Google Closed Down In Spain Due To New Law

The “Ancillary Copyright Law” had shut down the Spanish version of Google News effective from December 16, 2014. The shutdown is its response to the changes in Spanish intellectual property law that would impose compulsory fees for the use of snippets of text to link to news articles by online news aggregators that provide a special service.

Spain’s law is similar to Germany’s implementation of the law in 2013. Germany’s “ancillary copyright law” has no heritage in copyright law. It had also been a manifest failure as publications willingly forfeited their right to payment from Google because they realised the traffic loss they would got when they’re not indexed in Google.

Meanwhile, Spain does not allow media publications in Spain to forfeit their payment from Google. 

This prompted Google News to stop its Spanish services. 

Many analysts said that it is difficult to see what type of progress will it give for the Spanish press and Spanish-speaking internet users worldwide.

Meanwhile, many speculate that Yahoo News will also arrange for an exodus from the country.

Analysts said that the ancillary copyright laws only follow part of a broader trend of heavy regulation used by European countries against US tech companies. They said that authorities are concerned about US tech companies using information gathered from Europeans without paying their fair share of taxes. 

Source

Qatar May Introduce New Labour Legislation by 2015

Under pressure from international community and civil rights groups, Qatar has pledged to introduce new labour legislation by 2015 to improve the rights of its migrant workers.

The international community considers Qatar’s current sponsorship system as similar to modern-day.

The sponsorship law, known as “Kafala”, limits the rights of movement of foreign workers. According to reports by different groups, Kafala has led to widespread exploitation of foreign workers.

According to the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry of Qatar, a new legislation is currently under review and they expect to make announcements by early next year.

In May, Qatar’s government said that it would change the sponsorship system and will begin to use employment contracts.

The current labour legislation also prevent foreign workers to change their jobs by the end of their contract. The new legislation would remove this, along with the certificate of non-objection needed by these sponsored migrant workers to change their occupation.

Because of its harsh working conditions, Qatar had almost lost its 2022 FIFA World Cup deal after reports of ill-treatment of workers had caused deaths in constructing the arena.

Most migrant workers in Qatar come from Southeast Asia and other areas in Eurasia.

Source

The New Russian Bill Shows That Russia is Taking a Beating From the UN

The Russian parliament had given a preliminary approval to a bill that grants it complete possession of all western assets in its country. The assets belong to the countries who had imposed the sanctions. It must seem that the Russians are getting hurt pretty bad by the situation.

However, it was also met with stiff resistance as most of Russia’s opposition almost overtook the voting for the bill by 233 to 202, a very small margin that would have ended otherwise. 

Initially, the Kremlin opposed the new law as well, but after the sanctions hit the Russian economy, the leaders had to consider their other options. An Italian seizure of Russian properties of Russian businessman and Putin supporter Arkady Rotenberg had also prompte the move.

The bill allowed individuals affected by property seizures outside Russia to be compensated through the state budget. It also allows Moscow to seize property of any foreign citizens who had seized the properties of the individuals abroad, even those protected by diplomatic immunity.

I guess Russia is trying to make its ends meet now. However, it would be shooing off some businessmen in Russia simply because their properties, named after them and legally purchased, could be nationalised at any instant. That’s not a very good business climate at all.

Three Crucial Business Legalities To Keep in Mind

Startups are way fun when things are going well with profits and progress, but when things get ugly with regulators, partner companies, business partners and clients, it could make things demotivating and un-progressive. Here are four very important business legalities I’ve learned that will help any business flourish effectively.

1.    Have a Liability Insurance

Every startup venture is similar to driving a vehicle; every information you provide is traced back to you. While you mean well in providing tips and strategies regarding your business and industry, a liability insurance comes in handy because it is easy for anybody to have a tip or strategy, which is written well, to claim it has destroyed their lives. This will save you tons of problems in litigations and money.

2.    Contracts and Fine Prints

Protecting yourself against your own business partners and clients comes in the form of contracts and fine prints. Ensure that the fine print allows you to chase after your business partners and clients whenever they use a product within your jurisdiction without your permission.

3.    Developing Great Partnerships

You could attract any investor to create your business with you especially if your business plans have a good profit portfolio. However, regardless of your investor’s interest, they can easily buy the stake in the business and push you out. To avoid these situations, putting the money behind and the quality of investors up front will help you avoid legal problems in the future.

