Beth specialises in all areas of intellectual property law including patents, trade marks, copyright, and design rights; as well as related areas of contract law, breach of confidence and commercial matters. Beth has also acted in a number of cases that involve aspects of competition law.
Beth has considerable experience in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, and appears in the High Court, UKIPO, and Commercial Court in the Queen’s Bench Division. She also practices in the EUIPO, General Court, and the CJEU thanks to her Irish qualification.
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Ensygnia v Shell: Patent infringement and invalidity case relating to the use of QR codes on petrol pumps. Junior Counsel for Shell, led by Lindsay Lane KC.
- Pre-action formulation patent claim acting for patentee.
- Formulation patent claim acting for patentee. Junior Counsel (ongoing pre-action).
- Medical use patent claim acting for patentee on global strategy and injunctive relief preparation. Junior counsel (ongoing pre-action).
- Formulation and compound patent claims relating to GLP-1 receptor agonists. Junior Counsel (ongoing pre-action).
- Sandoz and Teva v Bristol-Myers Squibb: Patent infringement and invalidity claim relating to the factor Xa inhibitor apixaban. Junior Counsel for Teva up to CMC, led by Justin Turner KC.
- Ceva Sante Animale SA v Bayer Animal Health GMBH: Patent infringement and validity action concerning treatment for piglets with coccidiosis. Junior counsel for Bayer, led by Daniel Alexander KC.
- Beth spent 5 months on secondment in the Patent Department of an international law firm, working on the pre-action phase of global patent litigation involving a medical device patent.
- Howarth Air Technology v Medical Air Technology: Patent infringement and validity claim concerning medical devices. Junior Counsel for MAT, led by Mark Chacksfield KC.
- The Eyebag Company v TPC Marketing Ltd et Ors: Beth acted for the Defendants in this patent, trade mark and passing off case in the High Court relating to a self-heating eye mask product.
Copyright & Databases
Beth regularly advises on copyright matters, and has recently advised on the copyright in books, films, photography, architectural drawings, newspaper articles, music, and wills.
- Advising television channels in respect of possible copyright infringement in a television programme.
- Advising author on infringement of copyright in their novel by other work.
- Advising artist on merits in respect of copyright infringement of music used in No 1 charting song.
- Martin v Kogan: Re-trial in respect of copyright ownership; question of whether the defendant was a joint-author of the film “Florence Foster Jenkins”. Junior Counsel for the Defendant, led by Ashton Chantrielle.
- Beth has acted for the Universal Music Group on a case relating to the infringement of copyright in photographs.
- Barber v Newsquest: Quantum inquiry in respect of copyright infringement claim. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Sky v Falzon: claim in respect of copyright infringement of encrypted Sky Sports programmes. Counsel for Claimant.
- Beth regularly advises members of the National Union of Journalists on queries relating to copyright ownership, infringement and quantum.
Trade marks & Brands
Beth regularly advises on trade mark and passing off matters in the IPEC, High Court, UKIPO and General Court of the CJEU, involving both UK and EU Trade Marks; as well as appeals to the Appointed Person.
She has also worked on a multimillion-pound worldwide freezing injunction and search order in relation to counterfeit goods, has advised on comparative advertising in trade mark cases and has experience in obtaining interim injunctions in the High Court.
- WJ & Mash v Take 2 Events et ors: Passing off claim in respect of use of trade names for a location. Junior Counsel for Claimant, led by Emma Himsworth KC (ongoing).
- Thatchers v Aldi: Trade mark infringement and passing off claim in respect of copycat cider by discount supermarket. Junior counsel for the Claimant, led by Martin Howe KC (ongoing).
- Rainforest Café et Ors v Criterion Hospitality Ltd et Ors: Trade mark and unjust enrichment claim in respect of the Rainforest Café and Bubba Gump restaurants. Junior Counsel for Defendants, led by Nicholas Trompeter KC (ongoing).
- BLO/873/22: Appeal to the Appointed Person in respect of a trade mark decision refusing to permit the Application by reason of the Respondent’s pre-existing trade mark. Acted for Amazon, the successful Respondent.
- T-611/22: Appeal to the General Court against the Fifth Board of Appeal’s decision to permit part of a trade mark to enter onto the Register. Junior counsel for Appellant, led by Simon Malynicz KC (ongoing).
- O/865/22: United Sikhs and United Sikhs: Registry decision between two charities. Opposition of US chapter of charity’s application for Trade Mark in the UK by the UK chapter of the charity pursuant to earlier rights and bad faith. Counsel for successful opponent.
- Leading clothing brand: Beth provides ongoing advice in relation to infringement of various trade mark and copyright.
- Lyle & Scott v American Eagle Outfitters: Passing Off and breach of contract claim between two high street clothing manufacturers. Junior counsel for Defendant, led by Simon Malynicz KC.
- Hewlett Packard v Digital Devices: Trade mark and breach of contract case, involving interim applications for summary judgment. Counsel for the Claimants (ongoing).
- J Comm Limited v Out In SpA: Commercial dispute in the QBD with counterclaim for trade mark infringement and passing off. Junior Counsel for the Defendant.
- Easy Group v Easy Rimborso: Trade mark and passing off case in respect of the easyGroup’s family of marks. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Bitstocks v District Financial et Ors: Claim for multi-jurisdictional trade mark infringement relating to banks using cryptocurrency, in UKIPO and High Court. Junior Counsel for the Claimant, led by Simon Malynicz KC.
- University Academy 92 v Brendan Flood et Ors: trade mark and passing off claim, involving proceedings in the High Court and Trade Mark Registry. Junior counsel, led by Charlotte May KC.
- Fit Kitchen v Scratch: Trade mark and passing off IPEC trial. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Debt Collection Bailiffs Ltd v Integra et ors: Passing off case, summary judgment obtained. Counsel for the claimant.
Design Rights
Beth regularly advises in design right cases, and those involving a crossover of copyright and design right infringement.
- Leading car manufacturer: Beth provides ongoing advice in relation to infringement of various trade mark and design rights.
- Jewellery designs: Beth has provided design rights advice to a number of high-end jewellery firms in respect of various famous jewellery designs.
- Brainstorm Ltd v Green Field Toys Ltd: Breach of contract and counterclaim for infringement of design rights in various toy designs. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Kojac Fashion Accessories v Peacock Stores: Claim for design rights and copyright infringement, covering overlap between the two and section 51 of the CDPA. Counsel for the Defendant.
- Education & awards
- BA (Hons), History and Politics, Mansfield College Oxford (2014)
- Lord Denning Scholarship Award
- Accommodation Award Lincoln’s Inn
- Hardwicke Entrance Scholarship
- BPP Law School Pro Bono Award
- Professional memberships
- Lincoln’s Inn
- Chancery Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Bar Association
- Themis
- Irish qualifications
As part of our preparation for the UPC, Beth has been called to the Irish Bar, and is able to accept instructions on European matters. Please contact one of the clerks to discuss how we may assist on European work.
- Hobbies & interests
Beth is a keen advocate for access to the bar, and is active in the education department of Lincoln’s Inn. Outside law, she enjoys playing squash and coxing.
Contact Beth Collett's clerks
Whilst barristers have a designated practice management team, all the clerks have the capacity and knowledge to assist in cases involving all counsel.