Fundamental rights and private enforcement in the digital age

This article addresses the shift inthe paradigm of fundamental rights protection on the Internet. More and morethe enforcement of such rights is being delegated to private Internet operators, and the urgent question is how the task of balancing conflicting rights affects the status of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The article examines the increasing privatisation of fundamental rights enforcementon the Internet, highlighting the impact of this trend. Following the analysisof recent developments, it argues that the pillars governing ISP liability should not be altered. In particular, the early determination that ISPs should not be presumptively saddled with content monitoring tasks should not be called into question. Therefore, the regulatory pressure on ISPs shouldbe lowered, as the spectre of liability, combined with ISPs' increasing role indeciding the proper balance between conflicting rights, unduly burdens the activity of ISPs and generates incentives to delete even lawful content.     

Ausgewählte Rechtsprobleme der Angelfischerei

Derzeit sehen sich Angler in Deutschland wiederholt und von unterschiedlicher Seite dem Vorwurf ausgesetzt, mit ihrem Hobby gegen das Tierschutzgesetz (TierSchG) zu versto?en. Im Wesentlichen stehen dabei zwei Angelpraktiken in der Diskussion, namentlich die Durchführung so genannter Gemeinschaftsfischen (dazu unter I.), sowie das Fangen und anschlie?ende Zurücksetzen zuvor geangelter Fische, so genanntes „Catch & Release“ (dazu unter II). Der Beitrag bezieht unter Berücksichtigung der Besonderheiten dieser Angelpraktiken, sowie unter Beachtung verfassungsrechtlichen Vorgaben – insbesondere von Art. 20 a GG – (dazu unter III.), Stellung zur aktuellen Rechtslage.     

Mere presence of informal guardians deters burglars: a virtual reality study

Journal of Experimental Criminology - This study investigates the deterrent effects of incremental levels of guardianship on residential burglary and assesses how burglars differ from non-burglars...     

Whole bovine blood use in forensic research: Sample preparation and storage considerations

Mammalian whole blood sources are often used for forensic research and training when human samples cannot be sourced. While porcine, ovine and equine blood have been shown to be viable alternatives to whole human blood for forensic purposes, procurement can still pose a problem, especially for smaller and remote institutions. This work explores the use of whole bovine blood for basic bloodstain simulation. Sample preparation through the addition of ACD-A anticoagulant was optimized and storability was explored. Viscosity, surface tension, density, and packed cell volume, four fluid properties relevant to bloodstain pattern analysis, were monitored over four days and in two temperature conditions. Linear mixed models accounting for variation in the donor demonstrated that these fluid properties of the bovine blood changed predictably over time and with temperature. Whole bovine blood with 12.5% v/v ACD-A was found to be viable for use in basic bloodstain simulation at ambient and physiological temperature.     

Swiss trade marks practice on misleading geographical indications

Legal context: Geographical references in trade marks are often used not onlyto refer to a certain territory of origin for certain goodsor services, but also to evoke desirable associations, imaginations,emotions, or ideas. The strict practice of the Swiss Trade MarksOffice often requires applicants to limit their list of goodsand services to certain countries. Key points: This abstract discusses the issues of geographically suggestivetrade marks in Switzerland, the strict test used by the SwissTrade Marks Office often requiring the applicant to limit thelist of goods to a specific country, the new stance the formerAppeals Board took in this regard, and how it was struck downby the Swiss Supreme Court, confirming the strict test of theTrade Marks Office. Finally, the article gives a solution onhow the issue of geographical references in trade marks shouldbe treated in order to match reality. Practical significance: It is important to know that the Swiss Trade Marks Office appliesa strict test when it comes to geographical references in trademarks. Usually, the applicant is required to limit the listof goods, although it is questionable whether the trade markreally suggests that the goods stem from a certain country.Foreign decisions are not binding for the Swiss Trade MarksOffice and in this regard usually disregarded.     

劳动者不再续约，企业要求赔偿“培训费”合法吗？

案情简介： 林某2006年高中毕业后到某饭店工作，并与饭店签订了期限为两年的劳动合同，即从2006年11月至2008年10月。2008年9月，林某提前一个月告知饭店合同到期后将不再续订，饭店同意。但一个月以后，在林某要求办理手续时，饭店却提出根据饭店2008年2月制订的《饭店员工须知》第18条的规定“凡到饭店工作的人员至少应服务五年……”。