Simple clear advice in plain English

The Computeractive blog

Proposals for new online safety law are flawed

Image courtesy of Flickr user foxypar4

So Baroness Howe of Idlicote wants all ISPs to block pornographic images and websites unless the subscriber actively ‘opts-in'.

Like many online child safety proposals the intentions are good, but the proposals are unworkable. As a colleague aptly put it - "there are people who think that there are things on the internet you can just turn off like taps".

On many levels the proposals are deeply flawed.

> Read more

Email shows the anger of one Game Group customer

dl-gameharlow-1

I get asked a lot of curious questions from readers about their rights when they email the Consumeractive consumer rights inbox.

Often I can fully understand their frustration, have huge sympathy for their predicament, but what people believe that they can do, or what they think their legal rights are tend to be far removed from reality.

Take for example one of the latest queries I have just had to answer on the topical subject of the Game Group.

> Read more

Spectre of speculative invoicing just won't give up the ghost

A set of Ben Dover-branded underwear

When I sat in the court room on 9 March this year to hear Golden Eye International's case for obtaining a Norwich Pharmacal Order to allow it to get the personal details of O2 customers it said were illegally downloading its films, I was pretty sure they would win.

Mr Justice Arnold is known to be sympathetic to rights holders who are battling illegal file sharing. He has after all been instrumental in setting precedent which is now forcing major ISPs BT, Talk Talk, Sky and pretty soon Virgin Media to block access to Newzbin2 website.

The only amusing thing about this case is the publicity boost given to Newzbin2 because so few ordinary people in the UK had even heard of it. And listening to Mr Justice Arnold  earlier this month,I got the strong impression that he felt that Golden Eye was putting forward a pretty strong case on behalf of itself and Ben Dover Productions.

> Read more

Speculating on the demise of speculative invoicing

A lawsuit document

With the news that Andrew Crossley has been banned from practising law for two years, plus Golden Eye, yet another firm engaged in speculative invoicing failing to convince a judge of the merits of its cases, is this the end of speculative invoicing?

> Read more

New consumer Bill of Rights

delivery-refusal-illo

It's long overdue but finally the Government is going to do something about overhauling consumer stautory law. Well,  it says it is and with the current economic climate it couldn't come at a better time. That said I can forsee some troubles ahead.

> Read more

Sony changes terms of service to block class action lawsuits

PlayStation Network

A security breach that led to more than 100 million online accounts being compromised was always like to cause a few lawsuits, and it appears that Sony isn't willing to go down without a fight - or at the very least some paperwork.

> Read more

Information currently unavailable

Best deals on the web

img

Altec Lansing Expressionist UL...

Price: £5.99

> Buy it now

> Compare more prices

img

MSI Wind Top AE2220 Hifi desktop compu...

Price: £5.99

> Buy it now

> Compare more prices

img

Nikon Coolpix S8000

Price: £5.99

> Buy it now

> Compare more prices

Question & Answer

Q.Can I open my old genealogy files or have they gone...

> Read the answer

Q.Why are odd patterns appearing on my monitors shortly...

> Read the answer

Q.How do I find out if the firewall in Windows 7 is active...

> Read the answer

Free newsletters

Computeractive Weekly

A weekly update on our latest articles, videos, competitions and more

> Subscribe now

Computeractive Direct

A weekly update of software and gadgets deals from Computeractive

> Subscribe now

Latest issue & subscription deals

Poll

Are you concerned about viruses that target mobile phones?

Jargon Buster

Computing terms explained in plain English

Bios

Basic Input Output System. Essential software built into every PC that connects the vital components....

Great shopping deals from Computeractive