There is a public interest defence to an allegation of copyright infringement. A newspaper republished video camera stills to demonstrate the untruth of assertions made publicly about the relationship if Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. Held: It was a current event, and the fair dealing defence applied. Judges: Jacob J Citations: Times 24-Mar-1999, [1999] EWHC … Continue reading Hyde Park Residence Limited v Yelland, News Group Newspapers Limited, News International Limited, Murrell: PatC 16 Mar 1999
The claimant asserted infringement of copyright by the defendants in photographs of the family of David Beckham. The defendant admitted using the photographs but asserted that no permission was required since the use was a fair dealing. Held: Most of the photographs were used to demonstrate a particular style, and the use was fair criticism … Continue reading Fraser-Woodward Ltd v British Broadcasting Corporation Brighter Pictures Ltd: ChD 23 Mar 2005
The appellant complained that a part of his confidential diaries had been republished without his consent by the defendant newspaper group. The defendant appealed, saying that the publication was fair dealing. Held: The exceptions within the Copyright Act were not sufficient to obviate entirely potential conflicts with the rights of freedom of expression under the … Continue reading Ashdown v Telegraph Group Ltd: CA 18 Jul 2001
There is a public interest defence to an allegation of copyright infringement. A newspaper republished video camera stills to demonstrate the untruth of assertions made publicly about the relationship if Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. It was a current event. Citations: Gazette 19-May-1999 Statutes: Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 30(2) 97 Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading Hyde Park Residence Ltd v News Group Newspapers Ltd et Al: ChD 19 May 1999
The defendant had a cuttings service, and distributed selected articles amongst its staff. The Agency complained that this amounted to copying a substantial part of the editions from which the cuttings were taken. There was no typographical copyright infringed as the layout had changed, and the work referred to was the entire paper edition, and … Continue reading Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd v Marks and Spencer Plc: CA 26 May 2000
The daily circulation within a large company of press cuttings was outside the scope of the reporting of current events defences to copyright infringement. Ownership of the typographical arrangement of a newspaper article sufficed to found a claim. An edition meant a ‘version’ of a literary work and ‘In the case of a newspaper made … Continue reading The Newspaper Licensing Agency Limited v Marks and Spencer Plc: PatC 19 Jan 1999
The defendant was accused of infringing copyright in a TV programme relating to the pregnancy of a woman with eight foetuses. The defendant claimed fair dealing, but that defence was rejected by the trial judge. Held: The decision was reversed. The test of use for ‘criticism or review’ is objective, and satisfied here with full … Continue reading Pro Sieben Media AG v Carlton Television Ltd and Another: CA 7 Jan 1999
Additional damages under section 97 of the 1988 Act, can only be awarded with compensatory damages, not with a claim for damages under section 96. Citations: Times 26-Jan-1998, Gazette 11-Feb-1998, [1998] 1 All ER 385, [1998] UKHL 2, [1999] AC 197, [1998] 2 WLR 198 Links: House of Lords, Bailii Statutes: Copyright Designs and Patents … Continue reading Redrow Homes Ltd and others v Bett Brothers Plc and others: HL 22 Jan 1998
A plaintiff may claim damages under section 97(2) in addition to claiming an account of profits, as his primary remedy. A person claiming joint rights in the copyright as author must contribute to the ‘production’ of the work and create something protected by copyright which finds its way into the finished work. There is no … Continue reading Cala Homes (South) Ltd and Others v Alfred Mcalpine Homes East Ltd (No 2): ChD 30 Oct 1995
The prosecutor appealed dismissal of a charge of receiving a broadcast television programme with intent to avoid payment. The defendant ran a public house. She acquired a card which allowed her to receive transmissions from a Greek satellite broadcasting premier league football matches. The intellectual property rights to such matches in the UK lay with … Continue reading Murphy v Media Protection Services Ltd: Admn 21 Dec 2007
The claimant had produced the Star War films which made use of props, in particular a ‘Stormtrooper’ helmet designed by the defendant. The defendant had then himself distributed models of the designs he had created. The appellant obtained judgment against the respondent in the US for punitive damages, but these had not been collected, and … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another: SC 27 Jul 2011
