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Welcome to the September edition of Simpson Grierson's xtech ezine.
Contents September 2006

An 'un-cut' start to the ezine this month: Rob Batty and Earl Gray of Simpson Grierson's intellectual property team consider a recent US decision against companies that provide 'morally edited' versions of Hollywood movies and examine what it means for copyright holders in a New Zealand context.

The 'vice' theme continues into our second article, with Jonathan Lewin and Karen Ngan of our information and communications technology (ICT) group outlining proposed changes to the US legislation that ostensibly governs online gambling. This is contrasted with the New Zealand position.

Finally, Karen Ngan outlines some of the contributing causes of major IT project failures applicable to both public and private sector projects. These are key matters to address in the contract for any major IT project.

As always - please let us know if there's a topic you'd like to see covered in the ezine and feel free to forward this ezine to friends or colleagues. If you're not on the distribution list - why not sign up?

Regards,
Simpson Grierson's x-tech group

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Simpson Grierson's technology group provides suppliers and users of technology with specialist legal advice on information technology, intellectual property, telecommunications, biotechnology and the commercialisation of technology.

To contact us or if you would like to receive a list of all previous x-tech articles, or a hard copy of any articles please email x-tech@simpsongrierson.com or phone Clinton Swan on +64 9 977 5339

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IP / IT: Rated E – When it's Wrong to Leave Nudity, Sex and Violence on the Cutting Room Floor
This article examines a recent US decision which held that it was an infringement of copyright for companies to edit out sex, violence and coarse language from Hollywood movies and explores protections available for directors under New Zealand copyright law.
Click here for the full article Written by Rob Batty and Earl Gray
IT / Regulatory Law / Gaming: Chips Down for US Online Gaming Sites
In July, two events in the USA stirred up the online gaming industry. The US House of Representatives passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006 which aims to remove uncertainty as to the legality of, and to clamp down on, online gambling in the USA. Then, the Chief Executive of a major UK online betting company was arrested in Dallas in transit to one of his company's operations in Costa Rica, and charged with violations of existing US federal gambling laws. This article discusses the applicable US legislation and contrasts the New Zealand legal position.
Click here for the full article Written by Jonathan Lewin and Karen Ngan
IT / Contracts: Key Steps to Ensure Delivery of a Successful Major IT Project
This article looks at some of the contributing causes of major IT project failures which may be applicable to both public and private sector projects and which are key matters to address in the contract for any major IT project.
Click here for the full article Written by Karen Ngan
Question of the Month
Q: Can patents only be filed by companies who sell products or services in the area being patented?
A: No. Patents can be filed by any person and they do not need to be operating a business in the area. This has resulted in patent-holding companies developing businesses out of licensing their patents rather than selling the products or services covered by them.
Answered by Mark Hargreaves
Related article: Are Patents a Risk to Your Business?
x-tech Recent Industry Updates
Information Technology and E-Business
Telecommunications
Biotechnology/Life Sciences
Intellectual Property
Commercialising Technology

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