The activities of a prostitute are typically those of a self-employed person, and the rules about freedom of establishment applied. Activity was pursued by a self-employed person if it was (I) outside any relationship of subordination concerning the choice of the activity or conditions of work and remuneration, (ii) under that person’s own responsibility, and … Continue reading Jany v Staatssecretaris van Justitie: ECJ 20 Nov 2001
The claimants sought to prevent the respondents from starting an evening newspaper entitled ‘THE MAIL’ as an infringement of their registered mark, and as passing off. In turn the defendant challenged the validity of the mark. Held: The word ‘Mail’ has not acquired a descriptive meaning, and nor is there any requirement in the law … Continue reading Associated Newspapers Limited, Daily Mail and General Trust Plc v Express Newspapers (an Unlimited Company, Incorrectly Sued As Express Newspapers Limited): ChD 11 Jun 2003
The parties had several years ago compromised an action for trade mark infringement on the basis that the defendant would not use the Apple logo in association with areas of commercial activity, including the sale of ‘work whose principal content is music’. The claimants said that the iTunes service for downloading music fom the internet … Continue reading Apple Corps Ltd v Apple Computer Inc: ChD 8 May 2006
The claimant alleged trade mark infringement by the respondents by the use of a mark in a pop-up advert. Held: The own-name defence to trade mark infringement is limited. Some confusion may be allowed if overall the competition was not unfair in all the circumstances. No confusion was intended; they wanted only to associate their … Continue reading Reed Executive Plc, Reed Solutions Plc v Reed Business Information Ltd, Reed Elsevier (Uk) Ltd, Totaljobs Com Ltd: CA 3 Mar 2004
ECJ (External Relations) Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation – TRIPs Agreement – Article 177 of the EC Treaty (now Article 234 EC) – Jurisdiction of the Court of Justice – Article 50 of the TRIPs Agreement – Provisional measures – Interpretation – Direct effect. Citations: C-392/98, [2000] EUECJ C-392/98 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: European Cited … Continue reading Parfums Christian Dior v Tuk Consultancy BV: ECJ 14 Dec 2000
Both companies sold motor insurance products at a distance and used as logos and symbols either a telephone or a computer mouse, in each case on wheels. Direct line claimed the use of the mouse by esure infringed its own trademarks, and resisted registration of esure’s trade mark. Esure now appealed a ruling against it’s … Continue reading Esure Insurance Ltd v Direct Line Insurance Plc: ChD 29 Jun 2007
An order had been made restraining the defendant trades unions from taking industrial action. The unions said the UK court had no jurisdiction. Held: ‘It is at first sight surprising that the English Commercial Court should be the forum in which a dispute between a Finnish company and a Finnish Trade Union and an international … Continue reading International Transport Workers’ Federation and Another v Viking Line Abp and Another: CA 3 Nov 2005
The claimant alleged that the defendants had been importing copies of their perfumes. The products were not counterfeits, but ‘smell-alikes’. The defendants’ packaging and naming was used to suggest which perfume it resembled. Held: The claimant’s expert survey evidence was defective in several ways, but even so there was no evidence of confusion under the … Continue reading L’Oreal Sa and others v Bellure NV and others: ChD 4 Oct 2006
ECFI Preliminary rulings – Assessment of validity – Declaration that a regulation is invalid – Effects – Application by analogy of Article 176 of the Treaty (now Article 233 EC)- Obligations of the Community institutions – Scope – Compensation for damage caused by the illegality found – Covered (EC Treaty, Arts 176, 177 and 215, … Continue reading H and R Ecroyd v Commission: ECFI 20 May 1999
ECJ Article 177 of the EC Treaty (now Article 234 EC) – Definition of ‘court or tribunal of a Member State – Freedom of movement for persons – Equal treatment – Seniority – Part of career spent abroad Citations: C-195/98, [2000] EUECJ C-195/98 Links: Bailii European Updated: 04 June 2022; Ref: scu.162401
The claimant sought an injunction against the respondent international union of trades unions to restrain industrial action intended to prevent its transfer of registration of a ferry plying between Finland and Estonia to Estonia. It sought also a declaration that such action would be contrary to the free movement requirements of the EU Treaty. Held: … Continue reading Viking Line Abp v International Transport Workers’ Federation and Another: ComC 16 Jun 2005
The claimant complained of the defendant’s use of its trade marks alleging infringement and passing off when it relaunched its own optician services. Having had advance notice of the details of the proposed campaign, the claimants had launched their own pre-emptive campaign. They now admitted misuse of the confidential information acquired. Held: The claim succeeded … Continue reading Specsavers International Healthcare Ltd and Others v Asda Stores Ltd: ChD 30 Jul 2010
ECJ In accordance with the division of functions provided for by Article 177 of the Treaty (now Article 234 EC), the role of the Court of Justice is limited to providing the national court with the guidance on interpretation necessary to resolve the case before it, while it is for the national court to apply … Continue reading Lloyd Schuhfabrik Meyer v Klijsen Handel: ECJ 22 Jun 1999
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
The claimant alleged infringement of his registered trade marks ‘Money Saving Expert’ and associated terms. The defendant operated a service trading as ‘Money Claiming Expert’. Both services included advising those who might wish to claim refunds from banks. The claimant sought summary judgment. Held: The defence as filed proposed no real defence,merely putting the claimant … Continue reading Lewis v Client Connection Ltd: ChD 6 Jul 2011
Europa Under the preliminary ruling procedure provided for by Article 177 of the Treaty (now, after amendment, Article 234 EC), it is for the national courts alone, which are seised of a case and which must . .