The claimants had made several Star Wars films for which the defendants had designed various props items. The parties disputed ownership of the rights in the designs, and in articular of a stormtrooper helmet. The issues came down to whether the defendant had rights to reproduce images under sections 51 and 52. The claimants appealed … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another: CA 16 Dec 2009
The claimant sought damages against the respondent for various infringements in sales of unlicensed products, and also additional damages. The defendant argued that Microsoft’s licensing arrangements acted anti-competively. Held: ‘the defendants would not at trial be able to defend liability for issuing instruments of deception. ‘ The application for summary judgment for additional damages succeeded. … Continue reading Microsoft Corporation v Ling and others: ChD 3 Jul 2006
The court considered sentencing in a video piracy case. Held: Jowitt J said: ‘[I]t has to be borne in mind that counterfeiting of video films is a serious offence. In effect to make and distribute pirate copies of films is to steal from the true owner of the copyright, the property for which he has … Continue reading Regina v Carter: CACD 1993
The copyright tribunal was given a wide discretion for the awarding of costs on applications made to it for licenses. The nature of the applications and the different basis makes it dangerous to import rules for awards from the general rules on costs. The Copyright Tribunal was wrong to award costs on an award to … Continue reading AEI Rediffusion Music Ltd v Phonographic Performance Ltd: CA 1 Feb 1999
The defendant sought summary judgment saying that the claim was doomed to fail. The claimants alleged copyright infringement in the rebroadcasting by the defendants of their materials. Judges: Kitchin J Citations: [2010] EWHC 3063 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 6, Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2498), Directive 2001/29/EC … Continue reading ITV Broadcasting Ltd and Others v TV Catch Up Ltd: ChD 25 Nov 2010
Arnold J considered what kinds of unlawfulness would engage the ex turpi causa principle. Held: a relevant illegality was one which was sufficiently serious in all the circumstances of the case, including in particular whether the illegal act was done with knowledge or deliberately. After reviewing the authorities, he said: ‘The main conclusion which I … Continue reading Les Laboratoires Servier and Another v Apotex Inc and Others: PatC 29 Mar 2011
The court was asked whether the case should be transferred from the Patents County Court to the High Court Patents Court.Birss HHJ identified the relevant factors: ‘the points to consider are:- i) the financial position of the parties (s289(2) 1988 Act). This includes but is not limited to considering whether a party can only afford … Continue reading Alk-Abello Ltd v Meridian Medical Technologies Dey Pharma Lp: PCC 9 Nov 2010
The claimant magazine publisher alleged breach of copyright by the defendant in their magazine, as to the cover page designs used. It was not clear just which cover was said to have been copied. Held: The first step in a copyright action is for the claimant to identify what work or works he relies on. … Continue reading IPC Media Ltd v Highbury-Leisure Publishing Ltd: ChD 21 Dec 2004
The defendant newspaper appealed summary judgment against it for breach of confidence and copyright infringement having published the claimant’s journals which he said were private. Held: Upheld, although the judge had given insufficient weight to the fact that the information was received under an express obligation of confidence. The court recognised that a duty of … Continue reading Associated Newspapers Ltd v Prince of Wales: CA 21 Dec 2006
The parties disputed ownership of the designs for various props used in the Star Wars films. The defendant had developed designs from ideas originating within the claimant’s companies. Held: The judgment from the US in a similar claim was unenforceable here. No copyright existed in the helmet, since it was not a work of sculpture … Continue reading Lucasfilm Ltd and others v Ainsworth and Another: ChD 31 Jul 2008
The claimant had asserted a joint authorship of the song ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ written in the sixties. The defendant appealed saying that the claim had been brought too late, and that the finding ignored practice in the music industry. The copyright in the song had already been assigned by the authors before the … Continue reading Brooker and Another v Fisher: CA 4 Apr 2008
The defendant appealed against a finding of copyright infringement in a computer game. Held: The appeal failed. The court must identify the artistic work relied upon and then decide whether it has been reproduced by copying of the work as a whole or of any substantial part of it. ”Graphic work’ is defined as including … Continue reading Nova Productions Ltd v Mazooma Games Ltd and others: CA 14 Mar 2007
The claimant alleged copyright infringement in respect of computer games in the coin operated video market. It was said not that the games copied bitmap graphics, but rather the composite frames which appeared on the screen. Held: The games were not protected as a dramatic work: ‘it is not a work of action which is … Continue reading Nova Productions Ltd v Mazooma Games Ltd and others: ChD 20 Jan 2006
