Pat Treacy

Bristows

Pat Treacy is a partner in the Competition team at Bristows LLP. Pat has specialised in EU law and competition law for almost 30 years and has been involved in landmark cases at EU and national level. In addition to her expertise across the range of competition law, she has particular strengths in advising on the complex legal and policy issues arising where competition law and intellectual property law intersect. Consequently, clients in high technology sectors including life sciences and TMT seek her advice regularly. Pat represents clients before the competition authorities and the courts, whilst also advising on competition law issues in complex agreements (including settlement, R&D and licensing agreements). Pat advises many of the Firm's clients on the competition law responsibilities affecting dominant companies. She and her team assist clients with competition compliance programmes and preparation for "dawn raids". Pat is a member of the Competition Law Association; the British Institute of International and Comparative Law; and the Antitrust section of the American Bar Association. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice. Pat lectures and writes widely on topical issues. She also teaches the competition law module on the University of Oxford Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice course.

Contributed to

3

Character merchandising—IP and competition law issues for UK businesses

Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out the intellectual property and competition law issues which may arise in connection with character merchandising (ie the practice of licensing the name or likeness of a character for use in the marketing of goods or services, which will usually require the licensing of trade marks and/or copyright) in the UK. It considers issues which may arise pursuant to Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 and also considers the continuing relevance of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). It covers possible block exemptions or individual exemptions that might apply. It also considers the interaction between competition law and the tort of passing off.

Competition law in copyright exploitation—UK

Practice notes

This Practice Note examines competition law in relation to copyright exploitation under UK law. It covers exhaustion of rights and parallel trade including an examination of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Chapter 1 of the Competition Act 1998 (CA 1998) and copyright licensing. Vertical agreements and exclusive licences are considered covering absolute territorial protection, geo-blocking, tying and bundling, as are horizontal agreements covering collective licensing and joint selling. The relationship between copyright exploitation and Article 102 TFEU and CA 1998, Chapter II is also considered.

Internet of Things (IoT)—key legal issues

Practice notes

The Internet of Things is the term given to everyday objects, smart devices and connected devices connected to the internet. This Practice Note provides context and an explanation of the Internet of Things or IoT, providing an introduction to the technology, current and future implementations and key legal issues related to its implementation.

TMT