A Serious Playboy

By Hester Bank

Ricardo Barone had a fabulous lifestyle: In his thirties he was heir to a wealthy Italian family and a businessman extraordinaire. His good looks and athletic physique made him a magnet for women; he had it all.
However, his domineering father did not approve of his playboy lifestyle and determined for his son to marry a suitably rich Italian woman from his hometown. Ricardo was being forced to settle down.
After plotting a cunning scheme with his arranged fiance to evade marrying, the situation Ricardo finds himself in becomes untenable, when for the first time in his life, he falls head over heels in love with an English girl, whom he knows his father would not approve of.
Over the coming weeks, Ricardos life is thrown into chaos as he finally stands up to his fathers unreasonable demands and faces obstacles even he couldnt have foreseen in order to be with the woman of his dreams.
Can true love conquer, or is it a case of winner takes all? With the battle lines drawn, the heat is now firmly on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Sep 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504990349

Hester Bank

Hester Bank was born in Sweden in 1968. She is part Scottish and has New Zealand/Australian citizenship. When she was younger the government refused to give her a British passport. Living in Glasgow, George Galloway MP got involved, and they changed a law for her. It was awkward when she left Britain. Immigration interrogated her, with one customs official saying, “How did you get into Britain without any stamps on your NZ passport? Please tell me.” She is the proud mum of two beautiful children, who are her inspiration every day.

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© 2015 Hester Bank. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  08/28/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9033-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9034-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

About The Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Issued: April 2000

Last amended: 27th November 2009

The UK copyright law fact sheet outlines the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the principal legislation covering intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom and the work to which it applies.

1. Introduction

Copyright law originated in the United Kingdom from a concept of common law; the Statute of Anne 1709. It became statutory with the passing of the Copyright Act 1911. The current act is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

2. Rights covered

The law gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used.

The rights cover; broadcast and public performance, copying, adapting, issuing, renting and lending copies to the public.

In many cases, the creator will also have the right to be identified as the author and to object to distortions of his work.

International conventions give protection in most countries, subject to national laws.

3. Types of work protected

1. Literary

song lyrics, manuscripts, manuals, computer programs, commercial documents, leaflets, newsletters & articles etc.

2. Dramatic

plays, dance, etc.

3. Musical

recordings and score.

4. Artistic

photography, painting, sculptures, architecture, technical drawings/diagrams, maps, logos.

5. Typographical arrangement of published editions magazines, periodicals, etc.

6. Sound recording

may be recordings of other copyright works, e.g. musical and literary.

7. Film

video footage, films, broadcasts and cable programmes.

4. The Copyright (Computer Programs) Regulations 1992 extended the rules covering literary works to include computer programs.

5. When rights occur

Copyright is an automatic right and arises whenever an individual or company creates a work. To qualify, a work should be regarded as original, and exhibit a degree of labour, skill or judgement.

Interpretation is related to the independent creation rather than the idea behind the creation. For example, your idea for a boOK would not itself be protected, but the actual content of a boOK you write would be. In other words, someone else is still entitled to write their own boOK around the same idea, provided they do not directly copy or adapt yours to do so.

Names, titles, short phrases and colours are not generally considered unique or substantial enough to be covered, but a creation, such as a logo, that combines these elements may be.

In short, work that expresses an idea may be protected, but not the idea behind it.

6. Who owns a piece of work

Normally the individual or collective who authored the work will exclusively own the work and is referred to as the ‘first owner of copyright’ under the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act. However, if a work is produced as part of employment then the first owner will normally be the company that is the employer of the individual who created the work.

Freelance or commissioned work will usually belong to the author of the work, unless there is an agreement to the contrary, (i.e. in a contract for service).

Just like any other asset, copyright may be transferred or sold by the copyright owner to another party.

Rights cannot be claimed for any part of a work which is a copy taken from a previous work. For example, in a piece of music featuring samples from a previous work, the copyright of the samples would still remain with the original author.

Only the owner, or his exclusive licensee can bring proceedings in the courts.

7. Duration of copyright

The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act states the duration of copyright as;

1. For literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last remaining author of the work dies.

If the author is unknown, copyright will last for 70 years from end of the calendar year in which the work was created, although if it is made available to the public during that time, (by publication, authorised performance, broadcast, exhibition, etc.), then the duration will be 70 years from the end of the year that the work was first made available.

2. Sound Recordings and broadcasts

50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was created, or,

if the work is released within that time: 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first released.

3. Films

70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last principal director, author or composer dies.

If the work is of unknown authorship: 70 years from end of the calendar year of creation, or if made available to the public in that time, 70 years from the end of the year the film was first made available.

4. Typographical arrangement of published editions

25 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first published.

5. Broadcasts and cable programmes

50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the broadcast was made.

6. Crown Copyright

Crown copyright will exist in works made by an officer of the Crown, this includes items such as legislation and documents and reports produced by government bodies.

Crown Copyright will last for a period of 125 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made.

If the work was commercially published within 75 years of the end of the calendar year in which it was made, Crown copyright will last for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it was published.

7. Parliamentary Copyright

Parliamentary Copyright will apply to work that is made by or under the direction or control of the House of Commons or the House of Lords and will last until 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made.

8. Restricted acts

It is an offence to perform any of the following acts without the consent of the owner:

Copy the work.

Rent, lend or issue copies of the work to the public.

Perform, broadcast or show the work in public.

Adapt the work.

The author of a work, or a director of a film may also have certain moral rights:

The right to be identified as the author.

Right to object to derogatory treatment.

