NEWS

Christopher Vajda QC Speaking at the Licensing Executives Society

17 November 2010

Christopher Vajda QC recently represented the parallel importer M-Tech Data Limited at the Court of Appeal in its successful defence of a summary judgment application made by Oracle America Inc (formerly Sun Microsystems Inc). Oracle had sued M-Tech for trade mark infringement in relation to disk drives which M-Tech had imported into the UK from the USA. Oracle applied for summary judgment on the basis that the disk drives had not been first marketed in the EEU by Oracle or with its consent. M-Tech successfully defeated that application relying on a number of defences based on European internal market and competition law.

In his talk, Christopher will consider the interface between trade mark law and other areas of EU law, including European competition law. He will explain the defences raised by M-Tech and consider what this case means for brand owners and parallel importers. This will be an interesting and thought provoking talk on a recent development in the law relating to parallel imports.

Christopher Vajda QC is a leading barrister in EU/competition law, judicial review and regulatory law. He has appeared in over 100 cases in the European Courts as well as numerous appearances in the UK courts, including 15 cases in the Court of Appeal over the last 3 years.

For further details relating to Oracle America (Formerly Sun Microsystems) v M-Tech Data Ltd and Stephen Lawrence Lichtenstein, please click here.