Golden Eye (International) Ltd & Ors v Telefónica UK Litd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 1740 (21 December 2012)

Golden Eye (International) Ltd & Ors v Telefónica UK Litd & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 1740 (21 December 2012)

The Court of Appeal held that with appropriate safeguards, Norwich Pharmacal orders should be granted to all claimants, including the Other Claimants, as the arrangements with Golden Eye were lawful, not champertous, and did not increase risk to intended defendants. Refusal of relief based solely on recovery sharing arrangements was unjustified.

Citation
[2012] EWCA Civ 1740
Parties
Claimant/appellant: Golden Eye (International) Limited; Claimant/appellant: Ben Dover Productions; Claimant/appellant: Celtic Broadcasting Ltd; Claimant/appellant: Easy On The Eye; Claimant/appellant: DMS Telecoms Limited; Claimant/appellant: Gary Baker; Claimant/appellant: Harmony Films Limited; Claimant/appellant: Justin Ribeiro Dos Santos t/a Joybear Pictures; Claimant/appellant: Orchid Mg Limited; Claimant/appellant: Kudetta Bvba; Claimant/appellant: RP Films Limited; Claimant/appellant: Sweetmeats Productions T/A S. M. P.; Claimant/appellant: Sll Films Limited; Claimant/appellant: Terence Stephens t/a One Eyed Jack Productions; Defendant/respondent: Telefónica UK Limited; Intervener: Open Rights Group
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 December 2012
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Outcome
appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Norwich Pharmacal Orders, Copyright Infringement, Proportionality, Champerty, Data Disclosure, Privacy Rights, Speculative Invoicing
Intellectual Property Data Protection Privacy Civil Procedure Norwich Pharmacal Orders Copyright Infringement Proportionality Champerty +3 more

Case Brief

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Parties

Golden Eye (International) Limited

Claimant/appellant

Ben Dover Productions

Claimant/appellant

Celtic Broadcasting Ltd

Claimant/appellant

Easy On The Eye

Claimant/appellant

DMS Telecoms Limited

Claimant/appellant

Gary Baker

Claimant/appellant

Harmony Films Limited

Claimant/appellant

Justin Ribeiro Dos Santos t/a Joybear Pictures

Claimant/appellant

Orchid Mg Limited

Claimant/appellant

Kudetta Bvba

Claimant/appellant

RP Films Limited

Claimant/appellant

Sweetmeats Productions T/A S. M. P.

Claimant/appellant

Sll Films Limited

Claimant/appellant

Terence Stephens t/a One Eyed Jack Productions

Claimant/appellant

Telefónica UK Limited

Defendant/respondent

Open Rights Group

Intervener

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Norwich Pharmacal relief should be granted to claimants for disclosure of alleged infringers' identities
  2. 2 Whether agreements between Golden Eye and Other Claimants are champertous and preclude relief
  3. 3 Whether the order sought is proportionate given privacy and data protection rights of intended defendants

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that with appropriate safeguards, Norwich Pharmacal orders should be granted to all claimants, including the Other Claimants, as the arrangements with Golden Eye were lawful, not champertous, and did not increase risk to intended defendants. Refusal of relief based solely on recovery sharing arrangements was unjustified.

Court Disposition

appeal allowed

Orders

  • Norwich Pharmacal orders granted to all claimants, including Other Claimants, subject to amended safeguards and terms as set out by the court.
  • Any claims against intended defendants to be brought in the Patents County Court.