Ian Silcock

Call:1997

Introduction & Contact Details

Ian began his career as a barrister specialising in IP litigation in the legal department of The Body Shop Intl Plc. Before commencing independent practice at the bar in 2002, he worked as in-house legal counsel to a global internet and domain name consultancy, and later as technical assistant to a leading firm of patent & trade mark attorneys. In addition to his legal experience, Ian has a post-graduate degree in computer science, which he obtained with a distinction in 2001, following the award of a scholarship from the European Physics & Science Research Council in the previous year.

Ian’s practice covers all aspects of intellectual property and information technology law, including the law of patents, copyright, designs, trade marks and passing off, as well as aspects of related fields, such as media, music and entertainment law, defamation, breach of confidence and competition law. In the field of ADR, Ian has experience of acting for clients in mediation, as well as arbitrations under the Arbitration Act 1996.

Ian lectures regularly in the field of intellectual property law, and his lectures have included lectures given to the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO), as well as to the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (epi) in Munich; he is a Visiting Lecturer both to the Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, London, and to the Centre d’Etudes Internationales de la Propriété Industrielle (CEIPI), Strasbourg.

Tel:    020 7242 2523 (switchboard)
Fax:   020 7691 1234

Email: ian.silcock@hardwicke.co.uk

COMMERCIAL

Please see Intellectual Property section.

Franchising

Please see Intellectual Property section.

Intellectual Property

Ian’s practice covers all aspects of intellectual property and information technology law, as well as the closely related fields of franchising, media & entertainment law, defamation, breach of confidence and data protection. His specialist areas include:

• Registered trade mark infringement & passing off
• Copyright, particularly software copyright
• Patent infringement and validity (including software & nanotech patents)
• Registered and unregistered design right infringement
• Media & entertainment law (incl. performers’ rights, broadcasting & telecoms regulation)
• Defamation, breach of confidence, data protection & privacy

Recent & Significant Cases

B4U Telecom Ltd v. T-Tech Global Mobiles Ltd (2007) 7 BM 40014 (Ch)
design right infringement, high-end mobile phones, malicious falsehood, eBay retailing

Mobyko Ltd v. Phonesync Ltd (2006) HC 06 C03420 (Ch)
interim injunctive proceedings for delivery-up of computer software source code
(mobile telephone synchronisation services)

Moor Spa International Ltd v. Moor At Home Ltd (2006) HC 06 C02801 (Ch)
registered trade mark infringement, passing off, breach of directors’/fiduciary duties

NC Graphics (Cambridge) Ltd v. VI Group Plc (2005) HC 03 C02239 (Ch)
software copyright infringement, breach of software distribution agreements

Citibank NV, Citicorp v. Citybond Holdings Plc [2007] RPC (13) 000 (AP)
trade mark opposition, appeal to the Appointed Person, insurance services

Re JADE DRAGON Trade Mark (2006) CH2006 APP 671/678 (Ch)
trade mark opposition, High Court appeal, Chinese food importation & wholesaling

Re Compass Group Holdings Plc (2006) O-327-06 (AP)
trade mark appeal to the Appointed Person, ex parte, retail services

New Look Ltd v. Newman SA (2006) O-301-06 (TMR)
trade mark opposition, retail clothing

IT & Telecoms

Please see intellectual property section.

Media & Entertainment

Please see intellectual property section.