Intellectual Property

As one of the leading commercial law sets in the South West, St John’s Chambers offer a breadth of expertise in all aspects of intellectual property law.

Areas of expertise:

• Patents
• Trade marks, both registered and unregistered
• Passing off
• Copyright and moral rights
• Design rights, both registered and unregistered
• Counterfeiting and unauthorised parallel imports
• Database rights and rights in software
• Malicious falsehood
• Protection of confidential information and trade secrets
• Data protection

As well as advising and representing clients in litigation, we also advise clients on the licensing of intellectual property and technology transfer, including drafting agreements and ensuring compliance with UK and EU competition law.

Recent cases include:

• Acting on behalf of Shiner Ltd as the sole UK distributor and Heeling Sport.
• Corporation as US patent holder in a series of infringement actions in respect of the ‘heelies’ sporting shoe incorporating the ‘wheel in the heel’.
• The SMAE Institute (1919) v Stonebridge Associated Colleges – obtaining restraining order to prevent use of domain name.
• Eastern Eye Ltd v Miah and others – restraining the use of trade name and logo, passing off and trademark infringement.
• The SMAE Institute Ltd v The College of Foot Health Care Professionals Ltd for copyright infringement and passing off.

Mediation

As the number of cases being dealt with by way of mediation increases, our mediation team is on hand to help, as advisers, advocates and mediators. Our facilities are specifically designed to meet with clients’ needs for a mediation venue. Read more.

Public Access

Some members of the team are also available to act, where appropriate, for members of the public, as well as commercial and non-commercial organisations, under the Public Access scheme. Read more.

Training

The team delivers workshops and seminars in Chambers and regional centres. We also provide training on behalf of local Law Societies and in conjunction with solicitors firms. In addition we can give tailored in-house training for particular firms. If you would like any further information please contact Robert Bocock.