Intellectual Property Cases

As part of its forensic and expert witness activities Cadogans has prepared expert opinion and evidence on some intellectual property disputes.

Coal Stokers

Coal underfeed stokers are used to feed coal into a boiler from below. There are various designs, many of which have been in use for a considerable period of time. It was alleged that a stoker manufacturer infringed the copyright of another manufacturer both in its design of the stoker and in its product literature. Cadogans wrote a report concluding that the design was commonplace to many stokers but that the literature appeared to have been copied.

Pipe Tensioner

Cadogans was commissioned to compare designs from two companies for a machine utilised in the laying of subsea cables. It was claimed that the design from one company was based on the other and thus infringed copyright. Cadogans applied basic research and engineering skills to come to an opinion on the matter and prepared and submitted a report to the Patent Attorneys acting for one of the parties.

Pile Driver

Cadogans was involved in a patent dispute case in Singapore regarding a pile driving machine.  Two experts from the company, a mechanical engineer and a civil engineer, visited Singapore and submitted written testimony as well as providing oral evidence to the High Court in Singapore.

Clinical Waste Disinfection Equipment

Following the increase in public objections to the incineration of clinical waste, manufacturers have sought and developed low temperature means of disinfecting and shredding medical waste.

 A dispute arose over patent infringements relating to the design of such equipment.  Cadogans was asked to review various European and German patents and to prepare an initial opinion.  This considered the patents in respect of obviousness and common general knowledge.

 Cadogans’ investigation included inspection of relevant patents, operating and instruction manuals and other trade literature.

Hammer mill for treating oily drilling residues

This was a case being brought in the Norwegian courts against a Scottish company. After an initial collaborative period in which the two companies worked together on the project, the Scottish company continued to develop its own equipment, incorporating some novel features.

 A dispute arose over the transfer of “know-how” in relation to equipment used to separate the oil, water and solid matter from oil drilling residue. Cadogans’ investigation included inspection of relevant patents, operating and instruction manuals and other trade literature.

Cadogans worked with a Norwegian Patent expert on the matter, identifying which features were prior knowledge or were in common use and the significance of the design differences

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