Sky Plc & Ors v Skykick UK Ltd & Anor

Sky Plc & Ors v Skykick UK Ltd & Anor

Sky's trade marks cannot be declared invalid for lack of clarity and precision. They are partially invalid for bad faith registration, but remain valid for 'electronic mail services' and 'telecommunications services' (as not attacked for bad faith). SkyKick infringed the trade marks at least in so far as they are registered for 'electronic mail services'.

Parties
Claimant: Sky Plc; Claimant: Sky International AG; Claimant: Sky UK Limited; Defendant: SkyKick UK Limited; Defendant: SkyKick Inc
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
29 April 2020
Procedural Posture
Intellectual Property (trade Marks) / Post Reference Judgment Following CJEU Preliminary Ruling
Outcome
Trade marks partially invalid for bad faith registration; infringement established for valid part.
Legal Topics
Trade Mark Validity, Trade Mark Infringement, Bad Faith Registration, Specification Clarity and Precision
Intellectual Property Law European Union Law Trade Mark Validity Trade Mark Infringement Bad Faith Registration Specification Clarity and Precision

Case Brief

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Parties

Sky Plc

Claimant

Sky International AG

Claimant

Sky UK Limited

Claimant

SkyKick UK Limited

Defendant

SkyKick Inc

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Intellectual Property (trade Marks) / Post Reference Judgment Following CJEU Preliminary Ruling

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a trade mark can be declared invalid for lack of clarity and precision in specification
  2. 2 Whether bad faith in registration renders a trade mark wholly or partially invalid
  3. 3 Whether SkyKick infringed Sky's trade marks under Article 9(2)(b) of the Regulation/Article 10(2)(b) of the Directive

Ratio Decidendi

Sky's trade marks cannot be declared invalid for lack of clarity and precision. They are partially invalid for bad faith registration, but remain valid for 'electronic mail services' and 'telecommunications services' (as not attacked for bad faith). SkyKick infringed the trade marks at least in so far as they are registered for 'electronic mail services'.

Court Disposition

Trade marks partially invalid for bad faith registration; infringement established for valid part.

Orders

  • SkyKick's counterclaim for invalidity based on lack of clarity and precision dismissed.
  • Trade marks declared partially invalid for certain goods/services due to bad faith.