Boghossian v IOP Publishing Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 3317 (IPEC) (17 December 2025)

Boghossian v IOP Publishing Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 3317 (IPEC) (17 December 2025)

Prof. Boghossian is not a joint author of the Draft Paper or Djokic Paper. The evidence, including contemporaneous documentation and credible witness testimony, shows Dr Djokic (with Mr Goswami) was the sole author. Prof. Boghossian's contributions were limited to supervision, critique, and non-authorial suggestions, insufficient for joint authorship under s.10(1) CDPA. There was no collaboration in the sense required by law, and no evidence of non-distinct, authorial contribution by Prof. Boghossian. Accordingly, she has no copyright interest in the Djokic Paper, and her claim fails.

Citation
[2025] EWHC 3317 (IPEC)
Parties
Claimant: Prof. Ardemis Boghossian; Defendant/part 20 Claimant: IOP Publishing Limited; Part 20 Defendant: Dr. Dejan M Djokic
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
17 December 2025
Procedural Posture
Copyright Infringement (literary Work) and Part 20 Claim for Indemnity/contribution / Judgment After Split Trial on Liability
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Joint Authorship, Copyright Infringement, Academic Publishing, Employee Copyright Ownership, Indemnity and Contribution
Intellectual Property Law Copyright Law Joint Authorship Copyright Infringement Academic Publishing Employee Copyright Ownership Indemnity and Contribution

Case Brief

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Parties

Prof. Ardemis Boghossian

Claimant

IOP Publishing Limited

Defendant/part 20 Claimant

Dr. Dejan M Djokic

Part 20 Defendant

Procedural Posture

Copyright Infringement (literary Work) and Part 20 Claim for Indemnity/contribution / Judgment After Split Trial on Liability

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Prof. Boghossian is a joint author of the Draft Paper under s.10(1) CDPA 1988
  2. 2 If so, whether she consented to publication of the Djokic Paper by IOP
  3. 3 Whether IOP infringed copyright by publishing the Djokic Paper

Ratio Decidendi

Prof. Boghossian is not a joint author of the Draft Paper or Djokic Paper. The evidence, including contemporaneous documentation and credible witness testimony, shows Dr Djokic (with Mr Goswami) was the sole author. Prof. Boghossian's contributions were limited to supervision, critique, and non-authorial suggestions, insufficient for joint authorship under s.10(1) CDPA. There was no collaboration in the sense required by law, and no evidence of non-distinct, authorial contribution by Prof. Boghossian. Accordingly, she has no copyright interest in the Djokic Paper, and her claim fails.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • Prof. Boghossian's claim for joint authorship and copyright infringement is dismissed.
  • No finding of copyright infringement by IOP.