Intellectual property

IP lawyers

Intellectual property rights such as patents, trademarks, designs and copyright are valuable assets for an individual or company in the modern business world. As the potential to harness or forfeit the value of creative work increases with every new technological advance, consideration of how to best protect your intellectual property rights and assets has never been more important.

Ongoing advice and support

In today’s frantic and fast moving business world, managing a portfolio of IP assets can be extremely time consuming. We can work with you to establish and enforce your intellectual property rights on an ongoing basis to ensure you are protected, to maintain awareness of risks and breaches and to ensure that you don’t miss any important registrations or renewal dates.

Intellectual property solicitors in London

If you need lawyers for advice on any aspect of IP, a contract drawn up, help with protecting your IP or dealing with finance and investment for your invention, design or IT business, please do get in contact.

IP related legal services we offer

The Group skillfully and clearly communicates the most complex technical issues to judges and juries. Lawyers in the IP and Technology Litigation Group have substantial experience representing clients in both bench and jury trials, and regularly appear in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Selling or assignment of intellectual property rights

In addition to litigation and transactional work, S&C’s IP and Technology Group regularly counsel clients on a wide range of strategic and day-to-day issues associated with the development, accquisition and maintenance of intellectual property portfolios. We routinely consult on trademark clearance, brand strategy, patent pools and joint licensing programs, website policies, trade secret protection, tax planning and monetization strategies. We also assist companies in the interpretation and application of various licensing arrangements.

Branding and image rights issues

Ocado Group before the International Trade Commission concerning an ITC Section 337 investigation based on allegations of infringement of five patents. The Commission unanimously affirmed the Chief Administrative Law Judge’s ruling in Ocado’s favor on all claims and patents, finding three patents invalid and one not infringed (the fifth patent was withdrawn the day before trial).

Audio MPEG, U.S. Philips Corporation, TDF SAS and IRT, which license MP3 patents, in patent infringement actions against HP and Dell Inc., for selling unlicensed computers capable of playing MP3 audio files. After settlement of the HP claims, Dell continued to litigate and filed multiple motions regarding patentability, equitable estoppel, willful infringement, Plaintiffs’ expert witnesses and many other topics – all of which the court denied. Ultimately, the action settled on extremely favorable terms for the patent owners three days before trial.

Protection of databases and rights