Rob Illidge (Marketing Execuitve)
I read in the Times this morning that Viacom have now alleged that the use of copyrighted material was central to YouTube’s website business model.
This of course is in relation to the argument that the content-sharing website had hosted more than 60,000 copyrighted videos without authorisation, including versions of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and South Park.
The figure of the lawsuit? $1bn! Surely plucked out of American lawsuit heaven.
It could be sadi that perhaps back in 2005 YouTube had a visitor’s first/worry about copyright infringement later attitude. Something I’m sure many young inspiring online entrepreneurs do.
I’m not in any way condoning the breach of copyright; although I do have my trusty Intellectual Property Solicitor here at the ready, should the Viacom heavies come knocking at my door. Not tonight though, I’ll be out!
There is no doubt that these videos are property of Viacom, but surely YouTube is simply giving shows like South Park the product extension that it needs? Read more »
Gillian Nuttall (PR & Marketing Manager)
Ralli’s resident Auntie Gill has her say:-
I am not new to Social Media, I started to use Facebook a few years ago when my daughter went to live in France. She’s been there nearly 3 years now and I still miss her very much.
Facebook is a great way for us to keep in touch. If I don’t receive a call or a text from her every couple of days, I start to wonder if she is alright. A quick look at her Facebook page will tell me what I need to know:- She is working very hard and very tired, or she is burning the candle at both ends, with the same result, very tired! Read more »
Phil Hitchen - Associate
I recently read the news that Yorkshire Pudding makers, Roberts, Aunt Bessie’s and the Real Yorkshire Pudding Company are in talks over applying for EU protection on their products.
If the plan becomes law, only puddings baked in Yorkshire or Humberside could be called “Yorkshire puddings”, denying the same name to frozen food manufacturers overseas. Read more »
Peter Flemming (Property Solicitor)
The news that house builder Bovis has just reported a pre-tax profit of £4.8 mill last year after losing 78.7 mill in 2008 is a sign that the house building sector is hopefully over the worst.
The larger house building companies with easier access to funding are all making noises that the time is right to go back into the land buying market. However it is likely that smaller companies are still finding development finance hard to come by. Read more »
Gillian Nuttall (PR & Marketing Manager)
Ralli’s resident Auntie Gill comments:-
Gordon Brown has today announced that firms that snub women will be named and shamed. What is that all about? Do such places really exist? The PM says it is “completely unacceptable” that many top firms still don’t have women in senior positions. Absolutely right Gordon! You’re spot on there! He obviously has never been to our offices – here at Ralli I think it is safe to say that the women far outnumber the men!
Read more »
I recently read from two news sources that Twitter are closer to introducing advertising on their site, whether this is search or tweet-based.
Rob Illidge (Marketing Executive)
Search-based ads will use DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) technology to scan a users tweets and relay ‘relevant’ and targeted ads back.
I suppose you could argue what is the problem with that? If I was desperately seeking an Employment Solicitor, not that I would 
, and vented my frustrations via Twitter, I would be more than happy to have a targeted ad from a Manchester based Solicitor delivered.
After all I’m using their platform so they are entitled to pursue revenue in this way.
Then there is the privacy issue. There’s always a privacy issue.
Why should Twitter ‘bombard’ users with ads that may not be relevant? And what if these ads take me to somewhere I thought I was buying ‘genuine UGG boots’ from, and ultimately ruin my online experience as a result. Read more »
Tags: employment solicitor, facebook, privacy, robert illidge, solicitors manchester, twitter, ugg boots
Business Law, Crime & Fraud, Employment, Intellectual Property, Partnership Law, Personal Injury, Property | Ralli | 
March 3, 2010 3:44 pm | 
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Maria Penny (Personal Injury Solicitor)
Henry Engelhardt, head of Admiral, recently commented that the insurance group had increased motor premiums by 12pc over the last year to “compensate for claims inflation”. He also predicted that the trend would continue this year.
However, it is also noted that premiums are likely to rise due to comparison websites, which give the consumer access to cheaper prices without the hassle of telephoning different insurers direct.
It should not be forgotten that we have also seen one of the worst winters in many years Read more »
Ralli are looking for a lawyer with a passion for IP and Media.
You will have at least 5 years experience in the following fields of commercial law:-
• Media and the Arts
• Reputation Protection & Image Rights
• Intellectual Property
• Information Technology Read more »
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