Jaani Riordan practises in all areas of intellectual property and technology litigation, with particular expertise in disputes involving the Internet, computers and telecommunications.
He has a technical background in computer science, and acts in both IP and commercial disputes involving computer software and telecommunications. Jaani is regularly instructed as sole and junior counsel in the High Court and Court of Appeal, and has appeared in the leading case on website blocking injunctions in the Supreme Court.
Jaani has substantial experience in all fields of intellectual property law, as well as disputes involving questions of jurisdiction, FRAND licensing, interim injunctions, and data protection.
He also holds a PhD in law from the University of Oxford, where his research examined internet wrongdoing.
Jaani is the author of The Liability of Internet Intermediaries (2016, Oxford University Press).
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Teva UK Ltd v Gilead Sciences Inc [2018] EWHC 2416 (Pat): acted for generic pharmaceutical companies in challenge to validity of SPC for combination anti-retroviral medication, including a reference to the CJEU
- Unwired Planet International Ltd v Huawei Technologies Co Ltd & Samsung Electronics Co Ltd [2016] EWHC 94 (Pat): a large telecommunications patent trial (led by Richard Meade QC and Isabel Jamal for Unwired Planet)
- Warner-Lambert Company LLC v Actavis Group PTC EHF [2015] EWHC 2548 (Pat): assisted in a complex pharmaceutical patent trial concerning a Swiss-form claim
- Junior counsel for defendant phone maker in complex 3G/4G telecommunications patent technical claim
- Acting for patentees in IPEC mechanical patent claims
Copyright & Databases
- Confidential Arbitration: Acted for major DSP licensee v major publishing rights CMO in this 6 day arbitration in 2022
- Confidential Arbitration: Large social media platform v major publishing rights CMO in 2020
- British Broadcasting Corp v MCPS & PRS [2018] CT 129/16: acting for BBC in major licensing dispute in the Copyright Tribunal
- 77M Ltd v Ordnance Survey Ltd [2018] EWHC (ongoing): acting for start-up company in dispute concerning databases of geospatial data
- Sprint Electric Ltd v Buyer’s Dream Ltd [2018] EWHC 1924 (Ch): claim for delivery up of source code for embedded software, and breach of contract
- ITV Broadcasting Ltd v TVCatchUp Ltd (C-275/15), EU:C:2017:144: acted for Secretary of State in dispute concerning retransmission of television broadcasts and Information Society Directive
- Advised well-known platforms on liability for user-generated content and safe harbours.
Trade marks & Brands
- Argos Ltd v Argos Systems Inc [2018] EWCA Civ 2211: acted for US website operator in leading authority on jurisdiction over domain name and keyword advertising dispute
- Walton International Ltd v Verweij Fashion BV [2018] EWHC 1608 (Ch): claim for trade mark infringement and passing off, raising complex issues of revocation, internet use, and procedure
- Apple Inc v Sherlock Systems CV [2017] IPO (O-015-17): acted for Apple in strike-out of 68 parallel revocation proceedings as abuse of process, raising novel procedural issues
- R (British American Tobacco UK Ltd) v Secretary of State for Health [2016] EWHC Civ 1182; [2016] EWHC 1169 (Admin): acted for Secretary of State in challenge to tobacco plain packaging legislation raising issues of compatibility with EU law, TRIPS, and fundamental rights
- Thomas Pink Ltd v Victoria’s Secret UK Ltd [2014] EWHC 2631 (Ch): a claim of trade mark infringement and passing off (led by Charlotte May QC for Thomas Pink)
Trade Secrets & Confidentiality
- Acted for defendants in claim alleging breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy (settled before trial)
- Acted for start-up company in dispute over customer list data and trade secrets (settled before trial)
- Acting for defendant in claim alleging breach of confidence and copyright infringement
- Regularly advise claimants and defendants on claims made against former employees in relation to documents and trade secrets
IT & Telecoms Disputes
- IATA v Accelya SLU [2016] EWHC (QB): dispute concerning interpretation and breach of IT services agreement
- Trident Australasia Pty Ltd v Versabuild LLC [2015] All ER (D) 131; [2015] EWHC 1609 (Comm): a contractual claim in the Commercial Court related to the use of patented technology in the oil and gas industry (led by Peter Fraser QC), and subsequent application for non-party costs orders