Husband and wife pursued ancillary relief applications, but an issue arose as to copyright, and it was transferred to Chancery. W kept a personal diary. H read it after W said she wanted a divorce. He read passages and had extracts photocopied before returning it. He still retained two pairs of copies and a further … Continue reading A v B: FD 31 Jul 2000
The court undertook an enquiry as to damages: ‘(1) Damages were to be assessed liberally on the basis of such inferences as the evidence justified.(2) Damages were to be assessed by reference to two periods, November 1992 to February 1996 and March 1996 to March 1997. The difference between them is that in the latter … Continue reading Blayney (T/A Aardvark Jewelry) v Clogau St David’s Gold Mines Ltd and others: ChD 20 Jul 2001
The company was 100% owned by its designer. He purported to retain the design right. Held: The designer held the rights in trust for the company. An assignment by a shareholder holding all the shares in a company was possible, but not when the act would be ultra vires the company. Judges: Waller, Longmore, LJJ, … Continue reading Ultraframe UK Limited v Clayton, Fielding and Others: CA 12 Dec 2003
The fact that an inventive step was small and simple did not mean it was obvious where substantial other commercial development activity had failed to see the idea. The development was sufficiently inventive to deserve monopoly protection. Citations: Times 21-Jan-1999, [1999] EWHC Patents 269, [1999] FSR 683 Links: Bailii Statutes: Copyright Designs and Patents Act … Continue reading Haberman and V and A Marketing Limited v Jackel International Limited: PatC 15 Jan 1999
First case on design right to reach the court of appeal Judges: Simon Brown, Mummery LJJ, Sir Christopher Slade Citations: [1998] EWCA Civ 1900, [1999] RPC 461, [1999] ITCLR 29, [2000] ECDR 42 Links: Bailii Statutes: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Intellectual Property Updated: 30 May 2022; Ref: scu.145379
The claimant film artist showed a film to an advertising agency, who did not make use of it, but later appeared to use techniques and styles displayed in the film in subsequent material sold to third parties. Held: A film was protected as a dramatic work subject to copyright law, but not the artistic techniques … Continue reading Mehdi Norowzian v Arks Ltd and Guinness Brewing Worldwide Limited (No 2): CA 11 Nov 1999
The appellants resisted disclosure to the revenue of advice it had received. It claimed legal advice privilege (LAP), though the advice was from its accountants. Held: (Lords Sumption and Clarke dissenting) LAP applies to all communications passing between a client and its lawyers, acting in their professional capacity, in connection with the provision of legal … Continue reading Prudential Plc and Another, Regina (on The Application of) v Special Commissioner of Income Tax and Another: SC 23 Jan 2013
Copyright Claim: Was it Copied, and How Much? The claimant sought to enforce its copyright in artwork for a fabric design Ixia, saying the defendant’s design Marguerite infringed that copyright. Two issues faced the House. Just what had been copied and if any, then did this amount amount to the whole or a substantial part … Continue reading Designers Guild Ltd v Russell Williams (Textiles) Ltd (Trading As Washington DC): HL 28 Nov 2000
Judges: Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Keith Citations: [2010] EWHC 1304 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Trade Marks Act 1994 92(1)(c), Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 107(1)(d)(ii) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Intellectual Property, Crime Updated: 02 February 2022; Ref: scu.420408
The claimant said that he had contributed to the copyright in the song ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ but had been denied royalties. He had played the organ and particularly the organ solo which had contrbuted significantly to the fame of the record. Held: A fair trial remained possible despite the passage of time. There … Continue reading Fisher v Brooker and Another: ChD 20 Dec 2006
The claimant newspapers complained of the spidering of the web-sites and redistribution of the materials collected by the defendants to its subscribers. The defendants including the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) denied that they needed a licence for the purpose. Held: The members of PRCA required licences from the claimants in order lawfully to receive … Continue reading The Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd and Others v Meltwater Holding Bv and Others: ChD 26 Nov 2010
The claimant had edited ancient music scores so as to be ready for performance for the defendant. He asserted a copyright. The defendants argued that the contribution was too little to create a copyright. Held: To succeed Dr Sawkins had to establish that each of his editions is an original musical work. The argument that … Continue reading Sawkins v Hyperion Records Limited: ChD 5 Jul 2004
