Intellectual Property & IT
Intellectual property (IP) is an area which concerns virtually all businesses. Whilst Sills & Betteridge deals with clients in IP heavy industries such as graphic design, architecture, journalism, industrial machinery design and software development, even the smallest trading businesses will have goodwill which enjoys protection from "passing off". Increasingly the protection and exploitation of your IP rights is becoming a vital component in maximising the value of your business.
Our IP lawyers have extensive experience in diverse industries and can apply knowledge of your industry and practical advice to assist you in protecting your IP rights, exploiting them through effective licensing arrangements or franchising, acquiring or disposing of IP and protecting your brand by enforcing your IP rights.
Ensuring that you have all the IP you need to operate your business will avoid issues in the future if you ever seek to sell your business. Buyers will expect you to be able to demonstrate the rights you hold which, in IP heavy industries, will underpin the value of your business.
Even in industries where IP is not a central concern, IT contracts can represent a substantial investment for your business and one where you need to ensure that you have all of the rights you need to obtain and exploit the full value of your investment.
Sills & Betteridge are also regularly instructed by clients to assist in proceedings relating to the infringement of IP rights and our lawyers can deal with High Court injunctions, contested infringement matters and also proceedings for breach of contract to help secure your IP rights.
Matters we can help you with include:
- brand management and protection
- business to business agreements
- confidentiality agreements
- consultancy agreements
- data protection
- franchising
- IP right registration and exploitation
- VOIP terms
- outsourcing agreements
- privacy policies
- software licensing
- supply agreements
- terms and conditions, including terms of sale and terms of use
- website development agreements
