Acquiring Intellectual Property

18 Aug 2006

This includes identifying the intellectual assets in which intellectual property may subsist, applying for patents, trade marks, registered designs, plant breeders' rights or other rights that have to be registered and making arrangements to fund enforcement through insurance, licensing or otherwise.

The intellectual assets of a company, university or other large institutions may be identified through intellectual property audits. These can be carried out by patent or trade mark attorneys, patent counsel, specialist solicitors or other professionals. Individuals or SME may prefer to consult a patent or trade mark attorney either by appointment or at a patent clinic. Inventors and SME may also benefit from membership of an inventors' club or other organization.

While it is not compulsory to instruct a patent or trade mark attorney to apply for a right that has to be registered, it is usually advisable. Click the "Patent and Trade Mark Attorney" buttons above for advice on selecting such an advisor. Sometimes an application is opposed or an objection is raise by an examiner. If that difficulty cannot be resolved by correspondence it may be necessary to seek a hearing. If the hearing is likely to be prolonged or complicated a party should consider representation by patent counsel. Patent counsel can also advise patent or trade mark attorneys or applicants in person on difficult points of law. They can also draft statements of case, witness statements and skeleton arguments.

Local counsel should be approached for advice and assistance in acquiring intellectual rights overseas. Chambers is compiling a panel of foreign counsel.


									Acquiring Intellectual Property 18 Aug 2006 This includes identifying the intellectual assets in which intellectual property may subsist, applying for patents, trade marks, registered designs, plant breeders' rights or other rights that have to be registered and making arrangements to fund enforcement through insurance, licensing or otherwise. The intellectual assets of a company, university or other large institutions may be identified through intellectual property audits. These can be carried out by patent or trade mark attorneys, patent counsel, specialist solicitors or other professionals. Individuals or SME may prefer to consult a patent or trade mark attorney either by appointment or at a patent clinic. Inventors and SME may also benefit from membership of an inventors' club or other organization. While it is not compulsory to instruct a patent or trade mark attorney to apply for a right that has to be registered, it is usually advisable. Click the "Patent and Trade Mark Attorney" buttons above for advice on selecting such an advisor. Sometimes an application is opposed or an objection is raise by an examiner. If that difficulty cannot be resolved by correspondence it may be necessary to seek a hearing. If the hearing is likely to be prolonged or complicated a party should consider representation by patent counsel. Patent counsel can also advise patent or trade mark attorneys or applicants in person on difficult points of law. They can also draft statements of case, witness statements and skeleton arguments. Local counsel should be approached for advice and assistance in acquiring intellectual rights overseas. Chambers is compiling a panel of foreign counsel.