Emma Wright

In advance of Pinsent Masons' AI conference on 4 July, Philip N. and Karl Simons OBE have produced this article published in SHP: The impact of AI on H&S management and legislative compliance #healthandsafety

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The Finalists for The British Legal Technology Awards 2024 ‘Most Innovative Firm of the Year’ category - Sponsored by Litera have now been announced! Visit https://lnkd.in/enJ4rdNJ to find out who has been shortlisted for the next round of judging. #BLTA2024 #legaltech #legalit #legaltechnology #lawfirm #cybersecurity

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Online safety and Ofcom are big news today - with Ofcom confirming the next steps in its regulation of online service providers. Here's our TLT take on the subject and some suggestions on how to develop a compliance plan for the Online Safety Act. #december2024 #getready with Alastair Edmondson and Oluwagbemiga O.!

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The UK Court of Appeal 🏛️ recently issued its judgment in Interdigital v Lenovo, further consolidating the UK jurisprudence on FRAND and the setting of FRAND royalties. Whilst largely upholding the trial judge’s decision, the Court of Appeal increased the royalties payable by Lenovo and confirmed that the FRAND licence fees determined by the Court can extend beyond normal limitation periods (unlike damages for patent infringement). Highly recommend this article by my colleagues Andrew Moir, David Webb and Amelia Chammas for further insights on this decision 🌟 #intellectualproperty #patents #SEPs #FRAND

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Great day At LPM Conference 2024 with Stephen Mayson, honorary professor, faculty of law, University College London and his talk on the changing ethics threshold in law firms. #LPM2024 #smelawfirms #uklawfirms #legalmarket #legalbusiness

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Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator has set out its regulatory strategy for AI. Ofcom's responsibilities include TV, radio, streaming services, online safety, media literacy and media plurality. Ofcom recognises the advantages of AI (such as optimising communications, improving safety technologies and creating compelling visuals) and the pitfalls (especially illegal or harmful content, such as deepfakes). It intends to "harness the benefits while mitigating risks in line with the Government’s pro-innovation approach to AI", through the "lens" of the UK Government's AI principles: "safety, security and robustness; appropriate transparency and explainability; fairness; accountability and governance; and contestability and redress", while working with industry stakeholders. Ofcom has set out four key areas: ▶ Regulation of services that use AI technologies. Examples include: the Online Safety Act (https://lnkd.in/g8uvA9cZ), which requires service providers to mitigate the risks of users encountering illegal or harmful content; conditions set under the Communications Act (https://lnkd.in/gug_YrS3) against scams; security requirements for telecommunications under the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 (https://lnkd.in/gYw_Tyf7); and competition and consumer powers that may be used against, e.g., personalised pricing. ▶ Work to date to understand and tackle AI risks. Ofcom is studying three key cross-cutting risks: synthetic media; personalisation; and security and resilience. Priorities on synthetic media includes accountability (for broadcasters and online services), research into detection and transparency, and engaging with telecoms providers over preventing scams. ▶ Capability to address AI risks. Ofcom has around 60 AI experts, is building partnerships with academic institutions and is pursuing a data literacy programme. ▶ Cooperating with others on AI issues. Ofcom is working with other regulators via the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum. This will include an "AI and Digital Hub" to enable innovators to raise cross-regulatory questions. Ofcom is also engaging internationally on online safety (via GOSRN - https://lnkd.in/gyHZQN8H) and broadcasting regulators (via EPRA - https://www.epra.org). ▶ Planned AI work. Ofcom has provided an annex of planned work. At this stage, the plans are almost entirely guidance relating to online safety, research, monitoring and consulting. Ofcom's AI strategy in full: https://lnkd.in/dS9k6gpX Fourteen UK regulators have set out their plans for regulating AI. I've collated links to their responses here: https://lnkd.in/gBvR_exG #AI #regulation #UK

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One of the biggest surprises to me is that carpark technology is such a hot asset! Read the Pearce IP summary of the finale (for now) of the long-running dispute between VMS and SARB in community overstay detection systems below:

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I can highly recommend this webinar. You’ll hear from Experian’s Andrew Mills, and my partners Richard and Ben, about an important data protection appeal that we acted on for Experian. Some interesting bits on data enrichment, transparency and use of public data 📅 Register your interest below: #DataProtection #Webinar #LegalInsight #ExperianJudgment #Linklaters

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The interplay of AI, data and the role of the human in litigation was brought under the lens at our morning fireside chat yesterday, held in collaboration with Epiq for #LIDW24. Chaired by court reporting expert Lorraine Medcraft and insights from our CRO Peter Nussey and partner Guy Pendell from CMS UK. One key discussion takeaway underscored how data and AI outputs can serve as crucial anchors and reference points at various stages of litigation, but human judgment and creative thinking remain essential in their application and in determining final outcomes. #legaltech #DisputeResolution

