What is a trademark?

A trademark is an IP right that allows you to protect a sign (name, logo, sound, …) of the business, providing the sign is available and distinctive for determined goods and services.

Thus, it is necessary to verify that the sign for protection is not already in use for goods and services that are similar to yours.

A trademark allows you to prohibit any third party from using a sign where there is a likelihood of confusion in the mind of a consumer for goods or services that are comparable to yours and in the country or territory where the trademark is in force.

In most countries, a trademark is valid for ten years and can be renewed indefinitely on payment of a fee.

What can we do for you?

Our team acts on your behalf at various levels, which may be before filing a trademark application, or during examination procedures, or after registration, or indeed in general manner at any moment whenever you have a problem relating to protecting or working distinctive signs or for verifying that you are not infringing existing rights when launching a new product or service.

In particular, we provide the following services:

• Verifying the availability of your sign
• Drafting a specification of goods and services appropriate for your activity
• Filing, monitoring and managing examination and renewal procedures
• Watching for signs that are identical or similar in recently filed applications
• Negotiating and drafting contracts
• Actions before litigation and during litigation
• Evaluating trademark portfolios
• Managing trademark portfolios
• Consulting to evaluate the risks in a given legal situation
• ...
  
  

Our network of correspondents allows us to provide these services in any country that might be of interest to you.

What is a registered design?

A registered design is an IP right that serves to protect an ornamental creation, i.e. the aesthetic characteristics of an article imparting a particular shape or configuration thereto, providing the characteristics are novel and possess a personal or individual character.

Thus, you need to make sure that the ornamental characteristics for protecting are not purely functional.

A registered design enables you to prohibit any third party from working your ornamental creation without your authorization in a country or territory where the registered design is in force.

In most countries, a registered design can be kept in force for twenty-five years from its application date by filing a renewal fee every five years.

What can we do for you?

Our team acts on your behalf at various levels, which may be before filing a design application, or during examination procedures, or after registration or grant, or indeed in general manner at any moment whenever you have a problem relating to protecting or working your creation or for verifying that you are not infringing existing rights when launching a new product.

In particular, we provide the following services:

• Searching registered designs
• Studying freedom to operate
• Filing strategy
• Providing formal drawings
• Filing, monitoring and managing examination procedures and keeping in force
• Negotiating and drafting contracts
• Actions before litigation and during litigation
• Evaluating design portfolios
• Managing design portfolios
• Consulting to evaluate the risks in a given legal situation
• ...
  
  

Our network of correspondents allows us to provide these services in any country that might be of interest to you.

What is a contract?

A contract is an agreement between parties who bind each other.  Thus, a contract gives rise to one or more reciprocal obligations, and may for example transfer a right in rem, such as an IP right.

In our field, law requires that most deeds relating to IP rights (patents, trademarks, registered designs) are recorded in writing.  Contracts should not be overlooked..

What can we do for you?

As IP Attorneys, we have all the necessary skills for drafting, analyzing, and negotiating contracts or portions of contracts relating to intellectual property.  Also, our team of lawyers and engineers enables us to approach contracts both technically and legally.

Among the contracts that we handle most often, we can mention the following:

• Confidentiality agreements
• Assignments of unregistered rights (assigning inventions, creations, …)
• Assigning registered rights (assigning patents, trademarks, registered designs)
• Licenses (whether or not they are exclusive, paid or free, crossed, …)
• Co-ownership agreements
• Non-aggression covenants
• Portions of commercial agreements, research contracts
• ...
  
  

We also see to registering such contracts on the various official intellectual property registers.

What is meant by litigation?

Litigation usually arises in two distinct categories, both of which may apply simultaneously: one relates to the validity or the working of IP rights, and the other relates to non-compliance with contractual clauses.

Litigation does not always come before the courts, most litigation ends with an amicable settlement or with mediation and/or arbitration proceedings.

What can we do for you?

Whether in attack or defense, we accompany you to find the best possible solution to litigation while preserving your interests.

Among the actions we undertake, we can mention the following:

• Infringement action
• Infringement seizure
• Putting on notice
• Customs seizure procedure
• Revocation actions
• Opposition proceedings
• Negotiating with the other side
• Proceedings for claiming ownership
• Remuneration of inventors and creators
• Drafting agreements for settling litigation
• ...
  
  

Our network of correspondents allows us to provide these services in any country that might be of interest to you.

Strategy & Extracting Value

As IP Attorneys, we are in a position to accompany you as from the preparation of your new project in order to determine, with you, the best protection strategy that is suited to your needs.  We support you on a daily basis in building up a portfolio of IP rights matching your vision of how your business is to develop.

In particular, we work with you to prepare the best protection strategy when you are launching a new product or seeking new markets.

Also, when the occasion arises, we take action to determine the legal and/or financial value of one or more rights, e.g. when you are in any of the following situations:

• Acquiring, assigning, or licensing one or more rights
• Acquiring or assigning a branch of business or a company
• Preparing a dossier for obtaining finance or for seeking investors (bank loans, subsidies, research tax credits, …)
• ...
  
  

Our multidisciplinary team enables you to have a global and integrated approach and analysis covering all of the rights involved: patents, trademarks, designs, …