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Thinking - Blog

Accessory liability: when will directors be held liable for IP infringements committed by their companies – and what is counted as "profits"?

Published on 20 Jun 2024. By Emma Dunnill, Senior Associate and Rory Graham, Associate

The Supreme Court in Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Ahmed & Anor [2024] UKSC 17, has allowed an appeal by two company directors who were found liable as accessories to trade mark infringement by the company in which they were directors. The decision provides helpful clarification on the required elements for accessory liability in the context of IP right infringement claims and confirms the sums to be included in an account of profits if liability is established (spoiler alert: a director's salary is not considered to be "profit").

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Thinking - Blog

Online platforms should Swatch out: Samsung found liable for infringing third-party content available on the Samsung Galaxy App store

Published on 22 Jan 2024. By Sarah Mountain, Partner and Emma Dunnill, Senior Associate and Zoe Harvey, Associate

The Court of Appeal in Montres Breguet SA v Samsung Electronics [2023] EWCA Civ 1478 has dismissed Samsung's appeal and upheld a first instance decision which found it liable for trade mark infringement in relation to third-party watch faces available on the Samsung Galaxy App store. This judgment provides guidance on what constitutes "use" of a sign by an online app store and the applicability of the e-Commerce Directive hosting defence.

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Press and Media

Fast-growing IP and tech practice at RPC welcomes Caroline Tuck as Partner

Published on 16 Oct 2023. By Caroline Tuck, Partner

International law firm RPC is pleased to announce the appointment of Caroline Tuck as a Partner in its Intellectual Property and Technology (IP & Tech) team. Caroline Tuck joins RPC from Deloitte, where she was a Director in the Disputes team.

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Thinking - Blog

The November 2023 AI safety summit and the UK's direction of travel

Published on 29 Aug 2023. By Helen Armstrong, Partner and Charles Buckworth, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer

The government has confirmed that the UK AI safety summit will be held at Bletchley Park on 1 and 2 November 2023.

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Thinking - Blog

Telecoms supply agreement excludes "loss of profit" claim under "anticipated profits" liability exclusion (EE v Virgin Mobile)

Published on 25 Aug 2023. By Helen Armstrong, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer

In line with a number of recent cases, in EE Limited v Virgin Mobile Telecoms Limited [2023] EWHC 1989 (TCC) the courts have shown that parties generally cannot avoid clear wording contained in exclusion clauses in order to recover losses that have been expressly excluded (in this case, loss of profits).

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Thinking - Blog

Rolls-Royce entitled to hit the brakes in dispute over termination of a software services agreement (Topalsson v Rolls-Royce)

Published on 14 Aug 2023. By Helen Armstrong, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer

In Topalsson GmbH v Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited [2023] EWHC 1765 (TCC), the High Court has provided useful guidance on how to determine whether a software implementation timeline agreed by the parties is binding, when implementation is considered complete and in what circumstances failing to complete implementation by the contractual deadlines entitles the customer to terminate the contract.

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Thinking - Blog

A narrow escape – software services provider entitled to rely on single aggregate liability cap (Drax v Wipro)

Published on 25 Jul 2023. By Helen Armstrong, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer

When it comes to bespoke software development projects, a lot can go wrong. There's risk for the customer such as project delays, software defects, functionality issues and a lack of meeting of minds in terms of project requirements.

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Thinking - Blog

The Sky's the limit for trade mark applications. Or is it?

Published on 12 Jul 2023. By Sarah Mountain, Partner and Ellie Chakarto, Senior Associate

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Thinking - Blog

Reproduction of infringing content online: who's liable?

Published on 21 Jul 2020. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Louise Morgan, Senior Associate

Keyword advertising, search engine optimisation and liability for infringement via online marketplaces: In recent years, there has been a plethora of cases concerning the various ways that trade marks may be infringed, through use on the internet.

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Thinking - Blog

All change! No extension means major changes for IP rights holders from 1 January 2021

Published on 02 Jul 2020. By Ben Mark, Partner and Sarah Mountain, Partner

Under Article 132 of the Withdrawal Agreement, 30 June 2020 was the last day that the UK could have requested an extension to the Brexit transition period. The COVID-19 outbreak prompted many to speculate that a request would be made but the deadline passed, without event.

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Press and Media

The Times recognises RPC among Best Law Firms 2024

Published on 30 Oct 2023.

International law firm, RPC, has been recognised by The Times in its Best Law Firms 2024 report, an annual ranking of the top 250 law firms in England and Wales.

