Albright International Limited

Albright International Limited is the market leader in the manufacture of heavy duty DC contactors and switches worldwide. Its products are known for their high quality, superior performance and innovative design.

We have assisted our client in obtaining registered design protection for its original designs in a number of territories worldwide and provided advice on filing and prosecution strategy. We have also provided strategic advice on the protection of their brands as trade marks, and the registrability of their products as three dimensional shapes.

Given the success of Albright’s products in the marketplace, it is perhaps not surprising that competitors have tried to imitate them. We have assisted our client in enforcing its intellectual property in a number of jurisdictions, relying on a number of different tools including passing off, unfair competition, trade mark registrations, designs and copyright. Specifically, we have advised them on the initial selection of lawyers in the various jurisdictions concerned and have worked closely with those lawyers, providing technical expertise where required.

Like all good protection and enforcement strategies, the work is on-going. However, Albright already has two first instance judgments in its favour and the third party imitators concerned have been forced to change the appearance of their products. The courts have also awarded damages and costs in Albright’s favour.

"As Albright’s markets have expanded globally, so has our exposure to competition – the majority of which is low investment copies of our products. Cleveland have assisted Albright in defending our IP rights, through both unfair competition and trade mark/copyright infringement actions. They have provided both valuable assessment of our legal position and the coordination of legal teams within domestic and international jurisdictions.

The service given by Cleveland, both with the enforcement, and further obtaining of IP rights on an ongoing basis, means Albright can now operate in a much fairer marketplace."