Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 14 JULY 2026

Courts Deploy Dynamic Blocking Order To Combat Counterfeit Medicines

Matheson
Explore more from Matheson

The UK High Court has approved a groundbreaking dynamic blocking mechanism that allows pharmaceutical companies to block websites selling counterfeit medicines without requiring repeated court applications. This novel approach enables rights holders to self-certify breaches and directly instruct Internet Service Providers to block qualifying websites, marking a significant evolution in combating online pharmaceutical counterfeiting. The decision extends website blocking orders beyond traditional copyright e

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Charleen O'Keeffe
Charleen O'Keeffe
Karen Reynolds
Karen Reynolds
Michael Byrne
Michael Byrne
Marie McGinley
Marie McGinley
Rebecca Ryan
Rebecca Ryan
Chloe Broderick Quain
Chloe Broderick Quain
Author LinkedIn connections

On 23 June 2026, the UK High Court handed down its judgment in Novo Nordisk A/S v British Telecommunications Plc & Ors, extending an existing blocking order to seven additional websites selling counterfeit and unlicensed medicines. More significantly, the court approved a novel ‘dynamic blocking mechanism’, enabling the Applicants to block further websites without the need for further court intervention.

An interesting and central feature of this mechanism is the authority given to the Applicants to (a) assess whether a website meets the confidential blocking criteria and, if so, (b) direct the Respondents, six Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) to block it without any requirement for a further court order.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

AI, Deepfakes And Image Rights: Does English Law Protect Your Face, Voice And Likeness?

Generative AI has created a legal vacuum where synthetic images and deepfakes can be created and shared without consent, yet English law offers no standalone "image right" to protect individuals. With celebrities like Lisa Riley and over 80 performers demanding reform, the question is whether the UK's patchwork of intellectual property, data protection, and common law protections can adequately address this rapidly evolving threat to personal autonomy and reputation.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP
Article

The Sound Of Ownership: Why AI Voice Cloning Is Raising New IP Questions

As AI voice cloning technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, the Save Our Voices Now campaign calls for statutory rights allowing individuals to own and control their voice as intellectual property. This article examines whether existing UK law sufficiently protects one of our most personal and recognisable attributes, exploring copyright, trade marks, passing off, and the practical steps individuals and businesses can take.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Ashfords LLP
Ashfords LLP
Article

High Court Clarifies The Limits Of Copyright Claims Against Online Marketplaces

The UK High Court has delivered a landmark ruling on online marketplace liability, dismissing Shein's copyright infringement claims against Temu and clarifying when platforms can be held responsible for third-party content. The judgment examines the boundaries of copyright ownership in complex supply chains and establishes important precedents for how marketplace operators should respond to infringement allegations.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
HGF Law
HGF Law
Article

The Manchester Creative Industries AI Summit – The Government's Opportunity To Set Out A Policy Direction On Copyright And AI?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has convened the Creative Industries AI Summit in Manchester to bring together rightsholders, regulators, platforms and AI labs to align on a common approach to copyright-protected works in AI development. The Summit will unveil the 'Manchester Principles', a framework establishing minimum conditions for using human creative work to train generative AI models.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
Article

UPC CoA Confirms Jurisdiction Over Pending European Patent Application

The UPC Court of Appeal has confirmed that the Unified Patent Court can exercise jurisdiction over European patent applications, provided they are granted before the defendant files their statement of defence. This landmark decision means patent holders may now be locked into the UPC system even before their patents are officially granted, fundamentally changing the strategic timing considerations for opting out of UPC jurisdiction.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
HGF Law
HGF Law