Intellectual property

There are no fewer than 20 definitions of this expression on the UK statute book, none of them in a statute devoted to intellectual property. They are listed in Gray v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor [2011] EWHC 349 (Ch):

i) Section 8(2) of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1986. 

ii) Section 92A(9) of the Building Societies Act 1986. 

iii) Section 88(10) of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. 

iv) Section 861(4) of the Companies Act 2006. 

v) Section 712(3) of the Corporation Tax Act 2009. 

vi) Sections 129(2) and 29(6) of the Finance Act 2000. 

vii) Section 8(3) of the Forestry Act 1967. 

viii) Section 9(1A) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. 

ix) Sections 195(6) and 306(6) and 536(4) of the Income Tax Act 2007. 

x) Sections 456(1) and 19(6) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003. 

xi) Section 579(2) of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005. 

xii) Section 15 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985. 

xiii) Sections 33B and 35(3C) of the National Heritage Act 1983. 

xiv) Section 72(5) of the Senior Courts Act 1981. 

xv) Paragraph 2 of the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Winding Up Order 2010/911. 

xvi) Paragraph 9(6) of the Overseas Companies (Execution of Documents and Registration of Charges) Regulations 2009/1917. 

xvii) Paragraph 2 of the Scientific Research Organisation Regulations 2007/3426. 

xviii) Paragraph 1(2) of the Education (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales) (Transfer of Property and Designation of Staff) Order 1997/2172. 

xix) Paragraph 5 of the Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (England and Wales) Order 1994/1623. 

xx) Paragraph 5 of the Employment Tribunals Extension of Jurisdiction (Scotland) Order 1994/1624.

One day I will work through them and see what they all say. Numbers iv and xiv are quoted in the Dictionary.