[2025] EWHC 39 (IPEC)

This is my judgment following the trial of liability in a claim for copyright infringement. Joshua Rinkoff, the Claimant, is a writer and comedian who performs under the name Harry Deansway. He claims to own the copyright in the format of two series of comedy shows called “Shambles” described in the Amended Particulars of Claim as “a sitcom series, centred around a live comedy night.” He complains that the Defendant company, which is a well-known producer of comedy shows, infringed his copyright by its series “Live at the Moth Club” (“LATMC”).

For the reasons given below, I find that the format of Mr Rinkoff’s series was not protected as a copyright work. Had I found there to be any such copyright, I would in any event have found that it was not infringed by the Defendant.