Commercial; Intellectual property.
Faizul Azman is an experienced barrister specialising in intellectual property law. Based at 3PB’s London office, Faizul brings a unique skillset to his legal practice, shaped by his unconventional background that includes serving in the British Army and UK Civil Service before joining 3PB.
Faizul’s career in the Civil Service saw him work across multiple government departments, including the Home Office and UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). While at the Home Office, Faizul handed some of the most contentious issues in immigration and asylum policy, leading a team responsible for managing statutory appeals in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. As an Assistant Director, he led on the Northern Ireland and EU exit strategy, focussing on security and customs.
As a Senior Policy Advisor at the UKIPO, Faizul represented the UK at the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva and regularly negotiated legal texts in EU working groups in Brussels. Faizul was part of the team that implemented the Marrakesh Treaty into both EU and UK law and managed the UK’s copyright exceptions policy. His work included advising senior government ministers, responding to complex copyright enquiries, and engaging with diverse stakeholders.
Faizul’s broad experience in managing high-pressure, complex legal and policy matters, both as a barrister and civil servant, gives him a unique ability to not only advise on legal issues but also identify reputational risks and commercial opportunities for his clients. With a deep understanding of both national and international frameworks, Faizul provides counsel to domestic and international clients.
Intellectual propertyFaizul specialises in a broad range of intellectual property law including copyright, trade marks, design rights, confidential information, and related areas such as contract, employment, education, commercial law and artificial intelligence. Prior to joining Chambers, Faizul served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the UKIPO, where he represented the UK at the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva and in EU working groups in Brussels.
Faizul’s experience in managing high-pressure, complex legal and policy matters gives him a unique ability to advise on legal issues, as well as identify both commercial opportunities and reputational risks for his clients. His expertise has led to instructions from renowned global brands and small and medium sized businesses. Faizul is known for working closely with his clients, providing clear and practical advice.
Recent Cases
Trade Marks and Passing Off:
Enterprise Holdings v EUIPO (T/499/23 and T/500/23) – For Enterprise, drafted the grounds of appeal to the General Court of the CJEU to annul the decisions of the Board of Appeal of the EUIPO regarding the mark ‘QOMMUTE’.
Enterprise Holdings v Free2move SAS (R 2311/2023-4) – For Enterprise, drafted the grounds of appeal to the EUIPO Boards of Appeal regarding the registered and non-registered ‘e’ marks.
NRJ Group Société Anonyme de Droit Français v Hard Carry Gaming, Inc – For NRJ, led by Victoria Jones in an appeal to the Appointed Person contesting the decision (O/0340/23) of the UKIPO relating to the mark ‘NRG’.
Britvic Soft Drinks Limited v Blue Ice Machines Limited (IPEC) – For Britvic, at CMC relating to the mark ‘ICE BLAST’.
Netflix Studios v JJ Beanos – For the Applicant, a trade mark Opposition in the UKIPO for the mark ‘LADY WHISTLEDOWN’ – a dispute relating to the ‘Bridgerton’ Netflix series.
Gowers v Athena Cosmetics, Inc (RevitaLash Cosmetics) – For Athena, a trade mark Revocation in the UKIPO relating to the marks ‘KILLER LASHES’ and ‘KILLER BROWS’.
H v E (IPEC) – For the Claimant, infringement and passing off relating to counterfeit goods.
Re: Yiamas – For the Opponent, a trade mark Opposition in UKIPO.
Recent advisory work includes:
Award of costs following judgment of the General Court of the CJEU. Challenging the UKIPO’s preliminary view in refusing a Proprietor’s request to exclude evidence at a hearing. Infringement relating to advertising ‘keywords’ on Google. Character merchandising. Goodwill following the dissolution/liquidation of a company.Copyright, Databases, Domain Names and Confidential Information
Re: Sky UK Limited (IPEC) – For Sky, several copyright infringement claims relating to illicit internet protocol television streaming services.
Insource Select Limited v Robbin (KB 2002-0044-8) – High Court, Kings Bench Division. Advised Insource and their legal team (led by Alice Mayhew KC) on possible IP infringement claims and to make amendments to the Particulars of Claim. The claim relates to breach of restrictive covenants.
Mirza Video Entertainment Limited v Karman Entertainment Limited (IL-2022-BHM-000002) – For Mirza, advised and successfully transferred the claim from the Intellectual Property List to the IPEC.
Daemonlinks Ltd v Brown [2022] EWHC 1154 (IPEC) – For Brown, following an application for summary judgment, advised and represented Brown for CMC on the ‘fallout’ issues.
P v A – For the Claimant (author), a contract dispute when a publisher continued to advertise and sell their book after the publishing agreement was terminated.
PS v C – For the Claimant, a claim relating to domain squatting.
Recent advisory work includes:
Ownership of copyright works created by directors, employees, contractors, and university students. Restoring a company and the beneficial interest in a domain name and development code when a company is dissolved. Infringement on the use of hyperlinks. Film director rights when a film is assigned to a third-party which formed part of a settlement agreement. Infringement when using certain materials on social media. Infringement when websites are copied/look similar. Jurisdictional/evidential issues relating to assignments of copyright outside of the UK. Copyright licences. Limitation on acts of copyright infringement. Direct AccessFaizul Azman is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public and professional clients under the Direct Access scheme.
Year of call 2018