Composers had entered an agreement with the respondent, assigning all copyrights in their works to the respondent. The respondent asserted also an equitable assignment of all future works. The appellant asserted that the rights in the particular work had not been assigned, having being written for them. Held: The appeal failed. The relative clause in … Continue reading B4U Network (Europe) Ltd v Performing Right Society Ltd: CA 16 Oct 2013
The claimant alleged infringement by the defendant of assorted intellectual property rights in its database. It provided systems for recovering materials deleted from Nokia mobile phones. Held: ‘the present case is concerned with a collection of numerical data . . the individual items of data are not protected by copyright. It follows that the collection … Continue reading Forensic Telecommunications Services Ltd v West Yorkshire Police and Another: ChD 9 Nov 2011
Additional infrimgement damages were not a fine. The Society had succeeded in its claim of copyright infringement. The defendant having continued his breaches, it sought additional damages and committal for contempt. Having granted the committal the trial judge declined to award additional damages, by way of an analogy with criminal fines. Held: The appeal succeeded … Continue reading Phonographic Performance Ltd v Ellis (T/A Bla Bla Bar): CA 18 Dec 2018
How much new material for new copyright (Hong Kong) Toy building bricks were manufactured by Lego in accordance with engineering drawings made for that purpose. One issue was whether new drawings made since 1972, altering the original drawings in various minor respects but added new information addressed to the purchaser in the form of written … Continue reading Interlego AG v Tyco Industries Inc: PC 5 May 1988
The parties disputed the publication of materials relating to the exact placement of mobile phone masts. The operators wanted the information excepted from disclosure for fear of criminal acts and also said that disclosure would breach their database rights. Held: The Regulations sought merely to transpose the Directive into UK law, and it must be … Continue reading Office of Communications v The Information Commissioner: SC 27 Jan 2010
The court considered what rights existed in the annual football fixture lists created by the claimants. The claimants said that the list was created only with a considerable effort applying certain rules. The defendants denied that any copyright existed. Held: The process involved considerable effort and was not deterministic. The Directive seeks to harmonise copyright … Continue reading Football Dataco Ltd and Others v Brittens Pools Ltd (In Action 3222) and Others: ChD 23 Apr 2010
Defence had no prospect of success – Struck Out The claimant complained that the defendant newspaper had published contents from a letter she had sent to her father. The court now considered her claims in breach of privacy and copyright, and her request for summary judgment. Held: Warby J said: ‘There are two main questions … Continue reading HRH The Duchess of Sussex v Associated Newspapers Ltd: ChD 11 Feb 2021
Contractor and Client Copyrights The plaintiff had contributed a design for a system of classifying and selecting tracks to be played on a radio station. He did so under a consultancy contract. Held: A Joint authorship claim required that the contributor had made some direct contribution to the words appearing in the eventual published item. … Continue reading Robin Ray v Classic FM Plc: PatC 18 Mar 1998
The claimant sought a share in the royalties from the song ‘A whiter shade of pale’ but had delayed his claim for 38 years. He had contributed the organ solo which had contributed significantly to the song’s success. He now sought a share of future royalties. Held: His appeal was allowed. Limitation did not apply, … Continue reading Fisher v Brooker and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009
The plaintiff alleged that the defendant had copied its house designs after a senior employee involved in creating the designs left and eventually came to work for the defendant. The plaintiff alleged that the copying was flagrant allowing . .
The claimant’s product was made from drawings. The drawings were protected as copyright artistic works. They were reproduced in a three dimensional form by the claimant’s own products. Someone who copied the claimant’s products indirectly copied the . .
The owners of copyright in drawings of ‘Popeye, the Sailor’ sued importers of ‘Popeye’ dolls and other toys. The defendants contended that the copyright in the original work had been lost by the operation of section 22 of the 1911 Act because the . .
The court awarded andpound;1 per CD produced and not sold, and andpound;5 per CD produced and sold for infringement by pressing CDs of recordings of the claimant artist’s performances. The court considered the personal responsibility of the director . .
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