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Thinking - Blog

A matter of interpretation – the Supreme Court look at contractual interpretation once more

Published on 24 Feb 2023. By Poppy Hay, Associate and Laura Stocks, Partner

In their recent Judgment in Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd (a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands) v Blacks Outdoor Retails Ltd [2023] UKSC 2 the Supreme Court adopted a commercially balanced interpretation of a lease; rejecting the overly textual approach of the Court of Appeal in favour of reading the relevant clause in the context of the lease as a whole.

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Thinking - Blog

No bouncing back for directors

Published on 20 May 2024. By James Wickes, Partner and Adam Craggs, Partner and Catherine Zakarias-Welch, Knowledge Lawyer

Banned! Fraudsters! – Terms used by the Insolvency Service for directors who abused the government backed loan scheme which was put in place to help businesses struggling during the pandemic.

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Thinking - Publication

All is not (necessarily) lost: Crypto crime recovery

Published on 30 Jun 2022. By Adam Craggs, Partner

With over 2 million people in the UK now holding and using cryptocurrency, and the Chancellor announcing that a government backed non-fungible token ("NFT") is to be issued by the Royal Mint this summer, the market for crypto-assets is expected to continue to grow in the coming months and years; so much so that legislation is planned to implement a new regulatory regime for the crypto market.

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Thinking - Blog

FTT prevents HMRC from having two bites of the cherry!

Published on 22 Oct 2014. By Dan Wyatt, Partner

In Lady Henrietta Pearson v HMRC [2014] UKFTT 890 (TC), the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) ('FTT') concluded that HMRC had "ignored" its previous decision by seeking to reduce the amount of a VAT refund which it had ordered HMRC make to Lady Henrietta Pearson ('the taxpayer').

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Thinking - Publication

ML Covered - April 2025

Published on 04 Apr 2025. By Matthew Watson, Partner and Rachael Healey, Partner and Kim Wright, Senior Associate and Zoe Melegari, Senior Associate and Andrew Oberholzer, Senior Associate and Charlotte Bray, Associate

We are pleased to share our latest instalment of ML Covered, our monthly round-up of key events relevant to those dealing with Management Liability Policies covering D&O, EPL and PTL-type risks.

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Thinking - Publication

Money Covered: The Week That Was – 4 April 2025

Published on 04 Apr 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Robert Morris, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Matthew Watson, Partner

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Thinking - Podcast

Navigating the world of insurance finance (With Stephen Brookson)

Published on 31 Mar 2025.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.

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Thinking - Publication

Money Covered: The Week That Was – 28 March 2025

Published on 28 Mar 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Robert Morris, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Matthew Watson, Partner

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Thinking - Podcast

A look at reinsurance (With Ben Rose)

Published on 17 Mar 2025.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Ben Rose, Co Founder of Supercede.

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Thinking - Publication

ML Covered - March 2025

Published on 07 Mar 2025. By Matthew Watson, Partner and Rachael Healey, Partner and Kim Wright, Senior Associate and Zoe Melegari, Senior Associate and Andrew Oberholzer, Senior Associate and Charlotte Bray, Associate

As we welcome the New Year, we are pleased to share our latest version of ML Covered, our monthly round-up of key events relevant to those dealing with Management Liability Policies covering D&O, EPL and PTL-type risks.

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Thinking - Publication

Product bulletin: February 2025

Published on 04 Mar 2025. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory and Fiona Hahlo, Partner and Thom Lumley, Partner and Mamata Dutta, Partner and Elinor Sidwell, Associate

This product law bulletin highlights the EU Accessibility Act, allergen labelling updates, changes to the EU product safety framework, progress on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, makeup ingredient awareness, and the UK government's new e-bike and e-scooter safety campaign with updated battery guidelines.

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Thinking - Podcast

The Challenge of the Multi-Generational Workplace (With Dr Eliza Filby)

Published on 03 Mar 2025.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Dr Eliza Filby, and in this episode the discuss the multi generational workplace and the challenges that come with it.

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Thinking - Publication

Money Covered: The Week That Was - 28 February 2025

Published on 28 Feb 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Robert Morris, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Thinking - Publication

Singapore chapter: "Trends & Developments" in Chambers Insurance & Reinsurance Global Practice Guide 2025

Published on 27 Feb 2025. By Carmel Green, Partner and John Paul Koh, Associate

Economic uncertainty continued to cast a shadow over global markets as 2024 came to a close. Contributing factors include persistent geopolitical tensions, fluctuating inflation and interest rates, and shifts in global trade dynamics. While the insurance industry has not been immune to these challenges, it has demonstrated remarkable stability amidst the evolving risk climate.

