High Court orders speedy trial in dispute over rights to computer program

In a decision for which a transcript has only just become available, the High Court has ordered a speedy trial of preliminary issues, but has refused to grant an interim injunction to prevent a distributor from continuing to distribute a software program after its licence was allegedly terminated. The court also refused to order a stay of the proceedings pending the outcome of a related action in Germany, which involved some, but not all, of the issues in the High Court action. The case illustrates a practical approach by the court in identifying issues that might enable a dispute to be brought to an early resolution.

Case: Artificial Solutions Germany GmbH v Creative Virtual Limited and another, 12 October 2007.