Business and Other Briefings

BIS: The Government has set out how costs would be shared as part of the Digital Economy Act’s measures to tackle online infringement of copyright. The decision will see costs resulting from these measures split between rights holders and internet service providers (ISPs) at a ratio of 75:25 respectively.
 
Responding to its consultation on sharing costs for implementing the initial obligations to send notifications to consumers who have infringed online copyright, the Government also announced no fee will be charged to consumers who want to appeal a notification.
 
The decision will now be notified to the European Commission before being introduced in Parliament as a Statutory Order.  Ofcom’s Online Copyright Infringement Initial Obligations Code will implement the notifications process and will also reflect the decision on costs.  This will come into force in the first half of 2011.
Press release ~ Government’s full response to the consultation ~ Ofcom: Online Copyright Infringement Initial Obligations Code ~ Digital Economy Act 2010
 
EU News: The Commission reminds companies that they must register the most widely used or most dangerous chemicals by the deadline of 30 November 2010, less than 11weeks from now.

Registration is one of the milestones of REACH, the EU Regulation on chemicals and their safe use Companies are also reminded that they must notify the Classification and Labelling of their chemicals to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by 3 January 2011.
Press release ~ MEMO/10/400 ~ EC: Enterprise & Industry - Chemicals ~ EC: Environment - Chemicals ~ ECHA press release
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