lack of net neutrality laws.

Twitter's trade mark u-turn

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:18:00 +0100

We analyse Twitter's decision to start protecting its trade marked terms more aggressively.

Famed whistleblower approves of new law

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:26:00 +0100

We talk to Sherron Watkins, the woman credited with bringing Enron fraudsters to account, about the international reach of a new US law which guarantees payouts to whistleblowers.

Blacklist could spell trouble for exporters, emailers

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:55:00 +0100

We investigate the Government blacklist of items that cannot leave the country without its permission. Seemingly innocuous items are on the list, and it covers emailed plans as well as actual items.

Keeping tabs on guests

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:52:00 +0100

We talk to the man behind a system designed to make sure that hoteliers know when a potential guest has caused upset elsewhere. Is it in line with data protection law?

Data security myths exposed

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:03:00 +0100

A data security company's research shows that what IT managers think are the best ways to stop data breaches are actually not the most effective techniques at all.

Bloggers face mass news suits

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:49:00 +0100

A company is causing a storm of controversy by acquiring the right to sue bloggers who repost newspaper articles online. Critics cry foul while targets of the suits look for the safety of settlements.

Football snap spat

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:08:00 +0100

A dispute over footballing photo rights reveals what few fans probably knew: if they take a snap at their local football ground, the club probably owns the copyright.

Handbags and bad rags

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:41:00 +0100

The fashion industry is riddled with fakery, from internet-peddled counterfeits to artful 'homages' from designer to designer. So should the rag trade change its approach to IP?

Collecting children's data

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:17:00 +0100

Your online service might collect all sorts of user data – but what if your users are children? How to stay on the right side of data protection laws when your customers are kids.

Bilski's legacy

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:54:00 +0100

One expert tells us how the long-awaited Supreme Court Bilski ruling will make life harder – and more expensive – for businesses.

Privacy doublespeak

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:27:00 +0100

We talk to one of the world's leading privacy law academics about what Google really means when it says 'privacy is important to us'. And he tells us what one measure would solve all our privacy woes.

The legal status of email

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:00:00 +0100

On the cusp of concluding a multi-million pound deal an email is sent but not read. Did it conclude the deal? The High Court decides.

Existing copyright law could protect free speech

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:11:00 +0100

We talk to an academic about the existing clause of US copyright law that could strip companies of their rights if they use copyright to bully critics.

People review site founder speaks

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:15:00 +0100

We talk to the man behind a site that allows you to anonymously review your professional peers and ask: HR godsend or libel timebomb?

Corruption law will span globe

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:59:00 +0100

We talk to a corruption expert about how the UK's new Bribery Act could govern companies all over the world, and hear from the victorious Simon Singh on today's libel victory.

Simon Singh's libel crusade

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:50:00 +0100

We talk to a crusading science journalist who has spent two years navigating libel laws that he says stifle scientific and academic debate and must be changed.

400 years of piracy

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:18:00 +0100

We dive into the rich, deep history of piracy and find that lawmakers have always been reacting, inventing the concept of intellectual property just to stymie the energetic innovations of centuries of cultural pirates.

The digits that are holding back online specs sales

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:27:00 +0100

We talk to the man behind a campaign to include one little number on eye prescriptions that could help online glasses retail to take off, and the regulator that refuses to order the inclusion.

How to hack a mobile call

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:58:00 +0100

Long-used mobile phone security was hacked in December, and a hack for 3G protection was not far behind. But how do you actually go about grabbing the signals from the sky? An expert talks us through the process and the danger for businesses.

Bribery law extended

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:34:00 +0100

A soon-to-be introduced new bribery law could put companies on the hook for the actions of rogue employees. We ask: what can they do to avoid prosecution?

Sky's landmark sales fraud victory

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:17:00 +0100

We look at a near-500 page High Court ruling that the IT services industry has been waiting for for six years and ask: do IT suppliers need to change the way they sell?