9. Acts that are allowed

Fair dealing is a term used to describe acts which are permitted to a certain degree without infringing the work, these acts are:

º Private and research study purposes.

º Performance, copies or lending for educational purposes.

º Criticism and news reporting.

º Incidental inclusion.

º Copies and lending by librarians.

º Acts for the purposes of royal commissions, statutory enquiries, judicial proceedings and parliamentary purposes.

º Recording of broadcasts for the purposes of listening to or viewing at a more convenient time, this is known as time shifting.

º Producing a back up copy for personal use of a computer program.

º Playing sound recording for a non profit making organisation, club or society.

(Profit making organisations and individuals should obtain a license from PRS for Music.)

10. Useful addresses

Intellectual Property Office

Concept House

Cardiff Road

Newport

South Wales

NP10 8QQ

Tel: [phone]

www.ipo.gov.uk

PRS for Music

29-33 Berners Street

London

W1P 4AA

Tel. [phone]

www.prsformusic.com

Copyright Licensing Agency

Saffron House

6-10 Kirby Street

London

EC1N 8TS

Tel. [phone]

www.cla.co.uk

11. Further reading

The original text for the 1988 Copyright Designs and Patent Act can be found at the OSPI (HMSO) website, but should be read in conjunction with all the relevant updates and statutory instruments.

To avoid confusion, we recommend a copy that includes the amendments since 1988, such as can can be found at the Office of Public Sector Information, www.jenkins-ip.com or download as a PDF file directly from the Intellectual Property Office.

This fact sheet is Copyright © The UK Copyright Service and protected under UK and international law.

The use of this fact sheet is covered by the conditions of a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works License.

This fact sheet is intended only as an introduction to ideas and concepts only. It should not be treated as a definitive guide, nor should it be considered to cover every area of concern, or be regarded as legal advice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hester Bank was born in Sweden in 1968. She is part Scottish and has New Zealand/Australian citizenship.

When she was younger the government refused to give her a British passport. Living in Glasgow, George Galloway MP got involved, and they changed a law for her.

It was awkward when she left Britain. Immigration interrogated her, with one customs official saying, How did you get into Britain without any stamps on your NZ passport? Please tell me.

She is the proud mum of two beautiful children, who are her inspiration every day.

CHAPTER ONE

S trolling across the elegant marble floor of his office Ricardo Barone headed towards the waiting lift. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, don’t contact me unless it’s urgent. His secretary nodded. Reaching ground level, Ricardo greeted the chauffeur briefly before crossing the foyer towards his impeccably dressed sister. You’re late, she laughed. You’re early, he retorted kissing her cheek. Wasting no time taking her brother’s arm Sofia pointedly switched off her cell. I don’t want any interruptions over lunch, we need to talk.

Watching the young, pretty waitress fuss over Ricardo’s every whim Sofia smiled inwardly at how much female attention her kid brother got. Tall, athletic and impossibly good looking, Ricardo exuded a confidence many mistook for arrogance. You should find someone special, get married, you can’t be a playboy forever, Sofia chided observing his flirtatious exchanges. With his eyes firmly elsewhere he muttered, Surely we’re not here to talk about my love life, so what if I’m enjoying myself, I work damned hard and I play hard. Sofia lowered her voice, That’s exactly what we’re here to talk about. I’m serious, Papa isn’t getting any younger and you know he wants to see you married. Now you’ve turned thirty-five he’s talking about arranging a suitable Italian wife for you, and we both know who that means. I’m your sister and I’m just letting you know, forewarned is forearmed. He had certainly inherited their father’s brilliant business acumen but that was where any similarity ended, Sofia mused. Shifting in his seat Ricardo leant forward. This conversation is tedious; please tell me you have more in your life to worry about than planning mine. Sofia laughed, You’re impossible at times, so stubborn, have it your own way Ricardo, but I’m telling you Papa will not retire until you’re married…

It was a searingly hot day in London and the office was like an oven. The air conditioning needed fixing now, thought Nicky as she strained to pull open yet another window. Hey, have the Barone family given us the venue yet? her boss shouted over. Nicky nodded wiping beads of perspiration from her forehead. I’ve just had confirmation it’ll be at Alston Hall. Pete, do something about the heat in here its unbearable! Loud murmurs of agreement sounded throughout the office like a verbal Mexican wave. OK… OK everybody the engineer’s coming out to fix it today; he’ll be here in an hour max. Star Events had never been busier but planning this charity ball was top priority. It was just the type of high profile event her boss thrived on. A fact which he irritatingly kept reminding her of, talk about micro managing, she would be glad when this dam ball was over. Nicky make sure the invitations go out today and use the updated guest list we just got through. Some big names are on there, so don’t screw up. Nicky frowned, "Come on Pete give me some credit. Listen I’m going to meet the client on-site at Alston Hall; they’re having a car pick me up.

We can tie up some of the loose ends once I’ve seen the location." Thankful of a good excuse to leave the stuffy office and her patronising boss behind, she left without a backward glance. It was just gone three, the car would be picking her up at half four, well, that gave her plenty of time. Just over half an hour later she reached home and walked up the two flights of stairs to her modest Fulham apartment.

Bliss, her flat was deliciously cool; kicking off her heels brought immediate and sensational relief. Surely she wouldn’t need to dress up to look round Alston Hall. In all likelihood it would be a member of Mr Barone’s staff that would deal with her. She took as long a shower as time enabled and put on some badly needed make up. Throwing on a pair of skinny jeans and the first t-shirt that came to hand she dragged a brush through her damp tangle of chestnut hair and padded over to the mirror. Hmmm, on second thoughts maybe jeans and pumps were a bit too