Earlier this week, I had need to visit London to receive legal advice concerning the copyright infringement I allege occurred after I sent a script to the BBC (see "I've Been Busy" "Wanted - Copyright Infringement Solicitor" "Syndicate"). I went by National Express coach for a very reasonable £15 return and found myself in Victoria Railway Station at rush hour. With a few minutes to spare before the Tube tickets became cheaper at 09:30, I spent a bit of time "people watching" and made some observations regarding the demeanour of the commuters making their way through the train station.
First, compared to most of the male commuters, I felt naked without a "man bag". Whereas, twenty or so years ago, most male commuters would have been carrying briefcases, in the 21st century, the man bag is now de rigueur. Every other bloke seemed to have an over the shoulder number in which to carry his important knickknacks and curios to and from work. 
Secondly, nearly every commuter, male or female, was wearing some sort of earphones/headphones. Locked in their own little world, most pressed on through the station concourse oblivious of their fellow "lab rats" intent on making their way to the London Underground as fast as possible but without breaking into a run. Again, a couple of decades ago, some may have had a Walkman or Discman glued to their hip, but they would have been in a minority. Most commuters would have had a copy of their choice of daily newspaper tucked under their arm ready to construct the barriers around their personal space as they sat being tossed around within the claustrophobic confines of a Tube carriage.
The third observation was of the sheer numbers of commuters passing through the railway station in such a short space of time. I stood facing the arrivals board and was overwhelmed by the relentless tidal wave of humanity that swept all around me for the twenty minutes I stood waiting for 09:30 to come around. If you've read the book World War Z by Max Brooks, or have seen the film recently released at the cinema, my experience of commuters at Victoria Railway Station was akin to the scenes where the zombies come on in relentless waves of undead flesh.
The main difference between London commuters and the rest of humanity became apparent once the commuter rush had ended as abruptly as it had begun. As the workers were replaced by the influx of tourists onto the station concourse, it struck me that none of the commuters had seemed to be wearing a smile. Compared to the tourists, all of whom seemed to be glad to be in the environs of an old British railway station and who had smiles on their faces as if to prove the point, the commuters wore "thousand yard stares"and had no time to stop and absorb the atmosphere generated by an old, but major transport hub (for an amusing take on the London Underground, read this "Tourists v Londoners").
Anyhow, I was in London for a purpose and that was to have a meeting with one of the foremost barristers in the field of Intellectual Property law. Visiting a London Chambers within the environs of the Inns of Court was an experience in itself and I was a bit apprehensive at how the meeting would go - would the barrister be stuffy? Would the employees within the chamber be condescending? Neither of these fears could have been further from the truth as I was made most welcome and the barrister was charming and set me at my ease straightaway. What followed was an informative and constructive meeting, however, the opinion given was that I would not be able to pursue the case successfully without something concrete in black and white to show that, after receiving my script, Syndicate, and synopsis, the BBC colluded in using them as a basis for the subsequent drama serial The Syndicate.
How I got to Grays Inn was via investigating access to free legal advice and representation on the internet. This took me to the Bar Pro Bono Unit website (Bar Pro Bono Unit). This is a charitable organisation where barristers volunteer their time to provide advice on certain legal matters and may even provide mediation and representation if appropriate. I had to access this via the Citizens Advice Bureau and the local office in Swindon were extremely helpful and sympathetic to my case. Although, at this moment in time, there seems to be no way forward for my case, I am extremely grateful to the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the particular Chambers in London for all their help and advice.
The last thing to say on this matter is that, despite the seemingly prohibitively expensive bar to legal advice for the ordinary people of the UK, the aforementioned organisations provide a route to justice if no other is at hand.
The main difference between London commuters and the rest of humanity became apparent once the commuter rush had ended as abruptly as it had begun. As the workers were replaced by the influx of tourists onto the station concourse, it struck me that none of the commuters had seemed to be wearing a smile. Compared to the tourists, all of whom seemed to be glad to be in the environs of an old British railway station and who had smiles on their faces as if to prove the point, the commuters wore "thousand yard stares"and had no time to stop and absorb the atmosphere generated by an old, but major transport hub (for an amusing take on the London Underground, read this "Tourists v Londoners").Anyhow, I was in London for a purpose and that was to have a meeting with one of the foremost barristers in the field of Intellectual Property law. Visiting a London Chambers within the environs of the Inns of Court was an experience in itself and I was a bit apprehensive at how the meeting would go - would the barrister be stuffy? Would the employees within the chamber be condescending? Neither of these fears could have been further from the truth as I was made most welcome and the barrister was charming and set me at my ease straightaway. What followed was an informative and constructive meeting, however, the opinion given was that I would not be able to pursue the case successfully without something concrete in black and white to show that, after receiving my script, Syndicate, and synopsis, the BBC colluded in using them as a basis for the subsequent drama serial The Syndicate.
How I got to Grays Inn was via investigating access to free legal advice and representation on the internet. This took me to the Bar Pro Bono Unit website (Bar Pro Bono Unit). This is a charitable organisation where barristers volunteer their time to provide advice on certain legal matters and may even provide mediation and representation if appropriate. I had to access this via the Citizens Advice Bureau and the local office in Swindon were extremely helpful and sympathetic to my case. Although, at this moment in time, there seems to be no way forward for my case, I am extremely grateful to the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the particular Chambers in London for all their help and advice.The last thing to say on this matter is that, despite the seemingly prohibitively expensive bar to legal advice for the ordinary people of the UK, the aforementioned organisations provide a route to justice if no other is at hand.
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