Archive - April 2014

The UK has a reputation for litigation to be extremely expensive, lengthy and complicated.  As a result, many companies have chosen to litigate their patents in Germany, where it is perceived that litigation is cheaper and quicker.  This article aims to demonstrate that patent litigation in the UK can be just as inexpensive as it […]

On 1 November 2013, the High Court of England and Wales issued its decision in the case of JW Spear & Sons Ltd & Mattel. Inc. v Zynga, Inc [2013] EWHC 3348 (Ch). The High Court decided that Zynga’s online game, SCRAMBLE WITH FRIENDS, does not infringe Mattel’s rights in its famous SCRABBLE mark, except […]

This case concerned Apotex’s generic version of Sanofi-Aventis’ leflunomide drug, ARAVA®. Sanofi-Aventis obtained a patent which claims: “A method of preventing or treating a skin disorder, wherein the skin disorder is psoriasis, which comprises administering to a recipient an effective amount of [leflunomide]”. Leflunomide is used in Australia to treat psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, […]

In the recent case of IPCom GmbH & Co Ltd v HTC Europe Ltd and others [2013] EWCA Civ 1496, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision to refuse a request to stay proceedings in light of pending opposition proceedings before the EPO. The length of time typical opposition proceedings may remain pending was thought […]

On 28th February 2014, Magmatic, the company behind the Trunki ride-on suitcase which was made famous by the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, suffered a major setback when the Court of Appeal handed down its decision in Magmatic Ltd v PMS International Ltd . The Court of Appeal reversed the first instance decision of Arnold J, finding […]