News Datacom Ltd. v. Lyons [1994] IEHC 1; [1994] 1 ILRM 450 (20th January, 1994)

News Datacom Ltd. v. Lyons [1994] IEHC 1; [1994] 1 ILRM 450 (20th January, 1994)

The plaintiffs failed to provide direct or inferential evidence of copying of their software or algorithm, relying only on functional similarity and expert opinion without scientific basis. Functional similarity alone is insufficient to establish a stateable case of copyright infringement for interlocutory relief.

Citation
[1994] 1 ILRM 450
Parties
Plaintiff: News Datacom Limited; Plaintiff: British Sky Broadcasting Limited; Plaintiff: Sky Television PLC; Defendant: Lyons Trading (as satellite decoding systems); Defendant: Molloy
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Procedural Posture
Interlocutory Injunction Application / Interlocutory
Outcome
application refused
Legal Topics
Copyright Infringement, Computer Software Protection, Interlocutory Injunctions, Burden of Proof in Copyright Cases
Intellectual Property Copyright Law Information Technology Law Copyright Infringement Computer Software Protection Interlocutory Injunctions Burden of Proof in Copyright Cases

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Parties

News Datacom Limited

Plaintiff

British Sky Broadcasting Limited

Plaintiff

Sky Television PLC

Plaintiff

Lyons Trading (as satellite decoding systems)

Defendant

Molloy

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Interlocutory Injunction Application / Interlocutory

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the plaintiffs have established a sufficient case of copyright infringement in software to justify an interlocutory injunction
  2. 2 Whether functional similarity of software products is sufficient evidence of copying for interlocutory relief

Ratio Decidendi

The plaintiffs failed to provide direct or inferential evidence of copying of their software or algorithm, relying only on functional similarity and expert opinion without scientific basis. Functional similarity alone is insufficient to establish a stateable case of copyright infringement for interlocutory relief.

Court Disposition

application refused