A row over alleged infringement of the trade marks of television, broadband and phone service provider UPC in an allegedly misleading comparative advertisement campaign by Eircom has come before the Commercial Court.

Liberty Global Europe Holding and UPC Communications Ireland brought the action over an Eircom campaign that referred to the costs of UPC and Sky services. The advertisements alleged that customers would do better if they switched to Eircom.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly agreed to transfer the proceedings to the Commercial Court but, on the application of Paul Coughlan SC for the plaintiffs, agreed to defer making further directions to later this week to allow the sides to resolve the dispute.

In separate proceedings,  communications regulator Comreg is being sued over its refusal to allow Eircom to establish a mechanism aimed at apportioning among other electronic communications network providers a €3 million cost it incurred in the 2009-2010 financial year.