Recent cases

Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) v Richter Gedeon Vegyeszeti Gyar RT [2014] EWHC 1666 (Pat)22 May 2014Lindsay Lane  recently appeared as part of Richter Gedeon Vegyeszeti Gyar RT’s legal team defending an invalidity and revocation claim brought by Generics UK Limited. The patent concerned a dosage regimen for use of levonorgestrel as a method of emergency contraception. The claim was brought on the grounds of obviousness and insufficiency. Sales J found […]
Actavis UK Limited and others v Eli Lilly & Company [2014] EWHC 1511 (Pat)15 May 2014Richard Meade QC and Isabel Jamal, together with Thomas Raphael, represented Actavis in its landmark win against Eli Lilly. Judgment was handed down on 15 May 2014 in the long-running patent dispute between Actavis and Eli Lilly regarding Lilly’s patent relating to the use of the anti-cancer drug pemetrexed disodium with vitamin B12 and (optionally) […]
Rovi Solutions Corporation & Anor v Virgin Media Ltd & Ors [2014] EWHC 1559 (Pat)15 May 2014Members of Chambers recently appeared for both sides in one of the listed patent actions between Rovi and Virgin Media. Richard Meade QC and Henry Ward appeared for Rovi. James Mellor QC and Andrew Lykiardopoulos appeared for Virgin Media. The dispute concerned interactive television services (in particular the Virgin Media “Red Button” service). Rovi claimed […]
Swarovski-Optik KG v Leica Camera AG and Leica Camera Limited [2014] EWCA Civ 63715 May 2014Andrew Lykiardopoulos QC recently appeared in the Court of Appeal for Swarovski, responding to an appeal brought by Leica from the Judgment of Vos J [2013] EWHC 1227 (Pat). The first instance trial concerned a patent owned by Swarovski for the use of an additional strong negative lens in riflescopes to enable a wide field […]
Phil & Ted’s Most Excellent Buggy Co. v. TFK Trends for Kids GmbH [2014] EWCA Civ 46916 April 2014Andrew Lykiardopoulos acted for Phil & Ted’s in this appeal concerning a patent for folding baby buggies and whether Phil & Ted’s “Promenade” buggy infringed a valid patent. Phil & Ted’s succeeded before Birss HHJ and the patent was held to be invalid. TFK appealed. The Court of Appeal dismissed TFK’s appeal and upheld the […]
Hospira v Genentech [2014] EWHC 1094 (Pat)19 March 2014In this heavy biotech action Hospira sought to revoke three of Genentech’s patents relating to the blockbuster Herceptin monoclonal antibody product, as well as seeking a declaration of non-infringement. The patents related to issues of product purity and dosage regimens, with technical evidence being given by six experts, and particularly focussed on issues of novelty, […]
YouView Ltd v G & J Holdings GmbH (IPO) (O-113-14) (11 March 2014)11 March 2014Trade Mark Registry Opposition (consolidated proceedings). G & J Holdings Ltd opposed YouView Ltd’s three applications to register five trade marks consisting of or containing the words “My View” for various goods and services in Classes 9, 38 and 41. The Opponent opposed the registration of these marks under s. 5(2)(b) of the 1994 Act […]
Harman International Industries Limited v Martin Audio Limited (O-108-14) (7 March 2014)7 March 2014Trade Mark Registry Invalidity Applications (consolidated proceedings). Harman International Industries Ltd applied to invalidate two UK trade Marks ‘OMNILIVE’ and ‘OmniLine’ both registered in respect of various goods in Class 9. Harman relied on objections under Sections 5(2)(b) and 5 (3) of the 1994 Act on the basis of its earlier Community Trade Mark ‘OMNIDRIVE’ […]
Ian Shanks v (1) Unilever Plc (2) Unilever NV (3) Unilever UK Central Resources Ltd O/259/137 February 2014The Intellectual Property Office has made public its substantive decision dismissing Professor Shanks’ long-running claim that patents resulting from an invention he made for his former employer Unilever had proved to be of “outstanding benefit” to Unilever and that he was therefore entitled to inventor’s compensation under s.40 Patents Act 1977. Daniel Alexander QC and […]
D. Jacobsen & Sons v Crocs Inc [2014] EWHC 987 (Ch)30 January 2014This was an interesting application by the defendant pursuant to Art 91 of the Community Designs Regulation for a stay of the proceedings pending an ongoing invalidity action in OHIM. The claim was one in threats relating to letters written in 2005, which had been subject to a previous voluntary stay pending different, earlier OHIM […]