Beth specialises in all areas of intellectual property law, and related areas of contract law, breach of confidence and commercial matters. Beth has also acted in a number of cases that involve aspects of competition law. She has particular recent experience of trade mark law, including in appeals to the Court of Appeal and Appointed Person.
Beth has considerable experience in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, and appears in the High Court, UKIPO, and Commercial Court in the Queen’s Bench Division. She practices in the EUIPO, General Court, and the CJEU thanks to her Irish qualification.
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Aerofoil v Williams: acting for the Claimant as sole counsel in a patent and trade mark dispute about aerofoil wind curtains in supermarket fridges.
- DISH v Aylo: Patent infringement case. Junior Counsel for Aylo for confidentiality order, led by Justin Turner KC.
- Lenovo v Ericsson: FRAND licencing case. Acted as sole counsel for third party in disclosure application.
- Ensygnia v Shell: Patent infringement and invalidity case relating to the use of QR codes on petrol pumps. Junior Counsel for successful defendants, Shell, led by Lindsay Lane KC.
- Acted as junior counsel on pre-action formulation and compound patent claims relating to GLP-1 receptor agonists.
- Sandoz and Teva v Bristol-Myers Squibb: Patent infringement and invalidity claim relating to the factor Xa inhibitor apixaban. Junior Counsel for Teva up to CMC, led by Justin Turner KC.
- Ceva Sante Animale SA v Bayer Animal Health GMBH: Patent infringement and validity action concerning treatment for piglets with coccidiosis. Junior counsel for Bayer, led by Daniel Alexander KC.
- Beth spent 5 months on secondment in the Patent Department of an international law firm, working on the pre-action phase of global patent litigation involving a medical device patent.
- Howarth Air Technology v Medical Air Technology: Patent infringement and validity claim concerning medical devices. Junior Counsel for MAT, led by Mark Chacksfield KC.
- The Eyebag Company v TPC Marketing Ltd et Ors: Beth acted for the Defendants in this patent, trade mark and passing off case in the High Court relating to a self-heating eye mask product.
Copyright & Databases
Beth regularly advises on copyright matters, and has recently advised on the copyright in books, films, photography, architectural drawings, newspaper articles, music, and wills.
- Wright v BTC Core: Represented the developers of Bitcoin in their successful defence of high-profile copyright and database rights claims by Dr Craig Wright, led by Alex Gunning KC. The claims were dismissed and discontinued following the judge’s determination that Dr Wright was not the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. Obtained Worldwide Freezing Order against Dr Wright post trial as sole counsel.
- Advising television channels in respect of possible copyright infringement in a television programme.
- Advising author on infringement of copyright in their novel by other work.
- Advising artist on merits in respect of copyright infringement of music used in No 1 charting song.
- Martin v Kogan: Re-trial in respect of copyright ownership; question of whether the defendant was a joint-author of the film “Florence Foster Jenkins”. Junior Counsel for the Defendant, led by Ashton Chantrielle.
- Beth has acted for the Universal Music Group on a case relating to the infringement of copyright in photographs.
- Barber v Newsquest: Quantum inquiry in respect of copyright infringement claim. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Sky v Falzon: claim in respect of copyright infringement of encrypted Sky Sports programmes. Counsel for Claimant.
- Beth regularly advises members of the National Union of Journalists on queries relating to copyright ownership, infringement and quantum.
Trade marks & Brands
Beth regularly advises on trade mark and passing off matters in the IPEC, High Court, UKIPO and General Court of the CJEU, involving both UK and EU Trade Marks; as well as appeals to the Appointed Person.
She has also worked on a multimillion-pound worldwide freezing injunction and search order in relation to counterfeit goods, has advised on comparative advertising in trade mark cases and has experience in obtaining interim injunctions in the High Court.
- Thatchers v Aldi: Trade mark infringement and passing off claim in respect of copycat cider by discount supermarket, successful on appeal in respect of unfair advantage trade mark claim. Junior counsel for the successful Claimant, led by Martin Howe KC.
- Aristocrat v Prgmatic Play: Acting for Claimant in their claim for trade mark infringement and passing off for their Buffalo slot games and apps. Led by Phil Roberts KC (ongoing).
