What is Copyright?

Copyright protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, including films, music and computer programs.

It protects against the copying of another’s work and the physical expression or representation of an idea, but it does not protect against independent development of the same idea.

Copyright ownership allows the owner to prevent the unauthorised use of the work, such as making copies or uploading the work to the internet.

Copyright automatically arises on the creation of the work and lasts for 70 years after the death of the author in relation to dramatic, artistic, literary and musical works.

The creator of the work is usually the first owner of the copyright in it.

What is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs when someone carries out certain acts regarding the work without the permission of the author.

These acts include:

  • Copying the work;
  • Issuing copies to the public;
  • Renting or lending the work to the public;
  • Performing, showing or playing the work in public;
  • Communicating the work to the public;
  • Making an adaptation of the work; and
  • Importing infringing copies.

What Remedies are Available for Copyright Infringement?

There are various remedies available to copyright holder where copyright infringement is proven, including:

  • Damages for any loss they have suffered;
  • An injunction to prevent further infringements;
  • Delivery up, destruction and/or seizing of the infringing articles; and
  • Costs

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Our Approach to Copyright Infringement

Breach of copyright claims can be extremely technical and complex meaning they are often deal with by specialist Courts in both England and Wales.

After we have reviewed your matter we will provide you with all of the potential options available. There are many remedies available, all of which will be discussed with you so, allowing you to make an informed decision.

Throughout the remaining process we will stand by your side, making sure that you are effectively protected and fighting for the right outcome.

Myerson is an award-winning law firm with a team dedicated to both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property issues. Throughout our years of assisting with IP issues we have been ranked by the prestigious Legal 500 law firm directory. This ranking assures you that you will be receiving the highest quality legal advice available.

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Our Experience with Copyright Infringement

Breach of Copyright Claim

We act for a property developer who specialises in converting office blocks into luxury student accommodation. 

Prior to our client purchasing a property in the North of England, a third party also had aspirations to purchase the site and convert it into student accommodation. 

The third party had applied for planning permission and obtained the architect’s plans.

The third party was unable to complete the purchase of the property, which was subsequently bought by our client. 

The third party alleged that our client had breached copyright by using its architect’s plans and pursued an injunction as well as damages. 

Following the third party being disappointed with the result of a High Court trial, the third party appealed unsuccessfully to the Court of Appeal. 

Advising on Intellectual Property Rights relating to Computer Software

We advised a client on his exit from the in-house software development division of Balfour Beatty. 

Our client had, as part of his employment, worked on a software mapping tool which was used by Balfour Beatty internally for projects but which was not marketed externally to third parties. 

Our client wanted to try and agree terms with Balfour Beatty to take a licence or enter into a joint venture in order to market the software externally. 

We helped negotiate the client’s termination of employment, advised our client on his rights in relation to the intellectual property, identified the nature of his intellectual property and proposed potential structures for our client to have an ongoing relationship with Balfour Beatty. 

Later, we advised our client in relation to court proceedings brought by Balfour Beatty for an injunction, damages and the destruction of the software. 

Balfour Beatty alleged that our client was in breach of contract, in breach of confidence and had infringed copyright.  Balfour Beatty withdrew its claim against our client at an early stage and we recovered our client’s costs. 

Testimonials

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Julie L

Richard and Olivia were great to work with from start to finish. They took time to understand our industry, and how we worked as a company. This, mixed with their professional knowledge, allowed the process to be seamless, and produce specific documents for our business. I would highly recommend the team, and I am pleased that I have built this relationship so that if any services are required going forward, I will be able to contact them knowing I will receive a high level of service.

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Nick

We had an outstanding experience with Myerson Solicitors. From start to finish, the team was professional, efficient, and approachable. Our solicitor, Olivia Whittaker, was particularly remarkable - her attention to detail, clear communication, and expert guidance made the entire process smooth and worry-free. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend Olivia and the firm to any business seeking expert commercial legal advice.

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Richard

We needed to rewrite our online terms and conditions to ensure compliance with all legal aspects. Olivia and Richard were outstanding in their advice and assistance. They guided us through every step of the process, providing valuable insight and expertise. Their professionalism and clear communication made a complex task manageable, and we couldn't be happier with the service they provided.

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Andrew

I engaged Richard Meehan, Myerson Solicitors, for the drafting of a complex multi-product exclusive supply agreement. He was thorough, explained in plain English and kept me updated consistently throughout. In addition, his after service communications were excellent, ensuring that we felt supported in our negotiations. Great service, before, during and after, which is the benchmark that I have come to expect from all my dealings with Myerson Solicitors. A great team.

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Adrian

Richard and the team at Myerson were excellent. They guided me through a relatively complex legal situation and weren't afraid to admit when they needed to bring in other divisors to offer the best guidance which I appreciated. It was all done efficiently and for a fair price. A great experience.

