Services for businesses
& inventors
Searches
In business, like travel, it pays to know your surroundings before you pick a route to your destination. A search can give you a view of the intellectual property landscape around you.
Novelty searches
Is it worth applying for a patent?
It may be worth paying to check if your invention is known before taking on the cost of drafting and filing a patent application. For this, we can commission a novelty search as a sanity check so that you don’t needlessly waste money on a bad idea.
Patent Landscaping
Where is the best place in the intellectual property landscape to build an intellectual property portfolio?
Before you even begin research into a new product, a landscaping search can give you a feel for where your competitors are concentrating their efforts. It can also help identify where valuable territory has been left unexploited – you can then expand your protection into this area.
Freedom to operate searches and advice
Is my path to market open?
If you operate in crowded market, it may be wise to check if a new product is going to infringe someone else’s rights before you bring it to market. That way, you avoid having a warehouse full of products you can’t sell. We can advise on freedom to operate searches to minimise this risk.
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My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people’s.
— Oscar Wilde
Strategy
Once you know where you stand, you can then plan your route – so, as part of your business plan, you need an intellectual property plan. That way, the territory you claim will be of maximum use to your business.
Strategy advice
How do I protect my business?
We can advise you on developing an intellectual property plan that fits with your business plan – so when you claim territory it will help and not hinder your business.
Patent and design right applications
How do I protect my products?
We can draft patent and design applications for you with no hidden costs (e.g. you won’t be hit with a surprise bill for formal drawings). We can file these applications in Ireland, Europe and internationally. We take great pride in shepherding patent and design applications towards grant, and we’ll keep an eye on important deadlines for you. We can help you create portfolios of protection in Ireland, Europe and internationally.
Using intellectual property
Your intellectually property is a business tool, and your competitors may have similar tools. So you need to know your rights and decide how to use your intellectually property to help your business. It is property, so it can be rented out (licensed), sold, and used to take trespassers (infringers) to court.
Renewals
How do I keep my protection in place?
Don’t let your business tools go blunt. Typically, renewal fees must be paid to keep patents, patent applications, and designs alive – we monitor these deadlines and manage these payments for you worldwide so that your rights are ready to use when you need them.
Licensing advice
Renting intellectual property
You can agree a license with a business partner so that they give you a licensee fee for the use of your intellectual property. Similarly, you may wish to use a business partner’s intellectual property. We can advise on licenses and on enforcing them – including taking care of due diligence to investigate the scope and validity of a party’s intellectual property, liaising with any solicitors or accountants involved, and advising on the agreement. This is of particular importance in technology transfer agreements.
Transferring rights
Buying and selling intellectual property
We can advise you on buying and selling intellectual property – including taking care of due diligence to investigate the scope and validity of a party’s intellectual property, liaising with any solicitors or accountants involved, and advising on the contract of sale.
Defending and enforcing rights
Is someone infringing my rights or am I infringing someone else’s rights?
We can provide infringement opinions and provide advise on how to defend yourself and enforce your rights in proceedings (such as oppositions and appeals) before the European Patent Office and the Irish courts – especially where the extent of your protection is in question.
“
My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people’s.
— Oscar Wilde
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