The claimant sought enforcement of a contract restricting the use by the appellant defendant of the initials ‘WWF’ in their trading. The agreement had been reached in settlement of an action for breach of the claimant’s trade mark rights. The claimant was particularly concerned as to the injurious association with the respondent, and its use of the mark on the Internet.
Held: The scratch logo used by the federation was a clear breach. They had not seriously sought to argue that they were not in breach of the agreement. The protection of the intellectual property rights of one business inevitably implies some restriction on the rights of others with potentially conflicting interests. There was no undue interference in the freedom of the defendant to trade. The breaches were clear, and the agreement was to be upheld. Appeal against summary judgement dismissed.
Judges:
Lord Phillips M.R., Lord Justice Judge, Lord Justice Carnwath
Citations:
Times 12-Mar-2002, Gazette 11-Apr-2002, [2002] EWCA Civ 196
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Three Rivers District Council and Others v Governor and Company of The Bank of England (No 3) HL 22-Mar-2001
Misfeasance in Public Office – Recklessness
The bank sought to strike out the claim alleging misfeasance in public office in having failed to regulate the failed bank, BCCI.
Held: Misfeasance in public office might occur not only when a company officer acted to injure a party, but also . .
Appeal from – WWF -World Wide Fund for Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund), World Wildlife Fund Inc v World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc ChD 1-Oct-2001
The Fund sought summary relief against the use of the sign ‘WWF’ by the defendants, in breach of a contract. The defendants urged that the contract operated in restraint of trade. There had been long running and widespread trade mark disputes, . .
Cited by:
See Also – World Wide Fund for Nature (Formerly World Wildlife Fund), World Wildlife Fund Incorporated v World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Incorporated – Intervener Jakks Pacific Llc CA 27-Mar-2003
. .
See Also – WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature and Another v World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc ChD 16-Feb-2006
. .
See Also – WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and Another v World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc CA 2-Apr-2007
The parties had disputed use of the initals WWF, with a compromise reached in 1994 allowing primary use by the Fund with restricted use by the Federation. The Federation now appealed an award of damages made after a finding of a breach of the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Intellectual Property, Contract, Commercial
Updated: 25 October 2022; Ref: scu.167702