About: Alistair Payne

Practitioners in civil law jurisdictions are often surprised to learn that appeals in commercial law matters in common law systems are generally, but not always, limited to an appeal of the evidence and law heard by the lower court and are not appeals by way of re-hearing.  The rationale for this approach is for finality...

In the last two decades the digital services landscape has changed dramatically, however while there have been some targeted attempts at regulation, the legal framework for digital services has remained relatively stagnant since the adoption of the e-Commerce Directive in 2000.In February 2020, the European Commission announced a Digital Services Act package...

Aldi Stores (Ireland) Limited and Aldi GmbH & Co KG and Dunnes Stores [2019] IESC 41, Supreme Court, decision by O’Donnell J.Very long running litigation in Ireland between well-known supermarket operators has finally concluded with a Supreme Court decision that confirms the test for comparative advertising under the confusing Irish implementation of the EU Directive...

Case T‑690/18, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Ltd, v EUIPO; Case T-690/18. Decision of the  General Court given on 19 December 2019.On 19 December 2019 the General Court found in favour of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Ltd’s (“the Applicant’s”) appeal from a decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal in Case R 695/2018-4. The General Court...