The intellectual property rights of a business can be more valuable than more traditional assets such as property and stock but these assets are often neglected and their value will only be maximised if the business takes steps to protect, exploit and enforce them.
From product or brand names through design drawings, websites, brochures and computer software to manufacturing processes and products every business of whatever size owns intellectual property rights regardless of whether it has registered or taken steps to protect those rights. Businesses will frequently only seek advice on intellectual property matters when a problem arises but by adopting a slightly more pro-active approach the effectiveness and therefore the value of a business’s intellectual property portfolio can often be greatly improved.
Intellectual property is a fast moving area of the law. For example, in recent years the scope of what can be protected by design protection has been dramatically enlarged to include items such as logos and computer icons and the law has been changed in order to make it easier for employee inventors to claim compensation for their patented inventions.
Barlow Robbins has a specialist intellectual property team which can advise on all aspects of intellectual property law and work with you to maximise the value from your intellectual property portfolio. We have experience which covers the whole range of intellectual property rights including patents, trade marks, copyright, designs, confidentiality, domain names and database rights.
Individual members of our team are Associate Members of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) and members of The Intellectual Property Law Organisation (TIPLO). Nick Phillips has also been appointed by the UK’s top level domain name authority, Nominet, as an independent expert to decide domain name disputes.
We are recommended for intellectual property by both the Legal 500 and Chambers, the UK’s foremost legal directories, and our client’s include a number of household names, publicly listed companies and major brand owners who regularly rely on us for our expertise in this area.
The work that we do is wide ranging but can be sub-divided into the following broad areas;
- Protection advice on and implementing protection strategies worldwide and domestically, managing intellectual property portfolios and advice on securing ownership of rights
- Exploitation advice on licenses, assignments and charges including franchise agreements, research & development arrangements, distribution and manufacturing agreements
- Enforcement implementing cost effective enforcement schemes including by liaising with trading standards and customs and excise; resolving disputes through correspondence, by negotiation, mediation, arbitration and court action, including where necessary, obtaining emergency injunctions.
