UPC and Liberty Global bring action over Eircom campaign

Advertisements alleged customers would do better if they switched to Eircom

Liberty Global Europe Holding and UPC Communications Ireland brought the action over an Eircom campaign that referred to the costs of UPC and Sky services.
Liberty Global Europe Holding and UPC Communications Ireland brought the action over an Eircom campaign that referred to the costs of UPC and Sky services.

A row over alleged infringement of the trade marks of television, broadband and phone service provider UPC in an allegedly misleading comparative advertisement campaign by Eircom has come before the Commercial Court.

Liberty Global Europe Holding and UPC Communications Ireland brought the action over an Eircom campaign that referred to the costs of UPC and Sky services. The advertisements alleged that customers would do better if they switched to Eircom.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly agreed to transfer the proceedings to the Commercial Court but, on the application of Paul Coughlan SC for the plaintiffs, agreed to defer making further directions to later this week to allow the sides to resolve the dispute.

In separate proceedings,  communications regulator Comreg is being sued over its refusal to allow Eircom to establish a mechanism aimed at apportioning among other electronic communications network providers a €3 million cost it incurred in the 2009-2010 financial year.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Listen to the Inside Business podcast for a look at business and economics from an Irish perspective

  • Sign up to the Business Today newsletter for the latest news and commentary in your inbox

Mary Carolan

Mary Carolan

Mary Carolan is the Legal Affairs Correspondent of the Irish Times