Typically, Intellectual Property (“IP”) law encompasses copyright and industrial properties laws. Chris has acted for both plaintiffs and defendants in several High Court copyright actions involving computer software and video piracy.
The Copyright Act creates a property right in certain original works and provides protections against unauthorised use, reproduction or adaptation of a copyright owner’s creative work. Industrial properties law provides protections against the unauthorised use of commercial or industrial IP (trademarks patents). IP claims generally seek both damages and restraining orders to compensate the copyright owner for any losses and/or strip the infringer of any profits as well as prohibit any future copyright violation.
Chris has been counsel in a number of District and High Court claims where the enforcement of copyright and/or a trademark was in issue. He has also acted in registration disputes involving trademarks before the IPONZ’s Trademarks Commissioner.