The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill has been introduced into Parliament today. We published a draft of the Bill in October 2015. It implements our recommendations for reforming the threats provisions for patents, trade marks and designs. If implemented, the Bill would make it easier for innovative businesses to settle intellectual property disputes and avoid … Read more >
The Law Commission congratulates the winners of our first-ever university law reform competition. The winning team – Nicola Campbell, Scott Leonard, Elliot Booth and Jessica Low – visited the Commission on Tuesday 26 April. The four law students from the University of Sheffield presented their project, “A meeting of minds: denouncing ‘parasitic liability’ in joint … Read more >
The Law Commission is reviewing the legal framework that governs the registration of land in England and Wales. In a consultation opening on Thursday 31 March the Commission – the independent body that advises government on law reform – is asking how the Land Registration Act 2002 is working in practice and whether there are … Read more >
We are reviewing the legal framework that governs the registration of land in England and Wales. In a consultation opening today we ask how the Land Registration Act 2002 is working in practice and whether there are opportunities for the system to be clarified and updated. Land registration underpins conveyancing by providing a single, central … Read more >
Sir David Bean, Chairman of the Law Commission, Chief Executive Elaine Lorimer and the Law Commissioner for criminal law, Professor David Ormerod QC appeared before the Justice Select Committee today to talk about the work of the Law Commission. We are grateful to the Committee for their time and for this valuable opportunity. The Members, … Read more >
Today the Government laid before Parliament our recommendations for reform of firearms law in the Policing and Crime Bill. Part 6 of the Bill contains recommendations we made in our recent report, Firearms Law – Reforms to Addressing Pressing Problems. Law Commissioner for Criminal Law, Professor David Ormerod QC said: “I am delighted that our … Read more >
Charities will have statutory powers to make social investments under Law Commission reforms implemented by the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill. The new powers were recommended in our September 2014 report, Social Investment by Charities. Social investment is a useful tool for charities. It provides financial returns while at the same time generating social … Read more >
The UK needs a new, modern and rational legal framework to govern the conduct of elections and referendums, according to an interim report published today by the three Law Commissions of the UK. Electoral law in the UK is spread across 17 major statutes and some 30 sets of regulations. It has become increasingly complex … Read more >
The UK needs a new, modern and rational legal framework to govern the conduct of elections and referendums. In an interim report published today with our colleagues in the Scottish and Northern Ireland Law Commissions we outline the response to our public consultation on areas of electoral law that are in need of reform, and … Read more >
“We are delighted to have received the Government’s positive and encouraging response to our report on conservation covenants. “We recommended the introduction of a new statutory scheme of conservation covenants in June 2014. The scheme would, if implemented, allow landowners to ensure the long-term conservation of features such as habitats and historic buildings. In its … Read more >