Ukoumunne v The University of Birmingham & Ors [2020] EWHC 184 (IPEC) (05 February 2020)

Ukoumunne v The University of Birmingham & Ors [2020] EWHC 184 (IPEC) (05 February 2020)

The claimant failed to identify any substantial part of her works that was copied by the defendants, and the alleged similarities related to ideas, themes, or sources not protected by copyright. No confidential information was sufficiently identified or misused. The pleadings disclosed no reasonable grounds for the claims, and there was no real prospect of success. The claims were struck out and/or summary judgment granted for the defendants.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 184 (IPEC)
Parties
Claimant: Caroline Ngozi Ukoumunne; 1st Defendant: The University of Birmingham; 2nd Defendant: Paul Warmington; 3rd Defendant: Ian Grosvenor; 4th Defendant: Kevin Myers; 5th Defendant: Adam Tickell; 6th Defendant: Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
05 February 2020
Procedural Posture
Intellectual Property/civil Claim / Strike Out/summary Judgment Applications
Outcome
Claim struck out/summary judgment for all defendants
Legal Topics
Copyright Infringement, Breach of Confidence, Breach of Contract, Professional Negligence, Discrimination, Summary Judgment, Strike Out Applications
Intellectual Property Equity and Trusts Employment Law Discrimination Law Copyright Infringement Breach of Confidence Breach of Contract Professional Negligence +3 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 20 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Caroline Ngozi Ukoumunne

Claimant

The University of Birmingham

1st Defendant

Paul Warmington

2nd Defendant

Ian Grosvenor

3rd Defendant

Kevin Myers

4th Defendant

Adam Tickell

5th Defendant

Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group)

6th Defendant

Procedural Posture

Intellectual Property/civil Claim / Strike Out/summary Judgment Applications

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the claimant's works were copied in breach of copyright by the defendants
  2. 2 Whether there was a breach of confidence by the defendants in relation to the claimant's thesis and research
  3. 3 Whether the pleadings disclosed reasonable grounds for bringing the claims

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant failed to identify any substantial part of her works that was copied by the defendants, and the alleged similarities related to ideas, themes, or sources not protected by copyright. No confidential information was sufficiently identified or misused. The pleadings disclosed no reasonable grounds for the claims, and there was no real prospect of success. The claims were struck out and/or summary judgment granted for the defendants.

Court Disposition

Claim struck out/summary judgment for all defendants

Orders

  • All claims against all defendants struck out and/or summary judgment granted
  • No order for transfer to QBD or for disclosure