Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Frasers Group Trading Ltd (formerly called Sportsdirect.com Retail Ltd) & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 583 (12 May 2026)

Lifestyle Equities CV & Anor v Frasers Group Trading Ltd (formerly called Sportsdirect.com Retail Ltd) & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 583 (12 May 2026)

The protections in s.30(6) TMA 1994, allowing recovery of losses suffered by licensees in infringement proceedings, are only available where an application to register the licence has been made, and such claims are subject to the limitation period. Claims for losses suffered by sub-licensees are statute barred if...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2026] EWCA Civ 583
Parties
Claimant/respondent: Lifestyle Equities C. V.; Claimant/respondent: Lifestyle Licensing B. V.; Defendant/appellant: Frasers Group Trading Limited; Defendant/appellant: SDI (Brook UK) Limited; Defendant/appellant: Runnel Limited; Defendant/appellant: SDI (Brook ROW) Limited; Defendant/appellant: Republic.com Retail Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
12 May 2026
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Judgment on Appeal From Summary Judgment Application
Outcome
Appeal allowed; summary judgment granted for appellants dismissing claims for damages in respect of losses suffered by sub-licensees.
Legal Topics
Trade Marks, Licensing, Limitation of Actions, Summary Judgment, Damages
Intellectual Property Civil Procedure Trade Marks Licensing Limitation of Actions Summary Judgment Damages

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Parties

Lifestyle Equities C. V.

Claimant/respondent

Lifestyle Licensing B. V.

Claimant/respondent

Frasers Group Trading Limited

Defendant/appellant

SDI (Brook UK) Limited

Defendant/appellant

Runnel Limited

Defendant/appellant

SDI (Brook ROW) Limited

Defendant/appellant

Republic.com Retail Limited

Defendant/appellant

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Judgment on Appeal From Summary Judgment Application

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a trade mark proprietor can recover losses suffered by licensees in infringement proceedings where the licences are not registered
  2. 2 Whether registration of a licence is a pre-condition to the protections in s.30(6) Trade Marks Act 1994
  3. 3 Whether there is a time limit for registration of a licence to enable recovery of licensee losses

Ratio Decidendi

The protections in s.30(6) TMA 1994, allowing recovery of losses suffered by licensees in infringement proceedings, are only available where an application to register the licence has been made, and such claims are subject to the limitation period. Claims for losses suffered by sub-licensees are statute barred if registration is not effected within the limitation period.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; summary judgment granted for appellants dismissing claims for damages in respect of losses suffered by sub-licensees.

Orders

  • Summary judgment dismissing claims for damages in respect of losses suffered by sub-licensees.