The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017

To many UK businesses their intellectual property (IP) is their most important asset. Protecting it is therefore a priority and the law surrounding IP provides businesses and individuals with a means to enforce their rights when an infringement has been identified.  However, overzealous IP owners have had to be wary when making allegations of infringement to avoid being on the receiving end of an “unjustified threats” action.

The law recognises that some allegations may be groundless and some businesses may use the serious threat of IP litigation as a means to derail competitors.  It, therefore, provides protection for the innocent and those adversely affected by such threats.  However, as the law developed differently in respect of trade marks, patents and design rights, it became a bit of a minefield.  The fear of getting it wrong, or the costs and distraction caused by a wealthy infringer abusing the “unjustified threats” provision, dissuaded genuine victims of infringement taking the necessary action to protect their IP.

The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017, which came into force on 1 October 2017, seeks to clarify the position on unjustified threats in respect of trade marks, patents and design rights.

What is the purpose of the act?

It has three main purposes:-

• To offer protection to businesses and individuals against threats used for intimidation purposes, or to gain an unfair commercial advantage in the absence of infringement
• To aid settlement negotiation where there is a dispute in respect of IP infringement
• To make the law on unjustified threats consistent

What is new?

The act introduces a method of clearly indicating to businesses, individuals and advisers what a threat is, via the new two-part statutory test

(i) Would a reasonable person understand from the communication that a patent, trade mark or design right (an IPR) exists; and

(ii) Would that reasonable person also understand that a person intends to bring proceedings against another person for infringement of the IPR by an act done in the UK?

The threat does not need to be made directly to the identified individual or business in order to satisfy the test.  Therefore, posts published on social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook can expose the publisher to an unjustified threat claim.  However, there must be a link between the threat to sue, and the UK (i.e. the threat must be understood to be a threat to bring proceedings for an act done, or intended to be done, in the UK).

The act also seeks to balance the IP holder’s right where there is an infringement, with protection of those affected by unjustified threats.  It allows a right holder to challenge someone capable of causing the most damage, such as the trade source of the infringement, without the fear of action for unjustified threat.  At the same time, customers and those within the supply chain are offered protection against unjustified threats.

Prior to this act, professional advisers were afforded little protection from personal liability when acting on behalf of their clients.  The new legislation protects any adviser who is acting in a professional capacity in providing legal or attorney services, authorised by a regulatory body in the provision of those services, from liability in respect of unjustified threats.

In order to offer some protection to parties seeking to resolve issues between them and avoid litigation, the act provides a clear framework within which disputing parties can exchange information.  Before the introduction of this legislation, communications in respect of potential IP disputes could be interpreted as an implied threat, triggering a threats action, no matter how innocently the communication was made.

The new provision allows rights holders to engage with parties further down the supply chain in order to identify the source of an infringement.  These parties, known as secondary actors, maintain protection against unjustified threats and may bring a threats action if the communication does not satisfy the conditions required by the act.

The remedies available in threats of action have not been changed.  They remain as:-

• An injunction stopping further threats;
• Damages for loss caused by the threat; and
• A declaration that the threats made were unjustified.

Is the act retrospective?

Whilst the act came into force on 1 October 2017, an alleged threat will be determined in accordance with the law which was in force at the time that the alleged threat was made.  So the new law will only apply to threats made on or after 1 October 2017.  The time when the threat was made will be the time when the threat was sent, rather than when it was received, irrespective of whether a string of communications following the threat continues beyond 1 October 2017.