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Thinking - Blog

Directors beware: Key legal shifts in 2024 and what’s ahead for 2025

Published on 19 Feb 2025. By James Wickes, Partner

The legal landscape for directors and officers (D&O) underwent significant developments in 2024, with court rulings and regulatory changes raising the stakes for company leaders and their insurers.

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Thinking - Podcast

The underwriting of new AI risks (With Chris Moore)

Published on 17 Feb 2025.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Chris Moore, head of Apollo ibott 1971, and in this episode they discuss the underwriting of new AI risks.

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Thinking - Publication

Money Covered: The Week That Was – 14 February 2025

Published on 14 Feb 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Robert Morris, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner and Matthew Watson, Partner

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Thinking - Blog

Hay Day at the Court of Appeal

Published on 14 Feb 2025. By Kate Hill, Partner and Daniel Charity, Associate and Sally Lord, Knowledge Lawyer Manager

On 30 January 2025, the Court of Appeal gave its judgment in Norman Hay Plc v Marsh Limited. Marsh had appealed against Mr Justice Picken's decision, in which he refused their application for summary judgment and/or to strike out the claim. The appeal was dismissed, the court concluding the issues should be addressed at trial.

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Thinking - Podcast

The top three employment issues for insurers in 2025 (With Kelly Thomson)

Published on 12 Feb 2025.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by Kelly Thomson, Partner is RPC's employment team and they discuss the top three employment issues for insurers in 2025

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Thinking - Blog

Important changes to note in accountant ethics code update

Published on 12 Feb 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Hattie Hill, Associate

In this article we consider the anticipated updates to the accountant's Code of Ethics and explore the ripple effects on insurance policies.

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Thinking - Publication

ML Covered - February 2025

Published on 10 Feb 2025. By Matthew Watson, Partner and Rachael Healey, Partner and Kim Wright, Senior Associate and Zoe Melegari, Senior Associate and Andrew Oberholzer, Senior Associate and Charlotte Bray, Associate

We are pleased to share our latest instalment of ML Covered, our monthly round-up of key events relevant to those dealing with Management Liability Policies covering D&O, EPL and PTL-type risks.

Read more
Thinking - Publication

Money Covered: The Week That Was - 31 January 2025

Published on 31 Jan 2025. By Rachael Healey, Partner and Robert Morris, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and George Smith, Partner

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the financial services sector over the last seven days.

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Thinking - Blog

Navigating PRA's data request for crypto-asset exposure

Published on 29 Jan 2025. By James Wickes, Partner

On Dec. 12, the Prudential Regulation Authority issued a data request to identify firms' current and expected future crypto-asset exposures. In this blog, we discuss the request, and what implications may arise for financial institutions and their insurers.

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Thinking - Podcast

A look at the Piper Alpha disaster (With John Lane)

Published on 22 Jan 2025.

Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance. In this episode Peter is joined by John Lane, and they discuss the Piper Alpha disaster of 1988.

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Press and Media

RPC Premier Law recognised across six areas in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025

Published on 15 Jan 2025. By Iain Anderson, Partner and Carmel Green, Partner and Kenneth Leong, Partner and Navin Joseph Lobo, Partner

RPC, a law firm deeply invested in client ambitions and commercial success, is proud to be recognised once again in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025 guide for Singapore, securing a host of new and improved rankings for 2025.

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Thinking - Publication

Annual Insurance Review 2025

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Simon Laird, Partner, Global Head of Insurance and Robert Morris, Partner and Toby Higginson, Partner, Co-head of Clients and Markets (Insurance)

With the Christmas and New Year festivities already becoming a blur in the rear-view mirror, what better way to blow away the few remaining cobwebs and see-off the January blues than to immerse yourself in RPC's Annual Insurance Review 2025.

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Press and Media

Rising to the challenge, how insurers will adapt in 2025

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Simon Laird, Partner, Global Head of Insurance

The global insurance industry is on the brink of transformation as geopolitical tensions, accelerating AI adoption, and escalating climate crises converge to create a perfect storm in 2025. From navigating a volatile economic landscape to addressing emerging risks in cyber and ESG, insurers face a year of unparalleled complexity and opportunity.

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Thinking - Blog

A guide to buying and selling English residential property

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Elizabeth Alibhai, Partner and Sukh Ahark, Partner, Co-head of India Practice and Ben Roberts, Partner and Jon Ely, Partner and Arash Rajai, Partner

We are seeing increased positivity in the English residential property market. In 2024, inflation reached the Bank of England’s 2% target, down from 11.1% in 2022, which was a significant factor in the return of consumer confidence and economic growth. Mortgage rates are falling slightly with approval rates at their highest level since 2022 as buyers continue to respond to increased certainty post-election. Property values are again on the rise while demand continues to outstrip supply.

