The House of Lords has ruled that success fees payable by the losing party where the claimant is funded under a conditional fee arrangement (CFA) are compatible with the defendant’s rights to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Naomi Campbell successfully sued MGN for breach of confidence in … Read more
The Paris High Court has given protection for a television programme format under the law of passing off. The claimants, Saranga Production, produced a format for a political docu-drama show entitled Crise en direct. The broadcaster, Canal Plus, one of the defendants, sought proposals from production companies for a new politically themed programme. The claimants … Read more
The Federal Court of Australia has handed down judgment in the most recent dispute concerning the trade in television formats and the issue of whether formats, particularly in the reality genre, should be afforded copyright protection. Ninox Television created a reality home renovation programme called Dream Home in New Zealand, which was broadcast there by … Read more
A songwriter’s claim for infringement of copyright in respect of an allegedly infringing song co-written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard has been struck out. The claimant, Elizabeth Janie Coffey, brought the action against Warner Chappell Music, the publishers of Madonna’s songs, Warner Music UK, her record company and EMI Music, Patrick Leonard’s publisher. Coffey claimed … Read more
