Latest by David Cran
New trade secrets law to drive breach of confidence claims
This article explores what changes might need to be made to the existing protections given to trade secrets and in particular, the impact this might have in the insurance market.
Read moreSpare parts and intellectual property: the distinction between "informative use" and "misleading use"
The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal against a decision of the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court ("IPEC") that a repair company had not infringed certain BMW trade marks.
Read moreCourt of Appeal confirms criminal offences cover the sale of "grey" goods
The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has recently confirmed that the sale of "grey" goods can be a criminal offence under the Trade Marks Act 1994 (TMA).
Read moreConfidential information "oiled" progress of new product development
When is information confidential? A recent case gave cause for the English High Court to clarify.
Read more15% increase in counterfeit goods seized in 2015
According to the "Report on EU Customs Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: Results at the EU Border 2015", the number of goods that were detained at the EU's external borders for suspected infringement of an IP right grew by an estimated 15% in 2015 compared with 2014.
Read moreISPs' appeal is "blocked"
In a judgment handed down today, the Court of Appeal, led by Lord Justice Kitchin, has overwhelmingly rejected the appeal by the five largest ISPs and upheld the High Court decision to grant Richemont a blocking order requiring those ISPs in the UK to prevent access to various third party websites from advertising and selling goods which infringe Richemont's trade mark rights.
Read moreMove to unified European regime as trade secrets directive adopted by EU Parliament
Earlier this month, on 14 April 2016, the draft European Directive on the protection of trade secrets against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure was passed by the European Parliament (EP) at a first reading.
Read morePirates and popcorn: rise of site-blocking injunctions in EU
Whilst obtaining blocking injunctions against internet service providers (ISPs) have become an established practice in the UK, particularly within the film and music industry, the position is less clear cut elsewhere in the EU.
Read moreComic Enterprises feel gleeful after CofA upholds trade mark infringement
This recent hearing is the latest instalment in the "Glee" trade mark dispute between Comic Enterprises and Twentieth Century Fox.
Read moreTerraLex Cross-Border Copyright Guide 2016
We are delighted to present our Cross-Border Copyright Guide 2016.
Read moreAsos Supreme- what will a change in the law mean?
Earlier in April, we wrote an article on the Court of Appeal decision in the Assos v Asos trade mark dispute.
Read moreUK goodwill still reigns Supreme
The question to the Supreme Court was whether a claimant in a passing off action needs to have actual customers in the UK or whether it is sufficient to demonstrate that it has a reputation in the UK and internationally.
Read moreAs seen at CofA – split decision on 'own name' in Assos v Asos
The Court of Appeal has held that use of the ASOS brand by the well-known online clothing retailer, Asos, created a likelihood of confusion with and damaged the distinctive character of the earlier ASSOS Community Trade Marks owned by Assos, the specialist cycle clothing retailer, but Asos could nonetheless rely on the 'own name' defence to avoid trade mark infringement.
Read moreSupreme Court clarifies the limits on contractual discretion
A recent decision of the Supreme Court1 has confirmed that the limits on contractual discretion include a requirement to take relevant issues into account and that the discretion is not exercised irrationally.
Read moreAn Enterprising look at survey evidence
True to form, Mr. Justice Arnold's recent judgment in Enterprise Holdings Inc v. (1) Europcar Group UK Limited (2) Europcar International SASU [2015] EWHC 17(Ch) runs to an extensive 227 paragraphs.
Read moreIP Alert: Court of Appeal confirms Rihanna's image protected under the 'umbrella' of passing off
The Court of Appeal has today dismissed fashion retailer Topshop's appeal[1], confirming that Topshop's unauthorised use of an image of the famous pop star, Rihanna, amounted to passing off.
Read moreA landmark decision for brand owners: Court rules ISP blocking orders extend to trade mark rights
The High Court [1] has recently granted Richemont a blocking order requiring the five largest ISPs in the UK to prevent access to various third party websites from advertising and selling goods which infringe Richemont's trade mark rights.