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Thinking - Publication

D&O

Published on 14 Jan 2025.

2024 highlighted the importance of a directors' duty to consider or act in the interests of creditors where a company is insolvent or bordering on insolvency. The claim brought by the liquidators of BHS Group against certain of its former directors following the group's collapse into insolvency in 2016 saw the first time where a court held company directors guilty of "misfeasant trading". The directors were held to have not considered the creditors' interests before entering into an onerous and expensive secured loan which would exhaust the group's assets if it could not be repaid. The directors were therefore found to have acted against their statutory duties by entering into the loan instead of the group going into administration.

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Thinking - Publication

Pensions

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Iain Anderson, Partner and Toby Savage, Partner

A key development in 2024 has been the Court of Appeal's ruling in Virgin Media v NTL Pensions Trustees II Ltd [2024] EWCA Civ 843, which has significant implications for contracted out final salary pension schemes. The court confirmed that any amendments affecting guaranteed minimum in these schemes must be accompanied by a so-called Section 37 actuarial conformation. Without this confirmation, the amendment is deemed void, regardless of whether such confirmation would have been granted had it been sought at the time of the amendment.

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Thinking - Publication

Construction

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Alan Stone, Partner and Ben Goodier, Partner and Tom Green, Partner and Zoe Eastell, Partner

This year the new Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 (the LFRA) enacted various amendments to the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA), which came into force on 24 July 2024 and 31 October 2024.

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Thinking - Publication

Cyber and data

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Elizabeth Zang, Associate and Richard Breavington, Partner and Daniel Guilfoyle, Partner and Rachel Ford, Partner and Jonathan Crompton, Partner

Last year's edition of the Annual Insurance Review included predictions that 2024 would see a trend towards an increased general level of cyber security given (i) the importance placed on security measures by regulatory bodies such as the ICO and (ii) the focus cyber underwriters had placed on assessing prospective insureds' security before offering cover.

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Thinking - Publication

Financial professionals

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Esme Watson, Senior Associate and Rachael Healey, Partner and David Allinson, Partner and Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia

In March 2024 the FCA published the findings from its Thematic Review of retirement income advice, looking at the landscape c. 9 years post-pension freedoms against the backdrop of an ageing population. No fundamental problems were identified but the FCA set out some areas for improvement, from more consistent fact finding to considering the value being provided in respect of any ongoing services.

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Thinking - Publication

International arbitration

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Ana Margetts, Associate (New Zealand qualified) and Jonathan Wood, Partner, Chair of International Arbitration

The Arbitration Bill received its first and second readings in parliament in July 2024. Having first come before parliament in September 2023 under the UK's then Conservative government, it will once again proceed through the House of Lords and House of Commons, before receiving Royal Assent and becoming law.

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Thinking - Publication

Health and Safety

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Gavin Reese, Partner, Head of Regulatory and Fiona Hahlo, Partner and Thom Lumley, Partner and Mamata Dutta, Partner

As the single greatest cause of work-related deaths due to past exposure (according to HSE's Annual health and safety statistics 2024.

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Thinking - Publication

Asia

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Carmel Green, Partner and Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Iain Anderson, Partner and Rebecca Wong, Partner

As the soft market continues, insurance premiums in Asia have consistently declined across all major product lines during Q1-Q3 due to increased competition and challenging economic conditions.

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Thinking - Publication

Medical Malpractice

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Dorothy Flower, Partner and Sian Morgan, Partner

2024 has seen an increase in the number of physician associates (PAs) working across the medical sector (NHS and private). Employment of PAs is considered a fast and cost-effective method of addressing workforce shortages and ever-growing healthcare demands. In June 2022, there were 1300 PAs in England and Wales, rising to over 3,300 by June 2024. The numbers are expected to increase.

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Thinking - Publication

Media

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Dorothy Flower, Partner and Sian Morgan, Partner

The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) introduced a suite of obligations for "user-to-user" services and search engines which target the UK and/or have a significant number of UK users. In 2024, secondary legislation and Codes of Practice published by the regulator, Ofcom, began the process of giving the OSA practical effect.

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Thinking - Publication

Restructuring & Insolvency

Published on 14 Jan 2025. By Finella Fogarty, Partner, Head of Restructuring and Insolvency and Paul Bagon, Partner

2024 has seen one of the most significant insolvency cases in recent years. In June, Justice Leech handed down his judgment on the claim brought by the liquidators of BHS against certain of its former directors for wrongful trading and misfeasance. This judgment is likely to have important consequences for the D&O market.

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