Dormant Trade Marks – Use Them Or Lose Them!
Trade marks that are not put to good use merely clog up the register and have been likened to abandoned vessels in the shipping lanes of commerce. In one case on point, the Intellectual Property
Enterprises Built on Informal Oral Contracts Are Built on Sand
Enterprises built on oral contracts are built on sand and frequently give rise to bitter regret after the event that agreements were not put into writing by a lawyer. That was certainly so in one
Statistics Wrongly Ignored in Airline Purser Employment Case
Statistics do not have the best reputation – often being equated with ‘damned lies’ – but they can be of critical relevance to employment proceedings. That was certainly so in one case concerning a part-time
‘Annex’ or ‘Extension’? Village Hall Trustees Triumph in Tax Dispute
The distinction between an ‘annex’ and an ‘extension’ to a building may appear only slight. However, in a case of interest to charities and tax professionals it proved decisive to the tax treatment of an
How the Law of Confidentiality Protects Entrepreneurs – High Court Ruling
Entrepreneurs intent on raising money with a view to commercial exploitation of their ideas inevitably have to disclose detailed business plans to those they hope will provide finance. Such disclosures are not without risk but
Watch Out! Assurances Given to Employees Can Have Contractual Force!
Promises made and assurances given to employees can have contractual force, so it is vital not to make such commitments without taking legal advice. That point was made by one case in which a council
Amateur Historical Research Is No Replacement for Legal Advice
Many amateur historians enjoy pawing over old title deeds but, when it comes to discerning rights in respect of land, there is no replacement for professional advice. In one case, a homeowner carried out extensive
Buying a Houseboat? See A Lawyer First or Face That Sinking Feeling!
Buying a houseboat can be just as tricky as purchasing a house and, in both cases, legal advice is absolutely essential so that you can be sure you get what you pay for. In one
Engaged in International Trade? Watch Out for Language Barriers!
Those engaged in international trade obviously have to confront language barriers and, as one High Court case showed, it is no good sitting on your hands if you receive documents in a language that you
Court of Appeal Warns Against Legalistic Approach to Planning Decisions
When making planning decisions, local councillors are entitled to use common sense and local knowledge and it is not for judges to take a legalistic approach and second guess their conclusions. The Court of Appeal