Lindsay Lane QC appeared on behalf of the Defendants (Munchkin and Lindam) in this case involving design rights in baby baths.
This was a claim for infringement of design rights in two registered Community designs and also UK unregistered design rights in respect of six designs related to certain parts of two models of baby baths owned by the Claimant (Shnuggle). The claim arose when Munchkin produced its own baby bath that Shnuggle alleged infringed these design rights.
The trial was heard by Her Honour Judge Melissa Clarke, sitting in IPEC. The Judge held that only one of the registered Community designs was valid and that in any event neither were infringed by Munchkin’s baby bath. Of the six designs, the Judge held that three were protected by UK unregistered design rights but that these were not infringed by Munchkin’s baby bath.