New alphabets cause security problems

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:57:00 +0100

We talk to one security expert who says that the admirable plan to permit the use of other alphabets in the making of domain names could cause security headaches.

Peers review digital bill

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:34:00 +0100

We talk to one member of the House of Lords who is trying to rewrite parts of the Government's proposed Digital Economy law to make it more closely reflect the realities of the digital age.

A new way to disconnect websites

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:11:00 +0100

Police managed to disconnect over 1,000 websites without going near a judge for a court order. How? Just by asking Nominet. Is this the future of anti-counterfeit action?

Facebook faces consumer rights

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:07:00 +0100

A Norwegian consumer protection group that successfully took on Apple has identified its next target: Facebook.

Does net cut-off plan break EU law?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:32:00 +0100

One academic has said that the disconnection of open Wi-Fi network operators for other people's actions under the Government's anti-filesharing plan could break EU law.

Is anonymisation a myth?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:21:00 +0100

We look at new research which claims that people whose information is contained in supposedly anonymised databases can in fact be commonly identified.

Can data centres survive carbon cutting?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:47:00 +0100

We look at the UK's pioneering scheme to cut carbon emissions and ask: will it force power-hungry data centres to flee abroad?

Class actions to come to Scotland?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:22:00 +0100

We look into a review of Scottish litigation that recommends the introduction of the controversial class action process that some people could see as either the saviour of consumers or a gravy train for greedy lawyers.

Whatever happened to P3P?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:30:00 +0100

We find out why the P3P system which allowed computers and websites to automatically negotiate the use of private information failed and look at what might replace it.

What does 'non-commercial' mean?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:45:00 +0100

We examine the term at the heart of many copyright licences and find that nobody – not lawyers, users of content, or creators of it – is exactly sure what it means.

Should patent infringers be jailed?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:05:00 +0100

Inventor of the wind-up radio Trevor Baylis has called for patent infringement to be criminalised. He tells OUT-LAW Radio why.

The forgotten IP right

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:55:00 +0100

We talk to a lobbyist who is petitioning the UK's Prime Minister to raise the profile of possibly the least talked about intellectual property right: design rights.

Teenage clicks

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:59:00 +0100

Feargal Sharkey, former Undertone turned industry bigwig, discusses a recent report on the real downloading habits of the UK's youth and just how many concessions the industry should make to downloaders.

Crowds fill VC funding gap

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:29:00 +0100

We find a company that is coping with a recessionary funding drought by turning investment on its head. Instead of asking few people for lots of money, Trampoline Systems is asking many for a little.

Opposition's data plans

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:21:00 +0100

We talk to Britain's Conservative Party about plans to use distributed storage to help get the most out of the massive amounts of personal data held by Government.

Story-hunting software

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:30:00 +0100

We look at new technology that is designed to help content producers track use of their material and ask: does it take enough notice of copyright law's fair dealing exemptions?

Software mismanagement

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:23:00 +0100

We look at research that shows that companies manage their software badly, leading to legal troubles and extra costs.

Image trouble

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:44:00 +0100

We look into the legal pitfalls of using images, and explain why users need to worry about more than just copyright law

TV winners

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:22:00 +0100

We look at the success of the TV formats industry - all the more amazing because the ideas at its heart enjoy little legal protection

Links and levies

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:41:00 +0100

We delve into the world of clippings services as a newspaper body tries to get media monitoring agencies and clients to pay up for forwarding web links

Can UK users fight web throttling?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:06:00 +0100

We examine the legal standing of ISP customers faced with restrictions on what they can watch online. Can ISPs charge website operators under the threat of throttling access? We find out.

