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Making the news

24 March 2011 / Tom Robinson , Conor Quigley KC
Issue: 7458 / Categories: Features , Media , Commercial
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Tom Robinson & Conor Quigley QC provide a guide through the maze of competition & media plurality

In the UK, News Corp already has a huge role in the reporting of news and, hence, the way in which it is portrayed. The Sun and The Times are among the most widely read newspapers in the country and, while News Corp currently does not wield this comparable control in broadcasting, it now appears this is going to change.

News Corp’s proposed takeover of BSkyB, of which News Corp currently owns 39.1%, has come under intense public scrutiny with, initially, concerns over competition issues such as product bundling and, more controversially, issues of media plurality. The transaction was signed off by DG Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, who said he was “confident that this merger will not weaken competition in the UK”. The issue of media plurality though, he left to the UK authorities to decide—as he is obliged to do.

Merger controls

Merger controls exist to stop the formation of firms which can

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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