header-logo header-logo

Au contraire, Rodney!

06 May 2022 / Laura Trapnell
Issue: 7977 / Categories: Features , Profession , Intellectual property
printer mail-detail
80848
Are Del Boy & Rodders heading to court? Laura Trapnell looks into an unusual claim
  • Considers a copyright and passing off action being brought against a theatrical production based on the sitcom Only Fools and Horses.

Lovely Jubbly! The nation loves Only Fools and Horses and there is quite a lot of coverage at the moment concerning the Only Fools and Horses copyright infringement and passing off action. The action is being brought by Shazam—the television production company founded by the sitcom’s late writer, John Sullivan—that is suing an immersive theatre show (Only Fools: The (Cushty) Dining Experience) based on the BBC sitcom.

Who dares, wins!

The claim focuses on the use of the Only Fools and Horses characters, together with some of their well-known phrases by the Cushty Dining Experience and alleges copyright infringement and passing off. Apart from the obvious appeal because of the much-loved subject matter, the reason this case is interesting is because it goes against the well-established interpretation of copyright and passing off

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
back-to-top-scroll