Wong Wan Chin v Wang Choong Li: Copyright Infringement & Wedding Photographs Dispute
Wong Wan Chin, a celebrity singer, appealed to the High Court against the District Court's decision to refuse an interim injunction against Wang Choong Li, trading as The Feline Bridal, for allegedly infringing her copyright by displaying her wedding photographs without permission. The High Court, presided over by Justice Choo Han Teck, dismissed the appeal, citing the appellant's failure to make full and frank disclosure and the balance of convenience not being in her favor. The court found that damages were quantifiable and adequate.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Appeal dismissed.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Appeal against refusal to grant injunction for copyright infringement of wedding photographs. Court dismissed appeal due to non-disclosure and balance of convenience.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wong Wan Chin | Appellant, Plaintiff | Individual | Appeal dismissed | Lost | |
| Wang Choong Li (now or formerly trading as The Feline Bridal) | Respondent, Defendant | Individual | Injunction refused | Won |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
4. Facts
- Wong Wan Chin, a celebrity singer, contracted with The Feline Bridal for wedding dresses and services.
- A pre-wedding photo-shoot took place in London, and a DVD of the photographs was given to the respondent.
- The respondent displayed the photographs in a coffee table book and at a wedding exhibition.
- The appellant claimed copyright ownership of the photographs and sued for infringement.
- The appellant sought an interim injunction, which was dismissed by the District Judge.
- The collection form contained the words “recording a sponsorship of the rental of the items”.
5. Formal Citations
- Wong Wan Chin v Wang Choong Li (now or formerly trading as The Feline Bridal), District Court Suit No 2358 of 2011 (RAS No 178 of 2011), [2012] SGHC 24
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Contract signed with The Feline Bridal. | |
| Dresses collected for pre-wedding photo-shoot in London. | |
| Wedding took place. | |
| Dresses returned; coffee table book with photographs seen. | |
| Photographs displayed at a wedding exhibition. | |
| Lawsuit filed in District Court. | |
| Interim injunction dismissed by the District Judge. | |
| Judgment reserved. |
7. Legal Issues
- Copyright Infringement
- Outcome: The court found that the appellant did not have a strong arguable case for copyright infringement.
- Category: Substantive
- Full and Frank Disclosure
- Outcome: The court found that the appellant failed to make full and frank disclosure, which contributed to the dismissal of the appeal.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Injunction
9. Cause of Actions
- Copyright Infringement
10. Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Intellectual Property
11. Industries
- Fashion
- Entertainment
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Copyright
- Injunction
- Wedding photographs
- Full and frank disclosure
- Balance of convenience
- Interim injunction
- Pre-wedding photo-shoot
15.2 Keywords
- Copyright infringement
- Wedding photographs
- Injunction
- Singapore High Court
- Celebrity
- Bridal salon
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Injunctions | 80 |
| Copyrights | 75 |
| Duty of Candour | 65 |
| Contract Law | 60 |
| Civil Litigation | 50 |
| Loss of Privacy | 40 |
| Wedding Services | 30 |
16. Subjects
- Intellectual Property
- Copyright
- Civil Procedure