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A fascinating morning Chairing a session of the Westminster Media Forum conference on 'The future for online advertising policy and regulation in the UK'. We discussed the benefits of a 'polycentric' system of regulation that is agile, flexible and industry led - but with a legal backstop. And, of course, the Competition and Markets Authority has a role as one of those legal backstops, a role which has been considerably strengthened under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Act. The Advertising Standards Authority will continue to act as the ‘frontline day-to-day’ regulator of online advertising, but it will be very interesting to see the outcome of (what is likely to be) increased collaboration and coordination between the ASA and the CMA as the DMCCA beds in. Thanks to Shahriar Coupal, Jules Kendrick, Harriet Kingaby, Jonathan Hardy and Nick Johnson for their thoughtful and well-prepared presentations, and to Mark Lund OBE for his erudite closing comments on priorities and next steps within the industry. #onlineadvertising #wmeventsconference #consumerlaw #competitionlaw #DMCCA #CMA

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My analysis and summary of the latest ONS release on UK legal services B2B pricing in the UK. Coming off a hot 7.4% increase in 2023 with early signs of cooling in 2024 Q1, I anticipate 2024 legal services price inflation remaining notably higher than the pre-covid average of 2.9%, settling closer to the post-covid trend of 5.5%. Partners and Pricing Professionals can likely expect greater pushback from clients on price increases this year. 2024 is as much about tactics as it is about strategy. Firms that haven't meaningfully moved the dial on their prices in the past few years are likely to have a tougher time of it this year. With thanks to Graeme J. for his input into an earlier draft.

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96% of UK businesses do not know the value of their IP rights* Don’t let your business miss out - unlock the full potential of your IP at our webinar. If you want to learn more about: 📰 the valuation process 🔍 how to enhance the value of your IP 📊 discovering different ways of monetising IP Then this webinar is for you. Tomorrow is the big day! Join me and David Stears of Buzzacott / Buzzacott Corporate Finance for an insightful webinar on how IP can be a powerful asset for growth and profitability. This is your 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 your place - sign up via the link in the comments below. * Source: IPO Report 2024 #IntellectualProperty #IPvaluation #IPmonetisation #Intangen  

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We really enjoyed our joint webinar with Buzzacott yesterday on IP Valuation and Monetisation. We discussed key strategies for businesses to value and effectively monetise their IP assets, offering practical insights into unlocking the hidden potential within these assets (including some less obvious options). Thank you to David Stears for the collaboration and to all who attended and participated. Your questions and engagement made it a valuable session. Missed the webinar? Follow me for more tips and resources to help you navigate the tricky world of IP. Or if you'd like to book in a call to learn more about how to develop your own IP strategy, drop me a DM. (Photo was me enjoying the sun in my garden after the event 😉☀️) #IPValuation #IPMonetisation #BusinessGrowth

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So... Dr Catriona Wolfenden Wolfenden and I did a thing. Eventually. 🌪 Like Douglas Adams, we loved the deadlines and in particular the whooshing noise they made as they repeatedly went by whilst we put together this labour of love. 📔 We have written our first (and only) book based on our experience of working and collaborating with individuals (far too many to mention individually but all of whom have in some way contributed to the ideas we talk about in the book) both within and without Weightmans including our clients, suppliers, academics and (whisper it) other law firms who have had the privilege of working in or around innovation over the last few years. 📜 Cathartic in parts, it reflects our story of starting with a blank sheet of paper, making it all up as went along and turning that in to a revenue generating department of over 30 people. We hope some of the lessons we learned on the way may help others avoid some of the mistakes we made. #seethepossibility #legaltech #innovation

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While pre-nuptial agreements were once thought to only be relevant for billionaires and celebrities, and more commonly executed across the pond, there has been a distinct rise in pre-nuptial agreements in the UK in recent years. Read our short blog here: https://ow.ly/jjY750SEUYi #prenup #FamilyLaw #ModernMarriage

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If you work in IP, are interested in EDI and are UK based this IP Inclusive hybrid event on 23 April 2024 (4 for 4:30pm) sounds like it's one not to miss. With the title "Help! How do I start a conversation on EDI" I imagine the panel are going to have a lot to talk about. There are representatives on the panel from many of the IP Inclusive communities, including the one I've been on the committee for for a long time - #WomeninIP If you're within easy travelling distance of Cambridge then not only will you get to listen and learn in person, but also to have the benefits of in person networking. For others, like me, who are a bit too far away - we can still do the listening and learning online! Of course, if you have tips on the topic and want to get them out there just drop them in the comments here. https://lnkd.in/ea2TFF2X

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Last week I met with the rest of the industry advisory board at the University of Bristol Law School to discuss current trends in legal practice to help inform the LLM in Law, Innovation and Technology. The LLM is a fascinating course that looks both at law for tech and tech for law. Not only does the LLM have incredible breadth and depth, it's taught by world-class academics. If you are interested in cutting edge delivery of legal services, or the application of the law to emerging technologies (or, like me, both!), it's definitely worth considering. #law #lawtech #innovation #legaltech #lawyer

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