Intellectual Property Disputes
We assist with the full range of intellectual property disputes. This includes advice, and actions such as deploying teams to raid alleged IP infringers or making claims at various tribunals.

Our Intellectual Property Disputes team works closely with our media and technology teams to serve clients in many sectors, particularly sport, food and drink, energy, entertainment, financial services, and life sciences.

Our expertise covers all aspects of intellectual property disputes:

Trademarks
Copyrights
Designs
Patents
Database rights
Search and seize orders
Deploying teams to multiple locations to raid alleged IP infringers
Online IP protection
International intellectual property disputes
Claims before Nominet, the World Intellectual Property Organization and other tribunals

Meet our key contacts

John MacKenzie

Partner and Head of Commercial Disputes

Meet our full team

Carly Duckett

Associate

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Ruairidh Leishman

Senior Associate

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John MacKenzie

Partner and Head of Commercial Disputes

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Matt Phillip

Partner

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Philip Sewell

Partner

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Related articles and insights: Intellectual Property Disputes

20 January 2026

Shivering this winter? Cole Palmer’s signature shiver and the emergence of motion marks in football

Contributor: Joseph Fitzgibbon

Cole Palmer is the first footballer to secure a motion mark for a celebration via a 2018 amendment to the Trade Marks Act 1994. This represents the expanding scope of trade mark protection in sport.

23 December 2025

Getty Images v Stability AI: A long-awaited judgment that leaves AI stakeholders waiting longer

Contributor: Ruairidh Leishman

Insight into the widely anticipated AI copyright infringement case, Getty Images v. Stability AI.

17 February 2025

The cloudy world of “lookalike” products: Thatchers succeed in appeal against Aldi

Contributor: Ruairidh Leishman

In Thatchers Cider Company Limited v Aldi Stores Limited, Thatchers were successful in their appeal, finding that Aldi’s product had infringed Thatchers’ trade mark. This decision may alter the legal landscape for future challenges to “lookalike” products.

15 November 2024

“Copycat” brands – how close is too close?

Contributor: John MacKenzie

What is a "copycat" brand, and how can you avoid trade mark infringement and passing off?

31 July 2024

The Court of Appeal’s decision on the patentability of computer-implemented AI inventions.

Contributor: Ruairidh Leishman

The Court of Appeal has determined that a computer-implemented AI invention fell within the “computer program” exclusion from patentable subject matter because the invention did not make a “technical contribution”.

6 June 2024

Taylor’s Version – Why is Taylor Swift re-recording all of her old albums?

Contributor: Carly Duckett

Following her departure from Big Machine Records in 2018, Taylor Swift wanted to buy back the copyright in the master recordings of her albums. Ultimately, Swift instead re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” of those albums. Carly Duckett explains why, and how, Swift did it.

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