Activity
What I have been doing recently
As of October 2026
Data Protection: the journalistic exception in play. Registered Designs and threats: we won the liability stage, now on to damages. Border controls and regulation 608; what happens if the right owner revokes consent whilst the goods are in transit to a UK port – how much notice to withdraw consent does the right owner have to give; is the use of the court process to secure leverage actionable? Civil theft: if a warehouseman refuses a person access to their goods then to what extent can entry be made; does the law of self defence assist? Trade marks and passing off: to what extent can a person claim goodwill associated with a building or, conversely, can such a claim be rejected? Design Right: extent of ‘commonplace’ when it comes to light fittings and pleading artistic craftsmanship. Design Right: can you get a right in a bike box? Patents: use of patents in take down notices on Amazon, to what extent does threats legislation help the seller? AI generated invention, AI inventor – can the UKIPO entertain? Circus trade mark issues and licencing. Network communication patents: pleading, patents and primer for court. End of consultancy, re-appointment of IP. Equitable ownership of trade marks. Data subject access request – psychological damage (is there any and what are the level of damages?). Regulatory data protection – to what extent can further marketing authorisation applications rely upon prior submitted data? Software writing agreements – passing of know how, jersey corporations and ownership.
Data subject access request – degree of abstraction in providing data held by controller. Confidential Information: Government and Special Forces: lifelong obligation of confidentiality, Patents: the 60(2) “defence” of providing means essential, Patents: advising on the suitability of an expert for the purposes of a technologically complex case. Patents: the usual plethora or clearance advices: mechanical and pharma. Patents: AI inventorship. Patents, designs and intellectual property protection generally: advising client with large portfolio of ideas; how to protect. IP general: US companies; can the IP they own be expropriated? Patents: acting for patent owner in factually complicated technologies; Patents: the usual adequacy of PPD vs adequacy of the claim chart issue, who is to blame? Light fittings: design right and threats made by foreign solicitor; what is to be done? Trusts (involving trade marks): have the trustees paid themselves; will they provide information?
Data: non invasive surveillance not involving informants or communications interception – dos and donts. Registered Designs & Threats – (1) enquiry as to damage arising as a result of an unlawful threat and (2) (separate case) what to do if you buy products out of the back door of a factory and the goods turn out to be infringing. Trade Mark oppositions based upon pre-existing mark (and in one case whether a word was prohibited and thus could not form part of a registration) galore: many seem to be turning on the first part of the sign sought to be registered. Data Protection and procedure: to what extent can stolen evidence used to support a case of unfair dismissal be justified under the GDPR. Infringement: acquiescence (issues both as to time and as to knowledge – how far does Budwiser go?). Freedom of Information: getting information out of the government, cost. Contract and copyright: advising on proposed settlement terms. Trade Marks: to what extent can a very descriptive word be registered in a different area? Patents: clearance advice concerning chemical preservatives intended to preserve more labile chemicals. Money: construction of a loan agreement and who owns the copyright in that agreement (see mathematics entry below).
Crime and Money Laundering: assisting in crypto recovery claim and process. Patents, Copyright and Confidential Information: client made disclosure relating to AI method of analysing voices to determine relative performance of team members all in stressful situations (e.g. flying a failing aeroplane or managing a collapsing coal mine), on confidential terms. Trade Marks and Passing Off: client with significant goodwill in foodstuffs abroad, web presence here and trade marks liable to be revoked for non use; advising on way forward. Defamation and financial services: one trader questioning the mathematics of another – is mathematics always truthful? The answer, it seems, is not always … it depends; advising client on resisting proceedings. Patents: mechanicals; construction; Amazon take down; threats. Design Right: how do the 5-10-15 year rules of duration work? What contributes similar or significant from a design right perspective.
