In his recent High Court ruling, Mr Justice Laddie had no hesitation in taking the rather unusual step of making an order for indemnity costs against the UK’s largest magazine publisher, IPC Media Limited, following its defeat in a three-week copyright trial. The judgment and subsequent costs award highlight the need for publishers to review their position carefully and objectively before pursuing allegations of copyright infringement.
IPC, whose titles include Marie Claire and Country Life, had claimed that High-bury House Communications had copied key aspects of the design, subject matter, theme and presentational style of IPC’s Ideal Home title, the market leader in the home interest sector, in its rival publication Home.
