[2024] EWHC 3256 (IPEC)

Mr Andersson’s evidence is that the original Alice business was operated through a company called Stancoil Limited from 1969, which was founded by Edward Fletcher, who also established the Alice brand. He says that Mr Fletcher designed and manufactured complete professional audio systems for Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace Theatre in 1972, the three theatres of the National Theatre on the South Bank, and a large number of other installations in theatres and studios throughout the world, the audio systems of which all bore the Alice mark. The Alice business was later operated through a company called Alice Soundtech Ltd. Mr Andersson says that his own background is as a broadcast engineer, working for the BBC in that capacity for 25 years, during which he said he became very familiar with Alice products such as mixing desks. When he left the BBC he became an independent broadcast design and installation engineer and continued to use Alice products on installations. Mr Andersson says that following Alice Soundtech Ltd ceasing trading in February 2016, Mr Andersson incorporated the Claimant company in November 2016 and began to acquire assets associated with the Alice brand, in order to rebuild the brand, re-manufacture products well known throughout the industry, and design and sell new products. The Claimant has also employed Mr Edward Fletcher since 2020. None of this evidence was challenged in cross-examination and I accept it.