De Maudsley v Palumbo [1996] FSR 447

• Claimant revealed his idea for a new nightclub to Defendant during a dinner party. Information included that night club would operate all night, have top DJs from UK and worldwide, and would be decorated in a ‘warehouse’ style.

• Defendant later built Ministry of Sound nightclub, but did not include Claimant.

• Claimant sued.

Held

• Is possible for simple ideas to be protected.

• However nonetheless idea cannot be protected if it is not sufficiently particular and defined 

Facts

• Information imparted by Claimant was too general and lacking in originality.

  • I.e. with exception that idea that club would be open all night, none of idea were novel

• Thus was not confidential.