Patent problems and tattooed trade marks

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:33:00 +0100

We look at the problems with the latest in a long line of attempts to create a pan-EU litigation system, and talk to an Australian behind a chart of the most popular trade marked tattoos

DRM and the law

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:39:00 +0100

We find out if DRM anti-copying technology can keep up with the complexities of copyright law

Will companies soon face IT addiction lawsuits?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:54:00 +0100

We talk to an academic who says that companies need to change the way they work today to avoid a raft of tech addiction suits in the future

Should IP law even exist?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:34:00 +0100

We hear from two economists who think that scrapping copyright and patent law would make the world a more creative and richer place

Will ancient law stifle journalists?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:51:00 +0100

We look at a 90 year old law that could help some news organisations but hinder the spread of news, plus we discover just how much cybercriminals make in a day

Is Google's Street View legal?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:35:00 +0100

As Google launches its Street View photo-mapping tool in the UK, we assess a legal challenge about to be mounted to the controversial service

Whatever happened to digital signatures?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:44:00 +0100

We wonder why the most complex and secure kinds of electronic signatures never really took off

Will text-to-speech tech kill the audio book?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:04:00 +0100

We find out why the publishing industry is worried about text-to-speech software being included on e-book readers

Linux mob attacks patent trolls

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:45:00 +0100

We talk to the open source advocates who are building a public library of knowledge to block future patents claims against Linux

Is 'fair dealing' protection too pricey for bloggers?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:54:00 +0100

We talk to the journalist at the heart of a copyright law fight and wonder if individuals can ever afford protection under copyright law

IP in ivory towers: cash or conscience?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:37:00 +0100

We look at the way that Universities exploit their intellectual property and ask: are they too focused on raising money at the expense of social benefit?

CVs and lies: an employer's options

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:34:00 +0100

As a local authority pursues an ex-employee for £1m for alleged deception in the recruitment process, how should employers deal with CV fibbers?

The verdict on outgoing privacy watchdog

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:19:00 +0100

As Richard Thomas prepares to step aside as the UK's Information Commissioner and his successor is named, we ask: how good a job did he do?

Parody libel defence gains traction

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:05:00 +0100

How Elton John's failed libel action has introduced a US-style defence of parody into UK law, and one Dutch firm's holey solution to an eco-problem

Santa's wasteful wonderland

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:48:00 +0100

We find out where all that cardboard from your online Christmas shopping goes, and whether it stops some recipients even getting their gifts

Top EU court changes web contact rules

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:43:00 +0100

We talk to the lawyer who wants ad and search giant Google to pay out one thousand dollars a time for typosquatting sites that display its ads

Should Google pay out typosquatting billions?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:00:00 +0100

We talk to the lawyer who wants ad and search giant Google to pay out one thousand dollars a time for typosquatting sites that display its ads

How to keep your corporate secrets safe

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:19:00 +0100

We look at some of the technologies companies can use to avoid becoming one of the shocking 92% of British firms which do not encrypt their precious data

Wi-Fi file-sharing guilt must be proved

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:23:00 +0100

We talk to the Danish lawyer who won a key ruling against the music industry from a court which said record companies have to prove that Wi-Fi users shared files

Are ISPs about to betray our trust?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:13:00 +0100

We hear from a US law professor who thinks that ISPs are in a position of unprecedented privilege and yet are preparing to invade our privacy for profit

Piracy: not the enemy, but the competition

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:58:00 +0100

We talk to an anti-piracy pro who says that content producers should stop trying to stifle piracy and concentrate on competing with it better

Are new house-sale competitions illegal?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:14:00 +0100

We investigate the legality of a rash of new competitions in which £25 tickets buy the chance to win a house. Are they competitions or illegal lotteries in disguise?

