United Kingdom: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

Matt Grimwood and John Howells from Newmark explore the explosive growth of the UK data centre sector, examining how power availability, grid capacity constraints...

The ongoing commercial rivalry between fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu has evolved into one of the most significant intellectual property disputes in the e-commerce sector. This landmark case examines critical questions about copyright ownership, platform liability, and the legal responsibilities of online marketplaces in the digital age.

Advertisers using AI-generated content face complex transparency requirements that vary significantly between the UK and EU. While UK law focuses on preventing consumer deception without explicit AI labelling mandates, the EU AI Act introduces strict disclosure obligations for 'deep fakes' that could catch even UK-based campaigns if they reach EU audiences.

Acquiring or developing land with telecoms apparatus requires careful navigation of the Electronic Communications Code. Operators hold powerful statutory protections that can restrict landowners' ability to relocate or remove equipment, creating potential delays and unexpected costs. Understanding your rights and obligations early in the development process is essential for managing timelines, negotiating effectively, and avoiding complications once construction begins.

Telecoms operators rely on the Electronic Communications Code to secure rights over land, but landowners retain important powers that can affect network deployment and maintenance. Understanding the interplay between statutory protections, lease renewal regimes, and contractual relocation provisions is essential to managing risk and avoiding costly disputes over apparatus installation and removal.

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled against EE Ltd for failing to substantiate comparative claims about their broadband service. The telecommunications company must now ensure all comparative advertising claims can be properly verified with supporting evidence.

When Hasbro alleged that SConnect's Wolfoo animated series infringed Peppa Pig copyrights through unauthorized audio clips, the High Court granted summary judgment based on spectrographic evidence. The case reveals critical lessons about outsourcing liability, international copyright exposure, and the strategic advantages of early litigation decisions.

A High Court ruling examines a contentious dispute between a video game developer and publisher over milestone-based funding and "step in" rights for the first-person shooter Six Days in Fallujah. With over $50 million in development costs at stake and allegations of conspiracy to acquire proprietary source code, the court declined to grant either party interim control of the game's development, leaving both sides without the "keys to the kingdom" pending a full trial.

A detailed examination of a landmark IPEC case involving luxury fashion brands LVMH, Fendi, Loewe, Christian Dior, and Celine against social media influencer Georgia Aldridge for promoting counterfeit products. The discussion explores how courts assess damages when influencers knowingly sell non-genuine branded fashion items and what this means for both brand protection and influencer liability in the digital marketplace.

OpenAI's integration of advertisements into ChatGPT marks a significant shift in how retailers can reach consumers through conversational AI. As this emerging channel offers contextual relevance at moments of genuine purchasing intent, retailers must navigate complex advertising regulations, data protection requirements, and sector-specific rules to ensure compliance while capitalizing on this novel marketing opportunity.

Recent guidance from the Advertising Standards Authority clarifies when accessibility features like audio description, closed captions, and signing must include material information in advertisements. Marketing teams face new considerations around campaign planning and compliance to ensure visually and hearing-impaired audiences receive the same essential information as other consumers.

James May has partnered with Dorset brewer Hall & Woodhouse to launch The Spanner, a traditional cask ale that raises intriguing questions about trade mark strategy in the food and drink sector. From choosing a distinctive name to navigating ownership in celebrity collaborations, this new beer demonstrates why proper trade mark protection matters before a brand goes to market.