Is there a role for ethics in Intellectual Property?

Oncomouse?

This is the first in a series of posts that will explore the interaction between ethics and the law of intellectual property. This first post will look at the ethics underlying intellectual property law, and the extent to which ethics has shaped exceptions to rights in intellectual property law.

Intellectual property and ethics may seem strange companions to some practitioners, but the law of intellectual property is philosophically rooted in ethical considerations. George Bell, a Scottish advocate in the early part of the 19th century, described the moral imperative behind intellectual property protection:

Of all things, the produce of a man’s intellectual labour is most peculiarly distinguishable as his own; and the Patents, or the statutes on which Copyright now rests, are intended not so much to create a right, as to protect it against invasion

George Bell, Commentaries on the Law of Scotland

Bell’s perspective reflects the philosophical conception of intellectual property originating in the work of John Locke, writing in his Second Treatise on Government.… Read more...

Summary Judgment in IP: Part Two – What’s stopping you?

Getting to Court Early
(Photo by THE 5TH on Pexels.com)

Getting to Court Early

A key difference between IP claims and other litigation is this: after exchange of pleadings, what more does the Court really need to decide the case?

This article is Part Two of two. For Part One, see here: Part One.

Part One looks at early determination of claims in IP, focusing on the recent Judgment in Red Bull v Big Horn ([2018] EWHC 2794 (Ch); as reported in CityAM).

Fact Evidence

Continuing with the example of Red Bull v Big Horn: In some trade mark cases the Court may need evidence as to the perception of the consumer of the goods: I’m not aware how popular Red Bull is among members of the Bench, but I’m sure it has fuelled the occasional late night Judgment writing marathon.… Read more...