Merck KGaA v Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC & Ors [2024] EWHC 820 (Ch) (12 April 2024)

Merck KGaA v Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC & Ors [2024] EWHC 820 (Ch) (12 April 2024)

The court has discretion to grant declaratory relief as to the meaning and effect of its orders, but should not generally make findings of breach tantamount to contempt without the procedural protections of contempt proceedings. In this case, the court grants declarations as to the construction of the relevant...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] EWHC 820 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant: Merck KGaA; First Defendant: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (formerly Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp); Second Defendant: Merck & Co. Inc; Third Defendant: Organon Pharma (UK) Limited (formerly Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited); Fourth Defendant: MSD Animal Health UK Limited (formerly Intervet UK Limited); Fifth Defendant: Intervet International B.V.
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
12 April 2024
Procedural Posture
Intellectual Property and Contract Dispute (application for Declaratory Relief) / Judgment on Application for Declaratory Relief Regarding Alleged Breach of Court Order
Outcome
Declaratory relief granted as to the construction of the Order; no findings of breach made in respect of specific alleged acts.
Legal Topics
Trade Mark Infringement, Breach of Contract, Declaratory Relief, Injunctions, Contempt of Court, Interpretation of Court Orders
Intellectual Property Contract Law Civil Procedure Trade Mark Infringement Breach of Contract Declaratory Relief Injunctions Contempt of Court +1 more

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Merck KGaA

Claimant

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (formerly Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp)

First Defendant

Merck & Co. Inc

Second Defendant

Organon Pharma (UK) Limited (formerly Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited)

Third Defendant

MSD Animal Health UK Limited (formerly Intervet UK Limited)

Fourth Defendant

Intervet International B.V.

Fifth Defendant

Procedural Posture

Intellectual Property and Contract Dispute (application for Declaratory Relief) / Judgment on Application for Declaratory Relief Regarding Alleged Breach of Court Order

  1. 1 Whether the First Defendant breached clause 7 of the 1970 Agreement as incorporated in the court order by use of 'Merck' in the UK
  2. 2 Whether the First, Second, and Fifth Defendants infringed the Claimant's UK trade marks by use of 'Merck' as a trade mark in the UK
  3. 3 Whether declaratory relief should be granted in respect of alleged breaches of the court order, or whether such relief should be limited to construction of the order

Ratio Decidendi

The court has discretion to grant declaratory relief as to the meaning and effect of its orders, but should not generally make findings of breach tantamount to contempt without the procedural protections of contempt proceedings. In this case, the court grants declarations as to the construction of the relevant provisions of the Order but declines to make findings of breach in respect of the specific alleged acts in Annex 2, as such findings would serve little useful purpose and risk injustice to the Defendants.

Court Disposition

Declaratory relief granted as to the construction of the Order; no findings of breach made in respect of specific alleged acts.

Orders

  • Declarations as to the meaning and effect of paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 of the Order granted.
  • No declaration of breach in respect of the specific acts alleged in Annex 2.