Laws, Ethnicities and Political Perspectives

In modern western democracy, people vote for their representatives of state.  These people’s perspectives and platforms they support greatly, and they believe they are the best representatives of their political ideals. Having a balanced representation of different political perspectives, registered in the country’s constitution, gives the governance of democratic countries an equal say in all the issues the country faces.

Many in the world had adopted democracy after fascism and communism had proved to be an extremist point of view in governance. However, not many countries have effectively adopted democracy.

One of the many reasons Iraq had become dangerous and attacked by insurgents is because Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pushed laws that limited the right of the Sunni Muslims. Islam has different versions, and religion in these areas is similar to political perspectives and respect for one’s culture. Oppressing a religious faction pushes them to fight against the government.

Making things worse, ethnicity is also involved with culture, urging other ethnicities and Sunni Muslims to support such extremist groups.

It is here that we may see how laws can be used to corrupt. Laws by the dominant political party, regardless whether a democratic government is installed, will be the ones pushed forward with great priority. People can just shrug it off and say that they have earned, but then again, these people are the ones creating laws, creating decisions.

Like the Sunnis and Shias in the Middle East today, the world may adopt the lesser forms of government, not because democracy has failed, but because it is to show face against the powerful and enduring western countries.

Austerities Will Always Hit The Beneficiaries First

The news said that we are enjoying a 1% increase in our country’s GDP, but I myself have not felt lighter in the quality of living I have had from 2008 to today. Bills are still there, with increases every now and then. Food prices are still the same. The promises of these increases leave me puzzled as to why the UK government is still on an austerity.

Well, for obvious reasons, austerities are one of the reasons for the UK economy’s improvement. However, why are they adding more cuts?

I became puzzled by this after reading an article that the Bedroom Tax, which allows tax exemptions for people with just one bed for each person, may be lifted. For disabled people, this is unacceptable because they benefit from these simple tax exemptions. In the name of austerity, many observers and human rights groups are condemning the United Kingdom for going slowly into a systematic violation of the disabled’s human rights.

However, the fact remains; austerities hit the beneficiaries first. If we dissect the hierarchy of modern society, corporations are the most prioritised when the government starts bending laws. They are the lifeblood of society. Next are powerful people, last are the public itself. This is our reality, but it is inevitable.

All we are asking is that our welfare funds not be cut and have those with a lot more to give a bit more to people who are disabled and incapable of living on their own. Welfare is a big thing for many people, and even the price of a ring could do so much improvement for one person’s finances.

This is the Part Where UK Legal Bodies’ PR Suffers Heavily

Our country is hosting the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London today. However, the UK, particularly its human rights departments, are now suffering heavy PR troubles as the media had exposed the UK’s women asylum seekers are suffering. So much for upping the values of human and women’s rights when women knocking at the doors are made to wait.

The stringent methods of the UK Immigration Department and Home Office in terms of providing asylum to men and women from different countries, and their failure to handle cases of women who were victims of sexual violence during war or a crime, is becoming a big deal to the world.

How crude it is to look at our government when you realize that everything they are doing is just PR. Sure, it raises awareness, but in other locations. The UK government needs to look at its backyard and see that the people they claim to fight for in such summits are the same people they refuse entry into the country.

Rape and mistreatment of women are indeed primitive and carnal crimes, but the biggest crime is hypocrisy, where those who preach could not practice the message they are trying to send.

Going Through a Commercialisation Phase, Aren’t We?

It is just plain wrong that energy companies will have the right to penetrate the underground of your home to get the prized shale that would drive the UK’s shale gas revolution, as the UK government and its ministers intended. With 74% of the UK’s population opposing the bill, it is clear that safety procedures have not persuaded the public of allowing some corporation to undermine their property.

The changesin the Trespass Laws will only generate problems and public mistrust because companies will need no permission from landowners and property owners when they proceed to fracking the ground for shale.

Now imagine this scenario: What if the foundations underneath your home shattered and destroyed your property? Insurance companies will be having a field day providing compensation for properties that were destroyed. Energy companies will have to provide for that compensation as well, and where would they get it except their profits from the shale gas revolution? Now that would drive up the costs yet again, which should have been offset by the endeavour.

In the end, nothing happens, except more public mistrust and bad governance. The UK government is going through commercialisation, as evidence in the heavy support of ministers for the changes in trespass laws.