Why database law is bad for business

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:48:00 +0100

An expert in the byzantine field of database law explains why the protections given by Brussels to databases have been counter-productive

Are patents and copyrights making innovation impossible?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:56:00 +0100

We hear from an academic who believes that intellectual property law could smother the very innovation it is designed to protect, leaving the economy in gridlock

The secrets of the emerging moderation industry

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:05:00 +0100

We talk to the major players in the emerging moderation industry whose workers keep forum comments clean from bases in locations from Kiev to Senegal

Avoiding customer review pitfalls

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:54:00 +0100

We look at how two sites allowing customers to review doctors and lawyers plan on keeping themselves out of the courts

The battle for Narnia

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:11:00 +0100

We talk to the woman who fought and lost a battle to keep the narnia.mobi domain name, which she said was bought for her son

How software escrow could help you keep software suppliers in line

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:24:00 +0100

We look at the esoteric world of software escrow to find out if it can give your company the edge in negotiating with suppliers

The search engine that has no idea who you are

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:08:00 +0100

While privacy activists protest at Google and others' keeping of data about our searches, we talk to the man behind a Dutch search engine that almost instantly deletes users' data

The legal hurdles facing fantasy news service

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0100

We talk to the team behind an entertaining new fantasy news service about the legal hurdles they have had to leap to promote their business in the US

Why limitless domains will anger big brands

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:45:00 +0100

We look at the disastrous impact on big brands of ICANN's decision to allow any internet domain to be registered, and we explain why the EU wants more returns on university research

Crooked worker database could land employers in trouble

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:53:00 +0100

We investigate a new database of dishonest workers, and the pitfalls that could lie in wait for participating employers

Web TV operation says copyright law gives it licence

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:50:00 +0100

Live web TV operator Zattoo.com defends its approach to simulcasting UK broadcasters' content without their permission

TV phone scandals claim another scalp

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:20:00 +0100

As ITV faces a £5.7m fine, we ask an industry rep why nobody noticed the abuses while they happened

Is content scraping legal?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100

We ask whether the website scraping that underpins the emerging aggregator industry falls foul of the law

Why blind users are having trouble with PDFs

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:00:00 +0100

We find that few authors of PDFs know how to make them accessible to blind users

RSS re-publishers are liable for unlawful content

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:32:00 +0100

We report on the French court ruling that could put many a publisher off using RSS feeds

Google's trade mark tweak could cost businesses dear

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:06:00 +0100

We investigate the change Google has made to trade mark rules in its AdWords system, and find it could increase ad costs by a factor of six.

Will the court bridge the software patent divide?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:36:00 +0100

We look at whether or not the UK courts are trying to make UK patent law more like that in Europe, where software can sometimes be patented. Plus we find out how large companies can save time and money implementing the Companies Act

Can remote software be private?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:32:00 +0100

Software as a service is an emerging trend, but can you use US-based services and keep your documents from the prying eyes of the US authorities?

Has the internet failed on the law?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:52:00 +0100

The internet has brought free, valuable information to people all over the world, so why has it not brought free access to the most basic building block of society, the law?

Is off the record legally protected?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:00:00 +0100

As an Obama aide resigns over off the record comments, we investigate if a law that protected Prince Albert can do the same for journalists' sources. Plus we talk to an MEP who wants to decriminalise file sharing

Is trade mark law censorship?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:09:00 +0100

After a woman reported that plastic surgery left her ears in the wrong place, we look at whether trade mark laws are being used to censor customer review websites

Second hand software

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:25:00 +0100

We see how one company is dealing with Microsoft's apparent clampdown on second hand software sales. Plus we ask: is it worth suing spammers?

Are software licences fair?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:12:00 +0100

We investigate complaints that user licences for software are unfair and draconian. Plus: we look at a conflict between UK authorities on what exactly counts as personal data

World of phishing exposed

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:30:00 +0100

We investigate the shifting of the main front in the music industry's battle against piracy: they now want ISPs to police networks for them, and look to have government backing.

Copyright battle and ISPs

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:08:00 +0100

We investigate the shifting of the main front in the music industry's battle against piracy: they now want ISPs to police networks for them, and look to have government backing.

IP addresses and privacy

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:05:00 +0100

Can your internet address be protected under privacy law? We talk to the leader of the EU's privacy watchdogs about the controversial question. Plus we hear how social networking sites are failing disabled users.

