Do you develop products, processes or business concepts, do you know how to protect them or license the rights to them? Intellectual Property (IP) rights are key assets of a business and may well make the difference between your company and a competitor. If you are a brand or IP owner, research company, technology owner, retailer or leisure company, you will need to identify and protect your IP assets. Once protected, IP can be exploited through licensing, transfer or collaborations: our specialists have the industry knowledge to help you exploit your IP to maximise and enhance its value.
With businesses increasingly focussed on the value that IP brings, it is important to know that IP rights are defensive rights. IP will be devalued unless you take steps to enforce your rights where they are being infringed. We have advised clients on numerous large and complex intellectual property claims and are fully aware of the different approach that intellectual property litigation requires. From emergency measures such as injunctions through to mediation, we can advise what is appropriate to the circumstances.
In particular our team can help you on the following:
- Brand management, trade mark registration
- Trade Mark watching, oppositions and challenges
- Trade Mark and brand licensing
- Merchandising contracts
- Trade Mark infringement, passing off advice and enforcement
- Sponsorship, endorsement and personality rights agreements
- Copyright clearance and audit work
- Author and artist agreements, copyright transfers
- Contractor/consultant agreements
- Publishing and artwork/character licensing
- Film, Director, contributor and production agreements
- Copyright infringement and enforcement
- Design right subsistence, registration of designs
- Intellectual property disputes, including mediation
- Confidentiality and know-how agreements
- Patent licensing and pooling agreements
- Research and Development collaborations, PhD and KTP agreements
We also input on IP aspects of employment contracts and policies and carry out due diligence and advisory work on IP-rich corporate transactions.
