Adrian Speck KC

CALL: 1993 | SILK: 2012
Adrian Speck KC
Adrian Speck’s practice covers all aspects of Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment and Information Technology law.

His clients vary from large biotechnology and pharmaceutical corporations, telecoms manufacturers, substantial brand owners, broadcasters, publishers, television production companies and record companies to small businesses and private authors inventors and composers.

  • Experience

    Patents & SPCs

    Copyright & Databases

    Trade marks & Brands

    • Merck v Merck [2017] EWCA Civ 1834: concerning contractual and trade mark position of two major pharmaceutical companies. A particular focus of the dispute was the activity of the Defendant on the Internet.
    • Specsavers v Asda [2010] EWHC 2035 (Ch); [2012] EWCA Civ 24; [2012] EWCA Civ 494: trade mark infringement and passing off case concerning advertising campaign adopted by Asda with slogans directed to Specsavers and with a new logo based upon the Specsavers logo.
    • Scandecor Development v Scandecor Marketing [2001] UKHL 21: dispute between 2 publishers of posters and calendars. Case concerning ownership of goodwill in the SCANDECOR mark used in relation to posters calendars and the like when a previously multi national group was divided.
    • Wagamama v City Centre Restaurants [1995] F.S.R. 713: trade mark and passing off claim against a major operator of restaurants in respect of its RAJAMAMA restaurant.

    Design Rights

    • Ultraframe v Fielding [2005] EWHC 1638 (Ch); [2003] EWCA Civ 1805; [2006] EWCA Civ 113: large multifaceted dispute between two conservatory roof manufacturers. Claim included issues of design right relating to the designs of system used to construct conservatory roofs in addition to claims for passing off.
    • Novom v Iceland: design right claim brought in respect of designs of freezer cabinets used to display frozen food in stores.

    Trade Secrets & Confidentiality

    • Lancashire Fires v S.A. Lyons [1996] F.S.R. 629: Breach of confidence brought by a manufacturer of decorative gas fires against ex employees in respect of their use of a confidential process for manufacture of ceramic coals and logs.

    IT & Telecoms Disputes

    Internet Law & Cybersecurity

    • Cartier v BskyB [2016] EWCA Civ 658; [2018] UKSC 28: concerning injunctions against ISPs to secure blocking of websites involved in counterfeiting on basis of registered trade marks.
    • Newzbin 2 [2011] EWHC 1981 (Ch): case under s. 97A CDPA 1988. Injunction against BT to secure blocking of Newzbin website.
    • Newzbin 1 [2010] EWHC 608 (Ch): case brought by main film making studios against a website which indexed infringing copies of films on Usenet and made them readily available.
    • Merck v Merck [2017] EWCA Civ 1834: concerning contractual and trade mark position of two major pharmaceutical companies. A particular focus of the dispute was the activity of the Defendant on the Internet.

    Jurisdiction & Remedies

    • Conversant v Huawei & ZTE [2018] EWHC 808 (Pat): challenge to the jurisdiction of the English court.
    • Cartier v BskyB [2016] EWCA Civ 658; [2018] UKSC 28: concerning injunctions against ISPs to secure blocking of websites involved in counterfeiting on basis of registered trade marks.
    • Fort Dodge v Akzo [1997] EWCA Civ 3096: jurisdictional dispute under the Brussels Convention in relation to proceedings for infringement of patent. This was the first case concerning the Brussels Convention jurisdictional rules and their application to IP disputes to reach the Court of Appeal.
    • Pearce v Ove Arup Partnership [2001] EWHC Ch 455: claim for infringement of Dutch copyright in architect’s plans by the building of a large public building in Rotterdam.

    Media, Sport & Entertainment

    • Estate of Adrian Jacobs v Bloomsbury & JK Rowling [2010] EWHC 2560 (Ch) : allegation of copyright infringement by JK Rowling in writing fourth book in the series of Harry Potter Books.
    • Bloomsbury & JK Rowling v News International [2003] EWHC 1205 (Ch): claim relating to the theft of copies of a book. The case is notable for the successful application to obtain a ‘John Doe’ injunction (an injunction obtained against persons who were unidentified).
    • 19 TV v Freemantle & Cowell: case concerning the television formats Pop Idol and X Factor. Case settled at the court door.
  • Education and Awards
    • King’s College, Cambridge: 1991, BA Physics and Theoretical Physics (First Class Honours);
    • Inns of Court School of Law: 1993, Wilfred Parker Prize for top mark in Evidence, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure and Sentencing
    • Gray’s Inn: 1993 Bird & Bird Award, 1992, Karmel Award, 1991 Karmel Award
    • King’s College: Scholar, 1991, Richard’s Prize for the top mark among the College’s Natural Sciences and Medicine Students
  • Professional memberships
    • I.P. Bar Association
    • Chancery Bar Association

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