Human rights challenge to RIPA

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:59:00 +0100

We investigate whether or not a new law compelling UK citizens to hand over encryption keys on pain of being jailed might strip them of their right to a fair trial.

Commission: solid legal ground?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:01:00 +0100

We look at whether the court case underpinning the European Commission's anti-Microsoft case is really as solid as was thought, and we look at how front-running landed Network Solutions in hot water.

Microsoft dominance challenged

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:46:00 +0100

We talk to the small European browser maker which is taking an ambitious case against Microsoft, and we look at the future of mobile phone tracking.

Battle for content control

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:31:00 +0100

We look at a new technology to help content producers control their material and ask: will search companies allow it to flourish? And we talk to the man charged with potentially re-writing data protection laws.

Are libel laws wrong?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:33:00 +0100

We look at claims that free speech on the web is silenced too easily by threatening a host without ever having to prove defamation.

Is drinking a disability?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:56:00 +0100

Employment experts tell us how alcoholism is getting disability discrimination protection through the back door, and talk to a Dutch man who is spying on his whole town.

Privacy battle rages

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:46:00 +0100

The privacy chiefs of Europe and Google battle over privacy rights and whether technology or the law should protect us.

FOI for private sector?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:14:00 +0100

We talk to the Scottish Information Commissioner about plans north and south of the border to extend freedom of information laws to private companies.

Amateur vs Amazon

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:26:00 +0100

We talk to the amateur patent sleuth who felled Amazon's one-click patent, and find out how emails in court cases can cost companies millions.

Secrecy law gutted

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:31:00 +0100

We investigate how a recent ruling could undermine Freedom of Information laws, and look into how BT is finally making Wi-Fi sharing safe.

The long wait for WCAG 2.0

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:17:00 +0100

We hear that new web accessibility guidelines are on the way. But is it too late for them?

CCTV in the dock

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:28:00 +0100

We hear how the cameras that try to catch us misbehaving are mostly themselves operating illegally.

A patent revolution

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:10:00 +0100

We go behind the scenes at a pioneering project which hopes to use internet collaboration to save an ailing US patent system.

A music revolution and tank hacking

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:43:00 +0100

We talk to the founder of the music world's anti-label, which allows you to choose how much to pay for music, and find out how to stop a tank being hacked.

Rate-a-lawyer site under attack

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:14:00 +0100

We talk to both sides in a battle over a web-based system which gives US lawyers a score out of 10 and we ask: can a number be libellous?

The Facebook conundrum

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:08:00 +0100

We ask why half of employees are now blocked from Facebook, how the site can cause companies trouble and why users are making friends with a frog.

The best of OUT-LAW Radio

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:15:00 +0100

We present the highlights of the first year of OUT-LAW Radio, from wireless security in a paint can to the plight of Gary McKinnon to protests from Billy Bragg.

The inside story of selling security secrets

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:28:00 +0100

We talk to the man behind a new market with a difference: it sells IT security secrets to the highest bidder.

The mysteries of the typosquatters

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:28:00 +0100

We investigate one of the web's dirty secrets: typosquatting, and ask just how bad it is for established business.

Second hand software comes of age

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:21:00 +0100

We look at how data protection laws from Europe are implemented poorly.

The flaws in data protection law

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:40:00 +0100

We look at how data protection laws from Europe are implemented poorly.

Belgian ISPs fight for their lives

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:27:00 +0100

We investigate an unexpected landmark ruling which threatens the legal protections ISPs enjoy in Europe.

Second Life's first IP fight

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:24:00 +0100

We talk to the lawyer taking on the first copyright spat to hit virtual world Second Life, and we hear why your boss might own your Facebook profile.

Web activists beat TV industry

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:21:00 +0100

We hear about the web activism campaign that changed WIPO policy, and talk to a publishing exec who took the law temporarily into his own hands.

