John Buckby

Partner & Head of Intellectual Property

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John Buckby

Expertise

John advises on all aspects of intellectual property law, including trade marks, passing off, copyright, designs, patents, confidential information, and domain names.

John is a dual-qualified solicitor and trade mark attorney, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA). He is particularly experienced in helping clients to protect and enforce trade marks and brands, and handles trade mark filings, oppositions and disputes around the world.

John worked in the music industry for several years before becoming a lawyer. He takes a pragmatic ‘no nonsense’ approach to solving legal problems, and is focused on achieving cost-effective commercial solutions for clients.

John drafts and negotiates IP agreements for clients in various sectors, including brand licences and technology agreements. He has a strong track record of resolving intellectual property disputes in an efficient, client-focused way. Recent cases include trade mark oppositions and cancellations, disputes relating to keyword advertising and comparative advertising, and copyright and design infringement.

John has a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law & Practice from Oxford University. He was awarded a distinction in Trade Marks Law & Practice from Queen Mary University, and achieved a distinction in the Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice.

How do you help clients?

I help clients to protect, enforce and commercialise IP rights effectively, and I defend clients against allegations of IP infringement. I provide down-to-earth advice, in plain English.

I advise on UK and international trade mark filings, clearance searches, and trade mark disputes. I give pragmatic and commercial advice on IP licences and agreements. I have a strong track record of navigating complex IP disputes towards favourable settlements for clients, especially relating to trade marks, passing off and copyright infringement.

Experience

  1. Numerous successful trade mark oppositions, cancellations and revocations, including AFFINITY (O/766/18), OLD JOHN (O/281/19), and WILLIAM MORRIS AT HOME (O/0027/24).
  2. Advising on the protection of brands from derogatory and unlawful comparative advertising, including litigation in the High Court and several pre-litigation settlements.
  3. Defending clients against allegations of trade mark infringement, passing off, copyright and design right infringement. Acted for successful defendants in John Kaldor Fabricmaker UK v Lee Ann Fashions (copyright and design case) and Gama Healthcare v PAL International (passing off case).
  4. Drafting and negotiating licence agreements for a well-known retail brand, and handling UK and international trade mark filings and oppositions.
  5. Worldwide management of an international trade mark portfolio, and related oppositions and trade mark disputes around the world, for a market-leading software business.