COMPANY & COMMERCIAL

Intellectual Property

Fletcher & Lawson can advise clients in all aspects of Intellectual Property. Our firm has developed particular experience and knowledge of certain industries and are commercially aware of the problems that may arise in such areas as computer software, film and video production, publishing, retailing and engineering.

Identifying Intellectual Property
Fletcher & Lawson has experience in assisting businesses to identify the Intellectual Property rights existing within their organisation and to implement procedures ensuring that all such rights belong to the business. We can assist in "due diligence" for acquisitions or security documentation, to ensure that rights to any Intellectual Property are owned by the relevant business.

Protecting Intellectual Property
Fletcher & Lawson can assist businesses to maintain and protect their Intellectual Property and the value existing in it.

We can assist in the protection of a particular invention or design; either by unregistered protection or by the application and grant of a registered design, trade mark or patent. We advise businesses on their internal procedures to avoid the risk of their inventions infringing third party rights on or being copied or used by others, without authority.

Fletcher & Lawson can take swift legal action to prevent any threatened or continued infringement of the Intellectual Property of a business.

Exploiting Intellectual Property
Businesses may seek to maximise the return obtained from their Intellectual Property by permitting other companies to exploit it. Licences can range from a simple sub-licence to a complex arrangement for the licence of all rights. Alternatively, a business may decide to effect an outright sale of Intellectual Property that it does not wish to exploit itself.

There is no "standard" mode of exploitation; in advising on the legal aspects of a transaction Fletcher & Lawson will use its understanding of the commercial realities of the client's area of business and the commercial aims of the client.

Intellectual Property Services
In all these areas our solicitors will:

• Advise on action to be taken to ensure that ownership is with the business.
• Assist in identifying Intellectual Property that may exist in any invention or work.
• Advise and assist with registered protection for any particular invention.
• Advise upon the mode of exploitation and assist in commercial negotiations.
• Prepare and advise on all relevant commercial agreements.
• Prepare and advise on the transfer of rights in any Intellectual Property.
• Advise and assist in defending any Intellectual property.
• Seek to obtain a detailed understanding of your aims in the protection and exploitation of your Intellectual property.