AMP Inc v Utilux Pty Ltd: HL 1971

The 1949 Act denied protection to the features of a design that were solely dictated by a product’s technical function.
Held: A product’s configuration was solely dictated by its technical function if every feature of the design was determined by technical considerations, and did not qualify as a design.

[1971] FSR 572, [1972] RPC 103
Registered Designs Act 1949
England and Wales
Citing:
Appeal fromAMP Inc v Utilux Pty Limited CA 1970
. .

Cited by:
CitedLucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another SC 27-Jul-2011
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 . .

Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Intellectual Property

Leading Case

Updated: 09 November 2021; Ref: scu.442604