- Acting for software developer in ongoing claim for payment under development agreement
- Acting for multinational company in dispute concerning authorship of computer software
- Acted for developer in claim alleging detects in network equipment
Internet Law & Cybersecurity
- Cartier International AG v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd [2018] UKSC 28; [2016] EWCA Civ 658: acted for consortium of British ISPs in leading test case on jurisdiction and conditions for website blocking injunctions, including appeal to the Supreme Court
- Football Association Premier League Ltd v British Telecommunications plc [2018] EWHC 1828 (Ch); [2017] EWHC 480 (Ch): acted for in FAPL in claim for new form of ‘live’ blocking injunction to block streaming servers infringing Premier League match footage
- Matchroom Boxing Ltd v British Telecommunications plc [2018] EWHC 2443 (Ch): acted for boxing promoters in claim for live blocking injunction
- UEFA v British Telecommunications plc [2018] EWHC 1900 (Ch); [2017] EWHC 3414 (Ch): acted for UEFA in claim for live blocking injunction over Champions League footage
- Advised state and non-state parties concerning liability and remedies for hacking and cybercrime
- Advised reinsurer concerning coverage and policy wording for acts of cyberterrorism
Jurisdiction & Remedies
- Wheat v Google LLC [2018] EWHC 550 (Ch): acted for Google in challenge to jurisdiction in claim concerning copyright and image search results
- Cartier International AG v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd [2018] UKSC 28; [2016] EWCA Civ 658: acted for consortium of British ISPs in leading test case on jurisdiction and conditions for website blocking injunctions, including appeal to the Supreme Court
- Advised well-known intermediaries and platforms concerning Norwich Pharmacal disclosure and data protection issues.
Media, Sport & Entertainment
- Football Association Premier League Ltd v British Telecommunications plc [2018] EWHC 1828 (Ch); [2017] EWHC 480 (Ch): acted for in FAPL in claim for new form of ‘live’ blocking injunction to block streaming servers infringing Premier League match footage
- Matchroom Boxing Ltd v British Telecommunications plc [2018] EWHC 2443 (Ch): acted for boxing promoters in claim for live blocking injunction
- UEFA v British Telecommunications plc [2018] EWHC 1900 (Ch); [2017] EWHC 3414 (Ch): acted for UEFA in claim for live blocking injunction over Champions League footage
- Education & awards
- University of Oxford, Doctor of Philosophy in Law (2012) (specialising in secondary liability of internet intermediaries for online wrongdoing) at Magdalen College, Oxford
- LLB (Hons, top 1st)
- University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Computer Science (Dean’s honours) (2007) (majoring in artificial intelligence and web applications)
- University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Laws (first-class honours, top first) (2007)
- Awarded full Clarendon Scholarship, Overseas Research Scholarship and James Fairfax Oxford–Australia Trust Scholarship to University of Oxford
- Supreme Court Prize and E J B Nunn Scholarship (awarded to first-placed student in final honours list)
- Exhibitions and prizes: Evidence and Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Property Law, Criminal Law (first-placed student in each subject)
- Melbourne Abroad Scholarship; Commonwealth Learning Scholarship
- Irish qualifications
As part of our preparation for the UPC, Jaani has been called to the Irish Bar, and subject to a short administrative step, is able to accept instructions on European matters. Please contact one of the clerks to discuss how we may assist on European work.
- Other relevant information
- Case Note Editor and Assistant Editor, Melbourne University Law Review
- Professional memberships
- Chancery Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Bar Association
- Society for Computers and Law
- Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
- Hobbies & interests
- In his spare time, Jaani is a violinist with amateur orchestras in London, and enjoys attending Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera and Wigmore Hall.
- He is a keen cyclist, fencer and hiker.
- Other interests include photography, art, architecture, and backgammon.
Contact Jaani Riordan'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.