E-CONVEYANCERS TAKE HEART FROM THE QUEEN'S SPEECH
This year's Queen Speech, setting out the UK government's legislative agenda for the 2002/2003 parliamentary session has revived hopes that plans for the greater use of e-conveyancing and related online property services are once more back on track.

Amongst other property-related proposals, the Queen's Speech announced a Planning Bill to simplify the planning system, including the introduction of online planning applications. Considerable progress has already been made in this area through the 'Planning Portal' which is intended to become a 'one-stop-shop for all aspects of planning, and covering public and private sectors'. Launched in May this year the portal already offers comprehensive resources and information, including a powerful search and display facility for local development plans. The Government aims to have the majority of local planning authorities and 80% of agents and professionals using it by 2004.

Later this month the service will begin to pilot an online Planning Applications service, with the full service going live next year. This will provide a single, national planning application form, online tools to check and validate the form and the ability to purchase, redline and attach a map to the planning application. Subsequent plans include the introduction of an electronic appeals system, allowing online submission, checking of appeal status and inquiry tracking as the case proceeds. The one possible fly in the ointment is the Planning Bill includes proposals to fast-track developments in certain parts of the country, a move that is likely to be strongly opposed by residents groups.

The other measure to attract interest was the publication of a draft Housing Bill containing plans to reintroduce the controversial 'sellers packs' - a move intended to speed up the home buying process by requiring vendors to arrange a basic survey and complete a questionnaire on the details of the property for potential buyers. A previous attempt to introduce sellers packs ran out of Parliamentary time amid criticism that the cost could depress the property market in some parts of the country.

NEWS IN BRIEF

EURO PROJECT DEVELOPS E-ARBITRATION SOFTWARE - A consortium of companies, supported by funding from the EU Information Society Technologies (IST) programme and working in conjunction with researchers from Brunel University's Department of Information Systems & Computing, has completed a new software application that it hopes will provide an online platform for arbitration and mediation centres, such as the CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The system, called E-Arbitration-T, features what is described as "intelligent" case management and what next guidance, extranet based document and evidence management, plus realtime interaction via discussion forums and videoconferencing. Further details will be announced when the system is formally launched in the New Year.

HOT DOCS UK USER GROUP - A meeting of the UK HotDocs User Group was held at the offices of Wragge & Co in London on 28 October 2002. Any users of HotDocs who were unable to attend the meeting can receive a copy of the minutes by contacting Simon Davis at Wragge & Co - simon_davis@wragge.com The next meeting of the UK HotDocs User Group is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Monday 3 February. The meeting will start at 3:00pm and an agenda will be published closer to the date.

IQDOS EXPANDS E-LEARNING TEAM - Gail Nugent has left her position as e-learning consultant with Herbert Smith and moved to the e-learning consultancy IQdos as anÊe-learning consultant & project manager. Nugent's work at Herbert Smith was recognised by the Institute of IT Training with a team award for 'Best International Training Project for 2000'. In her new role with IQdos, she will be responsible for advising companies on e-learning strategy and delivery encompassing both training and staff development to improve performance. IQDos legal clients include the Crown Prosecution Service.www.iqdos.com

NEW LEGAL RISK MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE - UK legal trainers and publishers Web4Law have launched a new magazine focusing exclusively on risk management issues within the legal world. Called Managing Risk, it is edited by well known legal author Rupert Kendrick and covers both the legal risks - such as data protection legislation - and IT risks associated with running a modern law firm, as well as quality standards such as LEXCEL. Managing Risks is published 10 times a year, price £85. For more details email rupert@web4law.biz

AND SO FAREWELL CLAIMS DIRECT - Claims Direct, the personal injury claims handling business that at one point looked as if it might transform the UK PI litigation world, has come to an ignominious end. After lapsing into receivership this summer, three of its subsidiary companies have been sold off by the receivers Deloitte & Touche for £3million to the Jersey based investment group Orb which earlier this year acquired 37 hotels from the Thistle hotels group for £600 million. The three Claims Direct companies only assets were £100 million in losses which Orb plans to use as tax credits to offset against future gains.

SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT ENFORCEMENT ENTERS NEW ERA
The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) is warning that the Copyright etc and Trade Marks (Offences and Enforcement) Act 2002 which comes into force in the UK today - 20 November 2002 - could result in businesses facing police searches and the removal of their PCs and technical equipment if there is evidence of illegally copied software. Previously inspection powers were limited to traders and importers dealing with copyright material for onward sale or distribution. Paul Brennan, general counsel at FAST, commented: "This action reinforces everything for which FAST stands - and for us is the equivalent to a big stick with which to confront organisations that are flouting copyright law. It clearly demonstrates that using illegal software is a criminal issue, and an offence that will not be tolerated."

Robin Fry, an IP partner at City law firm and FAST Legal Advisory Groupmember Beachcroft Wansbroughs adds: "With the proliferation of CD-rewriters, illegal copying has now moved from Far Eastern factories to the home and now to the office. Action against end-users will increasingly be the only way to break a widespread habit. Far from being acceptable, copyright theft damages business and jeopardises the jobs of many developers and creative individuals. Criminal sanctions against companies - and the directors personally - are really the only effective deterrent for what regrettably has become widespread disregard of the law."

Brennan concludes: "With technology being an inherent part of daily life, businesses are under serious risk of closure if they lose access to it, for example by having computers removed as a result of being in the breach of the law when it comes to unlicensed software. Culprits believing they can hide behind their business insurance are also in for a shock - policies are likely to be invalid because these financial losses will have come about as a result of a criminal activity."