Recent cases

Vringo Infrastructure Inc v ZTE (UK) Ltd [2014] EWHC 3924 (Pat)28 November 2014Daniel Alexander QC and Isabel Jamal represented ZTE (UK) Limited, the Defendant, in this patent action brought by Vringo Infrastructure Incorporated. The patent provided a method for relocation of protocol termination points in a mobile communication system which was declared essential to the 3GPP standards for UMTS. Birss J held that the patent as proposed […]
IT Human Resources Plc v Land [2014] EWHC 381224 November 2014IT Human Resources PLC (‘ITHR’) were represented by Jonathan Hill in their claim against Mr David Land, a former director, for infringing their copyright in bespoke recruitment database software Mr Land had written for them. Morgan J held that Mr Land had infringed the copyright in the software by providing it to a competitor company […]
Hospira UK Ltd v Genentech Inc [2014] EWHC 3857 (Pat)21 November 2014Richard Meade QCappeared as lead counsel for Hospira UK Limited, the Claimant, against Michael Tappin QC and Mark Chacksfield who acted on behalf of Genentech Inc. The two patents challenged by Hospira related to the breast cancer drug Herceptin and its active ingredient trastuzumab. Birss J held that one patent was to be revoked and […]
Omnibill (Pty) Ltd v Egpsxxx Ltd & Anor [2014] EWHC 3762 (IPEC)17 November 2014Henry Ward represented Omnibill (PTY) Ltd in their claim against Egpsxxx Ltd and Mr Robert Carter for copyright infringement. Photos owned by Omnibill appeared on Egps’ website. Copying was admitted. The dispute related to whether there was communication to the UK public and any personal liability of Mr Carter for Egps’ actions. Birss J, found […]
IPC Media Ltd v Media 10 Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 143912 November 2014This case concerned an attempt by IPC Media (the publishers of Ideal Home magazine) to restrain Media 10 (the organisers of the Ideal Home Show) from using ‘Ideal Home’ for online retail services, against a backdrop of long concurrent use of the mark ‘Ideal Home’. The representation on appeal was the same as at first […]
Les Laboratoires Servier & Anor v Apotex Inc & Ors (Rev 1) [2014] UKSC 5529 October 2014Andrew Lykiardopoulos QC appeared as junior counsel for Les Laboratoires Servier and Another, in this Supreme Court decision. The appeal related to the applicability of the defence of illegality to absolve liability for payment of a cross-undertaking in damages. The undertaking was given for an injunction relating to a pharmaceutical patent which was later found […]
HTC Corporation v Gemalto SA [2014] EWCA Civ 1335 (22 October 2014)22 October 2014James Mellor QC led Gemalto S.A.’s legal team in their appeal regarding construction of a claim in an allegedly infringed microcontroller patent (‘865’). Michael Tappin QC appeared as lead counsel for HTC. At first instance, Birss J had held that 865 was partially invalid and HTC had not infringed. Applying the Kirin Amgen principles, Lord […]
Cartier International AG & Ors v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd & Ors [2014] EWHC 3354 (Ch)17 October 2014The Claimants, a group of Swiss fashion companies, instructed Adrian Speck QC as leading counsel. Charlotte May QC and Jaani Riordan comprised the legal team for the Defendants, who were the five leading British ISPs. This application was a test case to determine whether orders could be made against the ISPs requiring them to block […]
Specsavers International Healthcare Ltd & Ors v Asda Stores Ltd (Rev 1) [2014] EWCA Civ 129415 October 2014James Mellor QC recently appeared on behalf of Specsavers International Healthcare Ltd & Others in this appeal against an order for revocation of Specsavers’ overlapped ellipses wordless trade mark. Charlotte May QC acted for the Registrar of Trade Marks as an intervener. Following references to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Court […]
Nampak Plastics Europe Ltd v Alpla UK Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 12939 October 2014Adrian Speck QC and Henry Ward successfully appeared for the Defendant/Respondent, Alpla UK Ltd, in this appeal relating to plastic milk bottle patents. Nampak Plastics Europe Ltd, the Claimant/Appellant, contended that Mr Justice Birss QC wrongly entered summary judgment against them. Lord Justice Floyd highlighted the necessary caution in summary judgments, such as this, where […]