Good news for retail brands – landmark ruling orders ISPs to block websites selling counterfeit goods

On October 17 2014, a landmark judgment was handed down by the High Court in the case of Cartier, Montblanc and Richemont v BskyB, BT, TalKTalk, EE and Virgin [2014] EWHC 3354 (Ch).The Richemont group On October 17 2014, a landmark judgment was handed down by the High Court in the case of Cartier, Montblanc and Richemont v BskyB, BT, TalKTalk, EE and Virgin [2014] EWHC 3354 (Ch).

The Richemont group are producers and retailers of luxury goods and they own a number of well-known brands, including Cartier and Montblanc. The Richemont group were successful in their application for orders requiring leading UK internet service providers ("ISPs") to block access to websites selling counterfeit versions of their products.

This is arguably the first occasion where an application for a website-blocking order against internet service providers has been granted in order to combat trade mark infringement (as opposed to previous successful applications in relation to copyright) and as a test case, the detailed reasoning listed within the judgment is likely to be followed by other applications by trade mark owners within the EU.