Here's OUT-LAW's Festive Five, served in chipolata-sized
chunks.
1. Freedom of information
New Year's Day brings the Freedom of Information Act into force.
Local authorities have just 20 days to supply any recorded
information – from Post-It notes to e-mail chats – to anyone who
asks for it. The Government has already been accused of ordering
mass e-mail deletions to keep secrets hidden.
See: Freedom of Information readiness
'patchy', warns Committee, OUT-LAW News, 10/12/2004
2. Software patents
Some say that patenting software stifles innovation, giving an
unfair monopoly on ideas; others say that they are as relevant to
software as they are to any other invention and that patents are
essential to protecting investment. Each side will do battle into
2005 when we should expect to see the new European Directive on the
patentability of computer-implemented inventions become law (though
it probably won't be implemented in Member States during
2005).
See: Patents Directive stalls once
again, OUT-LAW News, 22/12/2004
3. Denial of cybercrime
Not everyone thinks the Computer Misuse Act outlaws denial of
service attacks. Any doubt should be hacked away by an update to
Britain's cybercrime law, expected in 2005, the year of the Act's
15th birthday. Thereafter, attackers can expect up to two years
behind bars – although that depends on catching them first.
See: Computer Misuse Act needs reforming,
concludes APIG, OUT-LAW News, 30/06/2004
4. Keep Britain tidy
Broken TVs and aging PCs should not be dumped in landfill sites.
But the UK missed the deadline for writing this into law – so the
European Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
will have to wait until 2005 for implementation. Its rules cover
the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of all sorts of
equipment. Beware: it's the producers, not the consumers, who pick
up the tab.
See: Recycling of IT equipment deadline
passes, OUT-LAW News, 17/08/2004
5. Defrosting communication
Business leaders complacent about the need for internal
communication could face substantial fines from 6th April 2005.
That's when the ICE – or Information and Consultation of Employees
– Regulations come in force, requiring staff to be informed and
consulted about major changes in an organisation's working
practices and strategic direction, including its economic
performance.
See: How to consult with your staff – Acas
explains, OUT-LAW News, 09/08/2004
OUT-LAW News will return on Wednesday 5th January
2005.
Happy Holidays from all the team.