Blur drummer on file-sharing

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:20:00 +0100

We ask music industry renegades including Blur's drummer what they think should be done about file sharing and copyright.

The end for internet radio?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:07:00 +0100

We look at the devastating effect a new licensing regime will have on internet radio and warn against war driving in the UK.

Google privacy chief talks

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:24:00 +0100

We hear why Google privacy chief Peter Fleischer thinks European data protection officials should stop meddling with its search log retention policies.

New anti-phishing tech

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:27:00 +0100

We investigate a new anti-faker technology that hopes to beat phishing, and we hear about some quirks in the UK's anti-smoking laws.

Personal numbers in scam claim

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:22:00 +0100

We talk to the person behind a one-man campaign against the sometimes shockingly-high cost of calling personal numbers, and hear what Ofcom is doing about it.

Mumsnet's net libel battle

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:38:00 +0100

We talk to Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts about an epic web forum libel battle and to an academic who wants to turn copyright on its head.

A new domain to combat phishing

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:38:00 +0100

We hear from a leading light in the security industry on a planned top-level domain that aims to scupper phishing attacks.

TiVo inventor on changing TV

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:28:00 +0100

We talk to Mike Ramsay, the man who invented the TiVo, the machine that redefined television and put the wind up the entertainment industry.

Bringing Yahoo! down with blogs

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 09 May 2007 13:33:00 +0100

We talk to the man whose blogs, wikis and YouTube videos aim to bring down Yahoo! management, and to the lawyer taking on Google's AdWords system.

The story behind the Gowers IP Review

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:00:00 +0100

Andrew Gowers speaks exclusively to OUT-LAW Radio on World Intellectual Property Day on the story behind his influential Government-commissioned review of IP.

Font theft: the forgotten piracy

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:03:00 +0100

We unveil the scale of font theft, the invisible, forgotten wing of software piracy, and we ask: will corporations soon own all the colours of the rainbow?

Wireless security in a paint can

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 13:07:00 +0100

We investigate a computer security system you paint on your walls and catch up on big news from punter-papparazi company Scoopt.

Last chance saloon for European patents

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:02:00 +0100

As Charlie McCreevy gives European patent reform one last chance, we ask: can he break a 30-year deadlock?

Premium phone operators need a licence

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:19:00 +0100

We discover that operators of now-controversial premium rate phone quizzes will soon need lottery licences, and we find out when it's OK for one game developer to copy another.

Schemes to skirt copyright law

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:28:00 +0100

We look at two imaginative ways that companies are trying to give copyright law a body swerve, and talk to the lawyer helping one German millionaire stand up to Google.

Porn's search for a home

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:49:00 +0100

The man behind proposed porn domain .XXX talks about government influence on ICANN and self regulation in the adult realm, and we get the inside story on Gary McKinnon's daring new defence.

Spam battle rages in court

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:09:00 +0100

We talk to the two sides in one of the few spam suits to reach court in the UK about the case and its disputed aftermath.

Craigslist boss talks

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:58:00 +0100

Craigslist has taken the US by storm and its pages are read 6 billion times a month. CEO Jim Buckmaster explains why he and founder Craig Newmark don't want your money.

Making money with mobile photos

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:39:00 +0100

We talk to the man behind a company that represents the growing legion of citizen photo-journalists to the big boys of old media, and keeps a few Royal Family secrets along the way.

England's new privacy law

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:54:00 +0100

We hear how a new privacy law is developing in England for the first time, and investigate a piece of software for Skype that could land you in jail.

DRM, the law and the social cost

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:32:00 +0100

As Apple's Steve Jobs calls for DRM free music, we look at the legal basis and social impact of copy control technology, and we look at a looming battle between the relatively new information access and privacy laws.

Landmark accessibility ruling

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:00:00 +0100

The disability discrimination ruling that could change cross-border e-commerce, and why the Information Commissioner is not like the traffic police.