- J&J Snack Foods v Ralph Peters: Acting for Defendants in response to Worldwide Freezing Order obtained in respect of claims for trade mark infringement and passing off in respect of the Slush Puppie brand. Led by David Cavender KC (ongoing).
- easyGroup v Premier Inn: Acting for defendant in claim for trade mark infringement and counterclaim for invalidity (reserved to any appeal) against easyGroup over ‘rest easy’. Led by Emma Himsworth KC (ongoing).
- easyGroup v Simpler Postage: Acting for defendant in claim for trade mark infringement and counterclaim for invalidity over ‘easy post’. Led by Benet Brandreth KC (ongoing).
- easyGroup v IATA: Acting for defendant in claim for trade mark infringement and counterclaim for invalidity over ‘easy pay’. Led by Emma Himsworth KC.
- easyGroup v Groupe SEB: Acting for defendant in claim for trade mark infringement and counterclaim for invalidity over ‘easy fry’
- easyGroup v Volkswagon: Acting for defendant in claim for trade mark infringement and counterclaim for invalidity over ‘easy charging’. Sole counsel.
- WJ & Mash v Take 2 Events et ors: Passing off claim in respect of use of trade names for a location. Junior Counsel for Claimant, led by Emma Himsworth KC (ongoing).
- Rainforest Café et Ors v Criterion Hospitality Ltd et Ors: Trade mark and unjust enrichment claim in respect of the Rainforest Café and Bubba Gump restaurants. Junior Counsel for Defendants, led by Nicholas Trompeter KC.
- BLO/873/22: Appeal to the Appointed Person in respect of a trade mark decision refusing to permit the Application by reason of the Respondent’s pre-existing trade mark. Acted for Amazon, the successful Respondent.
- T-611/22: Appeal to the General Court against the Fifth Board of Appeal’s decision to permit part of a trade mark to enter onto the Register. Junior counsel for Appellant, led by Simon Malynicz KC.
- O/865/22: United Sikhs and United Sikhs: Registry decision between two charities. Opposition of US chapter of charity’s application for Trade Mark in the UK by the UK chapter of the charity pursuant to earlier rights and bad faith. Counsel for successful opponent.
- Lyle & Scott v American Eagle Outfitters: Passing Off and breach of contract claim between two high street clothing manufacturers. Junior counsel for Defendant, led by Simon Malynicz KC.
- Hewlett Packard v Digital Devices: Trade mark and breach of contract case, involving interim applications for summary judgment. Counsel for the Claimants (ongoing).
- J Comm Limited v Out In SpA: Commercial dispute in the QBD with counterclaim for trade mark infringement and passing off. Junior Counsel for the Defendant.
Design Rights
Beth regularly advises in design right cases, and those involving a crossover of copyright and design right infringement.
- Leading car manufacturer: Beth provides ongoing advice in relation to infringement of various trade mark and design rights.
- Jewellery designs: Beth has provided design rights advice to a number of high-end jewellery firms in respect of various famous jewellery designs.
- Brainstorm Ltd v Green Field Toys Ltd: Breach of contract and counterclaim for infringement of design rights in various toy designs. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Kojac Fashion Accessories v Peacock Stores: Claim for design rights and copyright infringement, covering overlap between the two and section 51 of the CDPA. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Education & awards
- BA (Hons), History and Politics, Mansfield College Oxford (2014)
- Lord Denning Scholarship Award
- Accommodation Award Lincoln’s Inn
- Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship
- BPP Law School Pro Bono Award
- Professional memberships
- Lincoln’s Inn
- Chancery Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Bar Association
- Irish qualifications
As part of our preparation for the UPC, Beth has been called to the Irish Bar, and is able to accept instructions on European matters. Please contact one of the clerks to discuss how we may assist on European work.
- Hobbies & interests
Beth is a keen advocate for access to the bar, and is active in the education department of Lincoln’s Inn. Outside law, she enjoys spending time with her cats, attending/watching the Eras Tour, and watching F1.
Contact Beth Collett's clerks
Whilst barristers have a designated practice management team, all the clerks have the capacity and knowledge to assist in cases involving all counsel.