The Legal 500

Legal Developments worldwide

• Trade marks enforceable in relation to the goods for which they are registered

  Legal Update No. 325   Goltsblat BLP advises of the publication of Resolution of the Presidium of the Russian Supreme Court No. 8817/11 of 29 November 2011 upholding decisions of three lower courts in relation to a case on early termination of legal protection for the VECHERNIE trade mark with respect to goods under ICGS class 05 "pharmaceuticals" and "dietary substances for medical purposes" because the trade mark has been used during production and sale of biologically active supplements that are not on the registered list of goods.
  - Goltsblat BLP

• Supreme Arbitration Court supports recovery of input VAT on general production costs

  Legal Update No. 317 Goltsblat BLP advises of publication of Supreme Arbitration Court Resolution No. 3844/11 dated 25 October 2011 on the case of OOO Tulatsement . The Resolution confirms the possibility to recover input VAT on repairs to another person’s property, even if the taxpayer has no right to such property and other people or entities may also use such repair results. 
  - Goltsblat BLP

• Contemplating your future?

  by Samantha Grimes
  - ISOLAS

• Alcohol brand owners might be allowed to advertise on Norwegian TV

  Norway is on the verge of involuntarily allowing the advertising of alcoholic beverages on television, contrary to the country’s strict alcohol policy. This change, which may take place as a result of pressure from the EU Commission, would have a significant impact for owners of alcohol brands.
  - Advokatfirmaet Grette DA

• New EU Stability Mechanism Treaty on strengthening fiscal discipline and convergence

  by Christos Floridis
  - Andreas Neocleous & Co

• New Leniency Program for Suspected Concerted Actions

  A leniency program for potential unlawful actions constituting “concerted action” under the ROC Fair Trade Act of 2011 (the “FTA”) was recently instituted towards the end of 2011, due in part to discussions between the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (“TFTC”) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
  - LCS & PARTNERS

• Response to Consultation on the Draft Overseas Pension Schemes Regulations 2012

  We are a firm of advocates practising in Guernsey and regularly advise on issues arising from pension arrangements established or administered from Guernsey. Based on our experience and interaction with our clients, we are writing to you in response to HMRC’s invitation to consult on the Draft Overseas Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (the “Draft Regulations”) issued by HMRC on 6 December 2011.
  - Carey Olsen

• Update of fund legislation brings UCITS IV to Gibraltar

  Anthony Jimenez, fund lawyer at Hassans Law Firm, reports on behalf of GFIA to review the recently enacted Financial Services (Collective Investment Schemes) Act 2011 (CIS Act 2011) and its key provisions with regards to the UCITS IV regime.
  - Hassans

• Changes to list of approved English language tests are made by the UKBA

  It has been announced by the UKBA that the list of approved English language tests for those individuals applying under tiers 1,2 and 4 of the points based system has been amended. One of the main changes is the lowering of the TOEFL points score against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). TOEFL now includes scores for spouse and partner applications.
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

• Important information about London 2012 released by the UKBA

  Important information about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has been published online by the UKBA. With the UKBA expecting to carry out security checks on more than 380,000 workers and participants, it has set out detailed information for those individuals who will be travelling to the UK for the event. The information is divided into the following categories:
  - Penningtons Solicitors LLP