Anti-ID theft tools

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:32:00 +0100

We look at what you can do to avoid having your digital identity stolen, and discover why Britain's doctors may be about to derail the NHS's £12bn IT system.

Cisco could lose iPhone trade mark

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:08:00 +0100

We uncover evidence that Cisco could lose the rights to the iPhone trade mark in Europe, where Apple is next in line to register the name.

Nightmares at Christmas

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:20:00 +0100

With Christmas music booming out of every shop speaker, we talk to the people attempting to stop the rot, for employees' sakes, including an Austrian union rep and a Lord.

UK's plans for child databases

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 10:50:00 +0100

We find about about how the Government plans to track children, possibly illegally, and talk to one of email's pioneers.

The Gowers review

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:45:00 +0100

We dig deep into the Gowers report and find recommendations for pricier CDs and a return to hip hop's glory days, plus an update on Gary McKinnon's extradition case.

A VC speaks on Web 2.0

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:13:00 +0100

The man who refused to invest in YouTube talks us through the hype and hope of Web 2.0 from the point of view of the ultimate tech insider.

What next for tech?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:30:00 +0100

We gaze into a crystal ball with a technology expert to see which technologies will earn the big bucks, and talk to a man being evicted because of a website.

Surveillance is ever-present

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:48:00 +0100

Technology is helping to create a surveillance society, says the Information Commissioner; we investigate how surveillance is ever present, and how it is creating a divided society.

Music industry mulls law change

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:48:00 +0100

We hear how the law on the use of MP3 players is so out of date, even the music industry wants to relax the rules, and we talk to the man who beat the TV licence rap.

IP on the block

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:08:00 +0100

A groundbreaking auction of intellectual property in New York will try to put a price on ideas; hear from the man with the hammer. Plus: the British Library gets tough on copyright.

Google's court opponent speaks

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:03:00 +0100

Will the government's new rules neuter the Freedom of Information Act? And who will be the next target for Google's Belgian nemesis? Find out in this week's podcast.

Will YouTube make Google a magnet for litigation?

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:14:00 +0100

Will Google's acquisition of YouTube put it at the forefront of the new internet boom or mire it in lawsuits? Find out from legal and financial experts in this week's podcast.

The world of corporate espionage

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:37:00 +0100

Delve deep into the murky world of corporate espionage and surveillance to find out how companies go about conducting – and avoiding – spying campaigns in this week's podcast.

The digital election

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 16:38:00 +0100

Hear from the people behind the world's first election using digital pen and paper, which took place today in a small Scottish town – and from the Swedish pirates planning to take over Europe, in this week's podcast.

Why the internet needs Spamhaus

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 10:32:00 +0100

The man whose blacklists keep email out of your inbox talks to OUT-LAW Radio. Spamhaus founder Steve Linford talks about why he founded Spamhaus and what would happen if his lists didn't exist. Plus: Irish barrister TJ McIntyre talks about trying to have the EU's Data Retention Directive repealed.

Online gambling

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:08:00 +0100

Hear from experts in online gambling, talking about the recent arrests of executives from online gambling companies in the US. Plus: a researcher talks about what she found when posing as a 14-year-old on a social networking site.

Video games and shootings

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 17:22:00 +0100

Veteran anti-video game campaigner Jack Thompson explains why he thinks that video games were behind a recent US school shooting, and why violent game sales to young people must be banned. Plus: an interview with the company behind new mobile phone spying software.

Billy Bragg on MySpace

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:09:00 +0100

Singer Billy Bragg discusses his triumph in getting social networking site MySpace to change its small print. Plus: how a wi-fi connection and hundreds of cheerleaders helped to defeat a US lawsuit.

Hacker Gary McKinnon

struan.robertson@pinsentmasons.com — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:14:00 +0100

Gary McKinnon, a hacker who faces imminent extradition to the US, shares his views on his treatment by the legal system and reveals what he found on NASA's computers. Plus: news round-up.