Intellectual Property (IP) Disputes
Our Dispute Resolution Team are highly experienced at being able to resolve disputes regarding intellectual property including claims, providing pragmatic and commercial advice to you.
Intellectual Property disputes?
Intellectual Property encompasses a vast and diverse array of property from software and other copyright materials, to designs and logos and inventions and processes. How can we help?
- Copyright infringement or copyright protection – Copyright is probably the intellectual property which is most commonly infringed. The law protects original artistic, dramatic and literary works.
- Trade Mark infringement or breach – Trade marks can have protection both in an unregistered and a registered format.
- Design Rights – These rights can be registered or unregistered. A registered
design provides a legal monopoly. As with trade marks design owners can apply for a UK registered design or a Community Registered design. - Patents – Patents give the inventor of a technical device or process an absolute monopoly over it for a fixed period of time. The process of obtaining a patent is strict and a formal application process needs to be undertaken.
- Confidential Information – It can be possible to protect information which is sensitive to a business through rights in confidential information (which
covers know how and trade secrets). Whilst these are not strictly IP
rights they can protect sensitive information, both technical and commercial and do not need to be registered
Protecting your brands intellectual Property
It is important for individuals to protect their assets and this includes the non-tangible assets that you might own. Registering your ownership of those assets that can be registered is key but equally important is vigilance to stop unauthorised use. It is important to take action to stop other individuals and companies from infringing your rights as if you do not take action it can later be argued that you have granted an implied licence for your works to be used.
Often disputes such as these can be resolved without the need to resort to litigation and early involvement from us can ensure that any IP infringement is stopped promptly. When it is not possible to bring the dispute to an end quickly through correspondence, we have unrivalled expertise in running proceedings to enforce and defend intellectual property rights for you through the Court process should this be necessary.
Quick links

IP Protection: Protect what you create
Most businesses benefit from a basic understanding of Intellectual Property rights to help protect what they create and to avoid them infringing the rights of other people and businesses.
Copyright Infringement: Spring Promotion on Cease and Desist Letters
Are you the owner of copyright in photographers, pictures or words? Have you discovered someone else is using the work without your permission? A take down notice from us may be all it takes to stop the infringement of your intellectual property and to secure you a monetary sum by way of compensation.
Failure to take action can result in you losing your rights in relation to the works. Therefore, it is important to act to protect your assets.
Compensation will depend on the level of infringement but often we can secure you in the region of £750 to £1,000.

Latest news & insights
Auto-sync causes IP infringement
In the case of WEISS TECHNIK UK LTD v DAVIES, the Court held that four former employees and a company set up by one of them had breached their contractual and equitable confidentiality obligations.
Copyright Infringement – what is it and how can it be avoided?
The risks of copyright infringement can be mitigated by undertaking analysis at the outset and, where appropriate, by ensuring that licences are in place…
Intellectual Property Law & NFTs (Non-fungible tokens)
This podcast discusses the copyright issues that arise from ownership of non-fungible tokens which are cryptographic tools based on digital ledgers such as blockchain.
Registering your Trade mark’s post Brexit
The period for applications for the government’s Future Fund scheme has been extended until 31 January 2021…
Trademark infringement: Liability for counterfeit goods
The question has recently come before the European Courts as to whether a company fulfilling orders…
The Common Law Duty of Confidence: Can you rely on it?
If you find that your confidential information is being misused, the common law duty of confidence might provide useful protection.
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