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Recent cases

Lucas Films v Andrew Ainsworth [2009] EWCA Civ 13287 March 2011In 1976, the shooting of the film “Star Wars” was imminent, but the studio had not managed to produce the armour and helmets for the Stormtroopers. Andrew Ainsworth, an artist with special skills in thermoforming materials, came to the rescue. Not only did he manage to produce the iconic costumes for the Stormtroopers, in accordance […]
Hasbro v 123 Nahrmittel [2011] EWHC 199 (Ch)11 February 2011John Baldwin QC and Henry Ward acted for the defendant in this trial heard by Mr. Justice Floyd in January 2011. Hasbro owns the trade mark Play-Doh for squishy modelling compounds. Since many consumers refer to the product as play dough, the Defendant thought it could use that expression in its marketing. Unlike Play-Doh, the […]
Elmo-Tech v Guidance [2011] EWHC 98 (Pat)26 January 2011Patent; Whether French law of secrecy/national defence prevented disclosure or provision of a product description.
Georgetown, Rochester and Loyola Universities v. UKIPO (Case C-422/10).12 January 2011This case, joined with the reference in Medeva v. UKIPO, is one of the most closely-watched cases in the area of SPCs. It primarily concerns the interpretation of Article 3(b) of the SPC Regulation and was referred to the ECJ by Kitchin J in 2010. It raises the question of whether a marketing authorization to […]
Major ICC Arbitration (2008-2010)1 January 2011Major ICC arbitration in respect of an international licensing dispute, concerning contractual and intellectual property issues. Iona was junior counsel.
Football Dataco v Yahoo & Stan James15 December 2010Database Copyright in Football fixtures lists; Reference to CJEU concerns “selection/arrangement” and “author’s own intellectual creation”. Reference made 15 December 2010.
Ciba Vision and Novartis v Johnson & Johnson [2010] EWCA Civ 103929 November 2010A patent action concerning the billion dollar industry in extended wear contact lenses. Ciba contended it had made the essential break through which enabled the success of the 28 day lens but J&J said the patent taught virtually nothing and left the researcher with a puzzle.  
KCI Licensing Inc v Smith & Nephew plc [2010] EWCA Civ 126018 November 2010Michael Tappin QC and Henry Ward acted for the claimants and James Mellor QC and Andrew Lykiardopoulos acted for the defendants in this appeal from a judgment of Arnold J [2010] EWHC 1487 (all counsel except James Mellor QC also appeared at the trial). The case concerned apparatus for negative pressure wound therapy. On appeal, both […]
ALK Abello v (1) Meridian Medical Technologies (2) Dey Pharma [2010] EWPCC 149 November 2010Adrian Speck acted for the Second Defendant and Jonathan Hill for the First Defendant. In the first application to transfer a patent infringement claim from the Patents County Court to the Patents Court after implementation of the new Patents County Court rules, HHJ Birss QC gave guidance as to the approach to be adopted. He […]
RSN Ltd (t/a Riedel Crystal (UK)) v (1) Riedelshop Ltd (2) Riedel Ltd O-366-1021 October 2010Jonathan Hill acted for the luxury glassware manufacturer, Riedel, in their successful applications to the Company Names Tribunal for orders that the respondents change their company names. In the first such applications to have gone to an oral hearing, the Tribunal found, having heard cross-examination of the director of the respondents, that the respondents’ company […]