Davis (J and S) Holdings v Wright Health Group: ChD 1988

The parties disputed the status in intellectual property law of a model of a dental impression tray. A cast was prepared from the model, and a final form prepared from the cast. The author, a professor, made a mock-up of materials but then drew from that and then someone else produced the actual first trays.
Held: The judge rejected the submission that it was a sculpture largely on the grounds of its ephemeral nature. Whitford J observed how the notion of sculpture, and other artistic works, had been extended to a point where: ‘their meaning bears very little relation to the meaning which those not familiar with the law would give to those words.’

Judges:

Whitford J

Citations:

[1988] RPC 403

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

CitedLucasfilm Ltd and others v Ainsworth and Another ChD 31-Jul-2008
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 . .
CitedLucasfilm Ltd and Others v Ainsworth and Another CA 16-Dec-2009
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 . .
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

Updated: 18 May 2022; Ref: scu.442603