Read moreVestergaard – creating another buzz
This long-running case [1] has now reached a finale – a High Court decision on the assessment of damages, handed down in October 2014.
Read moreNo loss of confidence – causation in confidential information claims
Richmond Pharmacology Ltd v Chester Overseas Ltd, Milton Levine and Larry Levine [2014] EWHC 2692 (Ch)
Read moreNo tax please, we're British – Culture test for video games tax relief comes into force
On 19 August 2014, regulations to determine a video game as "British" for the purposes of corporation tax relief for video games development came into force.
Read moreOver EUR760 million worth of product seized by EU customs authorities in 2013
According to the "Report on EU customs enforcement of intellectual property rights – Results at the EU border 2013", customs authorities in 2013 opened approximately 87,000 detention cases in respect of 36 million articles, accounting for a domestic retail value of more than €760 million.
Read moreOHIM's position on colour marks is not black and white
OHIM has recently updated its 'Manual of Trade Marks Practice' so as to apply the Common Practice of the Scope of Protection of Black and White Marks (the 'Common Practice').
Read moreCopycat packaging – time for reform?
The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) has opposed the basis of a consultation by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on whether to grant a private right of action to businesses that fall victim to copycat packaging.
Read moreGames content rating pricing: TIGA keeps pressure on PEGI
TIGA, the trade association which represents the UK video game industry, has increased the pressure on PEGI, the European game content rating system, to change its pricing policy.
Read moreNo loss of confidence – establishing causation in confidential information claims
Richmond Pharmacology Ltd v Chester Overseas Ltd, Milton Levine and Larry Levine [2014] EWHC 2692 (Ch)
Read moreNew Customs Enforcement Regulation
With effect from 1 January 2014, the new Customs Enforcement Regulation 608/2013 (Regulation) gives customs authorities extended powers to detain counterfeit or pirated goods at the borders of the European Union.
Read moreTrade secrets: proposed European harmonization – an update
Following a study on trade secrets and confidential information in the internal market ...
Read moreNo copyright in software functionality – SAS v WPL, the final chapter
The Court of Appeal has handed down its decision in the lengthy SAS Institute Inc. v World
Read moreBanks beware: IP rights may trump customer confidentiality
The German Supreme Court has recently asked the Court of Justice of the European (CJEU) whether a bank can refuse to disclose confidential information about one of its customers to a third party who alleges that the customer is using the bank's services to sell counterfeit products and infringe the third party's trade marks.
Read moreA Wii forward, not a load of DS: anti-copyright measures and proportionality in the Copyright Directive
On 19 September 2013, Advocate General Sharpston gave an Opinion on questions referred to the Court of Justice of the European by the Tribunale de Milano (Italy) (Case C-355/12 Nintendo Co Ltd v PC Box Srl).
Read moreTrade Secrets – A Unified European Regime?
Earlier this year, a study was prepared for the European Commission relating to the treatment of Trade Secrets and Confidential Business Information within the internal market.
Read moreCopyright Guide 2013
We are pleased to attach a link to an overview of UK copyright, which we trust will prove a useful reference for any copyright issues that you may face, whether in the context of disputes or commercial matters.
Read moreRihanna's image protected under the 'umbrella' of passing off
The High Court has recently held that the fashion retailer Topshop's unauthorised use of an image of the famous pop star, Rihanna, amounted to passing off.
Read moreVestergaard – guarding trade secrets
The Supreme Court has ruled, in the final stage of this case, that an ex-employee could not have misused confidential information if she did not know about (i) the confidential information; and (ii) the fact of its misuse.
Read moreHigh Court reaffirms no copyright protection for computer program functionality
In what should be the final instalment in a long-running case, on January 25 2013 a decision was issued in SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd[i] following the referral back to the High Court from the European Court of Justice (ECJ)
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