UK, Yet Again The Central Hub for Modern Slavery

A hundred years ago, Britain had a very rich slave trade. Today, many western countries have a very rich slave trade. The only difference was that Governments and Institutions were way more honest than they are today. Everyone knows everyone wants a one-up from the other, including countries, and on a molecular level, this is also true.

UK today has become a central hub for modern slavery, according to critics, as a report by the Human Rights Watch reveals that new amendments on immigrant working Visas restrict them to only one employer, who subject them to physical and psychological abuse. Domestic workers, from Asia, Morocco and other countries, are “tied down” to their employers alone, who could confiscate their personal belongings and information, trap them inside houses and have them work abusive schedules without proper nourishment.

The research showed how immigrant domestic workers were treated in a “slave like” manner. Most interviewees described that they were threatened deportation if they set foot outside the house unaccompanied or if anybody else knew about their predicament. Some of them were physically and sexually harassed by their employers. Others said that their pay had been withheld by their employers, and sometimes they do not receive their payment at all.

UK immigration laws, which push many immigrants to “carry their own weight,” was pushed by the UK Home Office to ensure that “each citizen of the United Kingdom plays their part.”

Why Does the Media Play Down the Role of Claims Handling Companies?

Last year, many people turned to claims handlers to help them get their mis sold PPI refunds, and indeed, they did get the refunds they deserve, and owing 25% to the claims handler upon success. The Financial Ombudsman, the consumer group Which and the Financial Conduct Authority all downplayed the role of claims handlers because of the obvious signs that “ambulance-chasing” is becoming a lucrative business.

A consumer or victim who wants to claim compensation at the shortest time possible could use claims handlers as one way, but even CMCs, or Claims Management Companies, even tell consumers or victims that they can always make a claim on their own. The media fails to iterate that CMCs can save time, which the consumers pay for in making a hassle-free compensation claim.

Most victims of UK road or car accident seek help from claims handlers because they do not know the right documents, evidences or information needed by insurance companies to process their benefits. Only rogue CMCs perform cold calls or text messages. Most CMCs only have minimal advertising, or only have satisfied clients, such as myself, endorse their services. The media only focuses on money-making and scamming groups organisations. I have been a victim of one myself.

Just remember that claims handlers are one way to get your compensation, but if you do enough research, you could get back your full refund or compensation without having to pay (or looking for other ways to pay) 25%  to your claims handler.

The World is Wired to Total Surveillance

Total surveillance might seem absurd because democracy upholds the value of individual opinion and public criticism. The public believes the authorities are respecting these rights despite permits and restrictions needed by government systems. The internet had made things easier to express one’s self on a molecular level as part of a large society.

Then, Edward Snowden revealed the secret activities of the US National Security Agency, which put the world’s attention to privacy and surveillance laws. Governments became concerned and many other countries and many tech corporations are pushing the US government to revise its surveillance laws because people may stop using the technologies out of fear for their privacy.

However, technology is an amazing thing. People will continue to use it regardless ofthe laws there are. Its convenience for business and individuals to manage their professional and social lives makes the risk of privacy minimal. If the government is the only one peeking in, honestly, I wouldn’t mind. If a person who seems dangerous is peeking, that is when I will mind it.

This particular mind set of mine, and probably many other people have as well, will spell the downfall of privacy to give way for convenience and safety. This is one reason why it is inevitable the world is bound for total surveillance.

ECHR Court Ruling Shows The Reality of International Justice

Saudi officials had imprisoned four British men during 2001 who were subjected to torture and male rape, according to their claims. I’ve read substantial evidence about one of the men being incapable of committing the crime because of his injuries during the bombing in Riyadh, Saudi’s capital. The four men claimed that they signed admittance to the bombing because of the torture, yet the European Court on Human Rights had ruled against it.

The judges declared that the immunity of the Saudi state officials involved in the case does not allow them to convict the officials. However the judgment, which expresses that civil claims of torture committed on foreign soil UK courts do not have jurisdiction.

The four men only want claim for their torture, expressing physical and emotional pain they received during their imprisonment in Saudi Arabia. However, the immunity clause just makes it worse for people, who are underpowered in their legal position, to have their own right to claim justice.

It is sad that indeed, the judgment promotes the condemnation of torture in interrogations, but the slow movement of actual justice to ensure its effectiveness. This particular paradox, and the immunities that place certain people of power above the law, shows the horrid reality of international justice even here in the western hemisphere.