SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd: ChD 25 Jan 2013

The parties disputed the extent to which elements of the claimant’s software package could be used by the defendants. SAS had written software including its own computer language to create a data processing environment. The defendants had wanted to produce software it could sell in competition which, for the same inputs would produce the same results, emulating SAS functionality. The matter had been referred to the ECJ, but the parties now also disputed their interpretation of the answer provided.
Held: The Court dismissed the claims of SAS Institute, save that he found limited breaches of copyright in relation to the ‘Manual to Manual’ Claim.

Judges:

Arnold J

Citations:

[2013] EWHC 69 (Ch), [2013] RPC 17

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

At ChD (1)SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd ChD 23-Jul-2010
The court considered the impact of the distinction drawn by Article 9(2) of TRIPS and Article 2 of the WIPO Copyright Treaty between ‘expressions’ and ‘ideas, procedures, methods of operation and mathematical concepts as such’ on domestic copyright . .
At ChD (2)SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd ChD 22-Nov-2010
The parties sought to agree the terms of a reference to the European Court of Justice. . .
At ECJ (Opinion)SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd ECJ 29-Nov-2011
ECJ Opinion – Intellectual property – Directive 91/250/EEC – Directive 2001/29/EC – Legal protection of computer programs – Creation of various programs including the functionalities of another computer program . .
ECJ JudgmentSAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd ECJ 2-May-2012
ECJ (Grand Chamber) Intellectual property – Directive 91/250/EEC – Legal protection of computer programs – Articles 1(2) and 5(3) – Scope of protection – Creation directly or via another process – Computer . .

Cited by:

ChD (3)SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd CA 21-Nov-2013
The court was asked as to the extent to which the developer of a computer program may lawfully replicate the functions of an existing computer program; and the materials that he may lawfully use for that purpose. SAS had produced a computer software . .
See AlsoSAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd ComC 13-Dec-2018
SAS sought to enforce its North Carolina judgment which was contrary to decisions already made by the UK and European Courts.
Held: Cockerill J held that the terms of the contract which purported to prohibit WPL’s conduct constituted a . .
See AlsoSAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd (2495) ComC 25-Sep-2019
Post judgment orders . .
See AlsoSAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd (Injunction) ComC 25-Sep-2019
Continuation of anti-suit injunction – refused . .
See AlsoSAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd CA 12-May-2020
Appeal from refusal of continuance of anti-suit injunction . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Intellectual Property

Updated: 24 July 2022; Ref: scu.470586