Specialist Areas

Patents, designs, copyright, confidential information and litigation

Technologies

Communications, electronics, mechanical and software

Expertise

• IP strategy development and implementation
• Commercialisation of IP
• IP management and education
• Due diligence
• Drafting and prosecuting patents and designs
• Contentious IP proceedings

Experience

Blayne has 20 years of experience as a patent attorney and lawyer specialising in electronics and communications patents. He has a strong track record drafting and litigating patents in this area, in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and around the world.

He has been internationally recognised as a leading practitioner by ManagingIP, IAM magazines and Asia IP in 2013-2018 in patent prosecution, copyright law and IP litigation. The quotes from clients and competitors include that Blayne is “enthusiastically endorsed for his electronics know-how”, is a “tremendous practitioner of patent law” and an “Asia IP Expert”.

Blayne has an electrical and electronic engineering degree from the University of Canterbury and a law degree from the University of Auckland. He practised in Auckland for 7 years (as an associate with AJ Park), before practising in Singapore for 10 years (lately as a partner with Marks&Clerk).  Blayne is also a senior member of the IEEE, a fellow of the NZ Institute of Patent Attorneys and a member of the NZ and Auckland Law societies.

Representative cases:

• Emtelle UK Ltd v Ericsson Communications Ltd & Ors. CIV 2016-404-1562
• HC and Tourplan Pacific Ltd v Australian Tours Management Pty Ltd CIV 2016-404-650 HC
• Ian James Burden & ors v Dixie Cummings New Zealand Ltd & Burden Furniture Ltd & ors CIV-2015-404-1608
• Assa Abloy New Zealand Limited v Allegion (New Zealand) Limited [2016] NZHC 173
• Azen Manufacturing Pte Ltd v Leseman Davis Llc S1139/2013
• ADC Telecommunications Inc. v. Starview International Pte Ltd S567/2013
• O-Stable Sdn Bhd & 2 Ors v He-Con Sdn Bhd & 4 Ors MT3-22-15-2006
• MEMC Electronics Materials, Inc. [2008] SGIPOS 11

Recent publications (links are included):

• “Asia’s subjective problem”, Managing Intellectual Property, February 2011 www.managingip.com.
• “Avoid the misrepresentation trap”, Managing Intellectual Property, May 2007 www.managingip.com.
• “Anti-competitive provisions in the Patents Act”, Managing Intellectual Property, April 2006 www.managingip.com.
• “Search and Examination deadlines clarified”, Managing Intellectual Property, December 2005 www.managingip.com.
• “Singapore consolidates drug laws”, Managing Intellectual Property, October 2005 www.managingip.com.