The intellectual property department specializes in the field of patent, trademarks, copyright, models and designs, information technology, e-commerce, and unfair competition issues.

Trademarks, trade names and domain names

In the field of trademarks, the firm performs trademark and trade names investigations for the screening and clearance of proposed marks and company names for use in France and in the European community.

The firm files and prosecutes national and European trademark applications and oversees the filing and prosecution of foreign trademark applications working in conjunction with foreign clients or law firms.

It posses the knowledge needed in trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the French Patent and Trademark Office (INPI), both in representing trademark owners and parties seeking to oppose or cancel trademark registrations of third parties.

The firm has also experience managing trademark matters involving the Internet and is successful in resolving domain name disputes.

IP due diligence

The firm accompanies intellectual property due diligence inquiries for the account of investors, underwriters and corporate clients in operations such as mergers and acquisitions.

Such investigations can include infringement studies to ascertain the potential impact of intellectual property rights of third parties, the assessment of different IP rights to be acquired, and examination of contracts conveying IP rights.

Transactions

The firm sets up contacts transferring intellectual property rights and register them with the relevant trademark, design and patent office.

The firm also handles all aspects of contracts in the field of research and technology, such as technology, software and shrink wrap licenses and transfers agreements, OEM agreements, distribution agreements, consulting and research agreements, confidentiality and development agreements and joint venture agreements.

Copyright

The law firm obtains copyright and design registrations for its clients for industrial designs, software, websites, literary and artistic works, musical, multimedia, cinematographic and other works.

We establish agreements allowing the creation and ownership of copyrightable works according to the French and European law, as well as publishing, distribution and representation agreements, such as in the field of recordings, advertising, television and cinema.

The firm also represents actors and other personalities in their contractual relationship with production companies in the field of audiovisual works. It also consults and represents collective bargaining organizations which manage copyright works for their members.

Unfair competition

The firm provides counseling in matters involving unfair competition such as product simulations, plagiarism, trade secrets and trade dress infringements and misrepresentation and passing off of good and services.

Litigation

The firm is highly qualified in all fields of IP litigation.

It disposes of know how allowing it to counsel its clients whether legal actions should be taken against a third party and advises as to the chances of success of such actions.

Furthermore, the firm masters all civil and intellectual property legal procedures that enable it to obtain for its clients the maximum amount of damages and to avoid procedural risks.