Category: United Kingdom

Mediation News in the United Kingdom.

June 13, 2012

UK to Give IPO New Mediation Powers

Author: Stephen Alexander – The government in the United Kingdom (UK) has announced a new proposal to give the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) vast new powers to conduct mediation on patent disputes. Public comments are being accepted on the new proposal until September 4, 2012.

According to the IPO, management costs associated with disputes around Intellectual Property (IP) are one of the key barriers for Small to Medium Enterprises trying to maximize the benefit to their IP.

Mediation Services are provided by the IPO to any parties in an IP dispute who want resolution of matters without involving the courts. Currently, the utilization of this service is low and therefore the IPO is soliciting comments and supporting evidence from key stakeholders and IP rights holders on the reasons behind the low utilization.

This information will be used to support changes to the current system in order to provide a speedier and lower cost mediation service.

June 12, 2012

Pub, Police Mediate Resolution in UK

Author: Stephen Alexander – The police in the United Kingdom and a pub owner have met to mediate a resolution to a local dispute. The authorities sought tighter licensing controls over the distribution of alcohol to patrons at The Red Lion in March, Cambridgeshire.

The concerns were raised by police after a thirty-nine year old man accidentally died as a result of wandering from pub to pub in December of 2011. The Fenland District Council Licensing Committee stated six new licensing conditions following the mediation between the police and the brewery.

The conditions were agreed to by the pub’s owner during the mediation. The pub’s owner agreed to ensure that an approved person is on duty on Friday and Saturdays from 10 pm until closing.

A new closed captioned television (CCTV) will be brought into the pub and the video from the CCTV will be kept for thirty-one days. The staff will be trained to use it.

The staff will also be trained to use local procedures, called Challenge 25, when confronted with a drunken patron and will also be keeping a list of names of those refused entry into the pub. An approved person will also attend Pubwatch meetings.

Prior to the efforts to mediate, local authorities had planned to replace the pub’s owner, but the successful talks averted that outcome.

June 12, 2012

UK to Mediate US – Pakistan Dispute

Author: Stephen Alexander – Frustration over the Pakistan – United States of America disputes concerning NATO supplies and the Salala incident has brought in British Foreign Secretary William Hague to mediate the former alliance.

Foreign Secretary Hague will begin the mediation on Tuesday with top Pakistani officials. He will meet with Pakistani leaders prior to their meeting with US Assistant Defense Secretary Peter Lavoy.

On Monday, the Pentagon reportedly confirmed that efforts to resolve the disputes with Pakistan had stalled, according to Pentagon spokesman George Little. “The Pentagon has called its negotiating team home.”

Washington’s frustration lies in Islamabad’s stance in closing NATO supply lines and the refusal to re-open the supply lines. US hopes lie in the Foreign Secretary’s meetings with Pakistan.

An apparent no-apology stance for the Salala incident by Washington has created feelings in Pakistan. The Salala incident, also known as the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan, occurred when US-led forces engaged Pakistani security forces at two Pakistani military check-posts along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The incident occurred on November 26, 2011.

The other issue of contention is the taxation imposed by Pakistan on NATO supply vehicles. That issue is apparently graced with movement during previous negotiations.