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Mo

I recently worked with Richard to draft an international supply agreement, and I couldn't be happier with the service I received. He was highly knowledgeable, easy to work with, and always responded promptly to any questions I had. I felt well-supported from start to finish and would highly recommend Richard to anyone looking for a reliable and experienced solicitor for commercial contracts.

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Ben

Exceptional service, Richard and his colleagues were professional and personable not like other law firms we have worked with in the past. It was clear from the outset that Myerson were very down to earth and willing to put in the work to help us achieve our goals. They were a delight to work with on our contract negotiations. I would highly recommend them.

Business Testimonials

Aceplan Player Development Ltd

I worked with Richard Meehan and Olivia Whittaker, who helped me to build a comprehensive set of legal documents for my software business. This included terms and conditions for the different user types, privacy and cookie policies, and general website terms. Their legal knowledge and what was required for my business was very impressive. It left me feeling reassured and confident in the work they prepared. All the deadlines were met and I'm really satisfied with the end product.

Business Testimonials

Torram Ltd

I couldn't recommend Myerson Solicitors highly enough. Richard and Olivia were fantastic to work with, they were extremely professional and knowledgeable and knew how to get the best out of my contract. They were very responsive and ready to answer all of my questions whenever I asked them. They are a safe pair of hands for anyone starting out in business and don't have any personal recommendations for solicitors. They're very capable and very pleasant to work with and compared to other companies, fairly priced.

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Peter

Myerson deserves more than 5 stars. I am exceptionally pleased with the work done by Richard M at Myerson who worked on the Terms for my startup. Incredible depth of knowledge and amazing turnaround time. Highly recommended!

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Matt

As a start-up company, we needed specific advice, work and contracts drafting on key contracts. (Customer and Supplier) along with specific website and cookie policies. Myerson's completed this work on time and to a high standard. Importantly, they advised on which areas to focus on to spend time and money - very important for a start up. Every member of the team was very capable and if they did hand over, the person handover to was always fully briefed and up to speed with our account and work. Highly recommended.

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Jason

We needed a flexible VAR agreement for our AI based software offering that could be easily adapted to a wide variety of partnerships, engagement models and go-to-market strategies. The Commercial team did a great job making sense of our sometimes confused and over-complicated requirements, and simplified it down to exactly what we needed. Soon after we successfully used the agreement with a large multi-national corporation. All in all a great result and a great experience.

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Joe

Very pleased with the service received in updating T&Cs and other legal documents. Excellent communication and useful discussions, getting to understand our business and its requirements.

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Emad Salib

The team were highly responsive, clear in their advice, and demonstrated a strong commercial understanding of our business and the sector we operate in. They provided practical, well-structured guidance and were proactive in highlighting potential risks while offering sensible solutions. It was a pleasure working with them, and we would not hesitate to recommend Myerson.

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Steve Ridd

Rich Meehan at Myerson provided clear, pragmatic and highly effective support on a range of complex commercial matters. His advice was responsive, commercially focused and instrumental in helping us manage risk while progressing key initiatives. Richard worked collaboratively with the executive team, translating legal complexity into practical guidance, and I would have no hesitation in recommending him and Myerson for trusted commercial legal support.

Why Choose Our Intellectual Property Solicitors?

  • Our intellectual property experts advise clients on a broad range of intellectual property matters, from initial registration and exploitation to protection and enforcement.
  • Our specialist IP litigation team is also highly experienced in handling business disputes involving intellectual property.
  • Myerson is a member of the Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (IPLA), an association of law firms with an established intellectual property office. Our membership provides our clients and us with access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise in intellectual property.
  • Through our many years of service, we have close working relationships with trade mark and patent attorneys and regularly liaise with them on a wide range of intellectual property issues, such as registering trademarks, patents and design rights, and when disputes arise concerning intellectual property rights. These working relationships are a key element of the service we offer to our clients.
  • Myerson is also the Manchester and Cheshire law firm member for the MSI Global Alliance, a top 20 ranked international association of independent professional firms. As the IP matters we deal with often involve an international element, we can call upon the expertise and knowledge of our fellow MSI members to ensure that our client's global interests are protected.

Speak With Our IP Solicitors

Why Choose Our Intellectual Property Solicitors v2

Meet Our Intellectual Property Solicitors

Home-grown or recruited from national, regional or City firms. Our intellectual property lawyers are experts in their fields and respected by their peers.

Richard M

Richard Meehan

Richard is a Partner in our Commercial Team

Rob B FINAL

Robert Brothers

Robert is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution Team

Liv On final

Olivia O'Neil

Olivia is a Solicitor in our Dispute Resolution Team

Contact Our Experts

You can contact our lawyers below if you have any more questions or want more information:

0161 941 4000

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