Services for your business

Intellectual property

Software Licensing

Trademark

Copyright

Ecommerce

Passing Off

Our Intellectual Property experts

Justin Emerson
Partner

How much intellectual property does your business own – and what’s it worth? Chances are, more than you think.

From trademarks to brand identities, inventions to ‘know-how’, almost every business has valuable intellectual property that deserves protection.

Our intellectual property solicitors’ expertise

At Gepp Solicitors, we understand what’s at stake – so you can be confident we’ll work hard to ensure your intellectual property stays safe. As your legal partner, we’ll give you practical advice and support that includes:

  • Reviewing and drafting contractual terms
  • Website audits for businesses trading online
  • Drafting software licenses
  • Identifying rights such as trademarks and copyright
  • Enforcing your rights and advising on avoiding infringement
  • Advice on e-commerce
  • How to protect your business from passing off
  • Fixed fee trademark registration
Intellectual property strategy

The law surrounding intellectual property can be complex and confusing. Without a specialist to advise you, it can be easy to miss something and end up leaving parts of your brand and product designs unprotected. We can help you develop an ongoing intellectual property strategy designed to fulfill your commercial needs.

As business-minded individuals, we fully appreciate the risks and opportunities available to you and look forward to working in partnership with you to propel your business to success.

Contract terms and conditions

We can draft, review and update intellectual property clauses in your contractual terms and conditions. We will ensure your rights are set out clearly with no room for ambiguity. We can provide practical solutions within your contracts for dispute resolution issues and advise on your methods of enforcement should someone infringe on your rights.

Trademarks

Registering trademarks will protect your brand, and your reputation and prevent others from profiting from your commercial ideas and identity.

We are happy to offer a fixed fee trademark registration service for many businesses, so get in touch to discuss your needs with a member of our intellectual property team.

Our expertise includes:

  • Registering trademarks in the UK
  • Registering EU trademarks (EUTM) to protect your brand in all Member States
  • Registering international trademarks to protect your brand in up to 122 countries
  • Advising on trademark infringement
  • Advising on licensing trademarks
Copyright

We have expertise in handling a variety of copyright law-related matters, including:

  • Advising on your rights under copyright law
  • Drafting and reviewing copyright agreements, copyright licenses, and assignments
  • Taking action on copyright infringement
  • Defending claims for copyright infringement
E-Commerce and IT intellectual property

We have in-depth experience in e-commerce trade and the legal issues and opportunities associated with it. We can provide advice on matters such as:

  • Forming an e-commerce company
  • Website audits for businesses trading online
  • IT contracts
  • Software licensing
  • Website hosting and licensing
  • Acceptable use policies
  • Content licensing
  • Online trademarks and copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Linking agreements
Acquiring and transferring intellectual property rights

We can provide advice on acquiring or selling intellectual property licenses, entering into agreements, and transferring rights to other businesses. We can undertake intellectual property due diligence to assess the quality of the IP you seek to acquire and ensure that your rights are adequately protected to avoid infringement.

Taking action to protect your rights

Where intellectual property infringement has occurred, we can provide advice on enforcing your rights. Infringement might occur when someone:

  • Uses your copyrighted work without your authorization
  • Trades under your business’ trademarked brand
  • Copies or resells your designs for commercial gain
  • Creates a trademark that is similar or identical to yours

We will utilize robust negotiation skills with the aim of stopping the infringement without the dispute escalating. In our experience, a firm letter from an intellectual property lawyer is often enough to get them to stop. We can also help you take court action if necessary and we have a specialist team of commercial litigation solicitors who can assist.

Why choose our intellectual property lawyers?

At Gepp Solicitors, we advise all types of businesses across a vast range of sectors. Whether you are a sole trader, entrepreneur, start-up, partnership, or established limited company, we are dedicated to supporting your development, solving your problems, and helping you achieve your commercial goals.

We work in partnership with our clients, tailoring our advice to provide a truly bespoke service. This is why many of our clients return to us time and time again as their go-to commercial lawyers.

Get in touch with our intellectual property solicitors in Chelmsford

If you want to find out more about the services we can offer you, please feel free to get in touch with our intellectual property solicitors in Chelmsford.

Call us
Main number: 01245 228101

Email us
Main email: emersonj@gepp.co.uk

 

Intellectual property FAQs

What is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. These can be legally protected through patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets, providing an avenue for creators to control the use and commercialisation of their creations.
What is the difference between Copyright and Patent?
Copyright protects original works of authorship, including literary, musical, and artistic works. A patent, on the other hand, protects new inventions or discoveries. While copyright arises automatically upon the creation of the work, patents require a formal application and approval process.
How is a Trademark different from other forms of Intellectual Property?
A trademark is a distinctive symbol, phrase, or name that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services. Unlike patents and copyrights, which have a finite term, trademarks can be renewed indefinitely as long as they are in use and maintain their distinctiveness.
Is it necessary to register Intellectual Property?
While copyright protection is automatic, other forms of intellectual property like patents and trademarks require registration for full legal protection. Registration provides public notice and enables the owner to bring an infringement lawsuit in court.
What is the scope of fair use in Copyright Law?
Fair Use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the owner for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. The scope of Fair Use varies and is often determined on a case-by-case basis.
Can Intellectual Property be transferred or licensed?
Yes, intellectual property rights can be transferred, sold, or licensed to another party. This transfer is often formalised through licensing agreements, where the rights-holder permits another party to use the intellectual property under specific terms and conditions.
How do Intellectual Property Laws differ internationally?
Intellectual property laws can differ significantly from one jurisdiction to another. While there are international treaties, such as the Paris Convention or the Berne Convention, which aim to harmonise these laws, protection in each country generally requires a separate application and adherence to that jurisdiction’s regulations.
What is the duration of Intellectual Property Rights?
The duration of intellectual property rights varies depending on the type. Copyright generally lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years. Patents usually last for 20 years from the filing date of the application, while trademarks can last indefinitely as long as they are in use and maintain their distinctiveness.
What legal recourse is available in cases of Intellectual Property Infringement?
In cases of infringement, the owner of the intellectual property right may pursue legal remedies including injunctive relief to prevent further infringement, and monetary damages to compensate for the losses incurred.
What steps should be taken to protect Intellectual Property?
Protection generally starts with identifying the type of intellectual property involved. For patents and trademarks, a formal registration process is usually required. Legal agreements, such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and licensing agreements, can also provide additional layers of protection.

At Gepp Solicitors, we understand what’s at stake – so you can be confident we’ll work hard to ensure your intellectual property stays safe.

At Gepp Solicitors, we understand what’s at stake – so you can be confident we’ll work hard to ensure your intellectual property stays safe.

Our Intellectual Property experts

Justin Emerson
Partner
Justin Emerson
Partner
Nadia Fabri
Associate Solicitor

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Get in touch

If you want to find out more about the services we can offer you, please feel free to get in touch.

Get in touch

If you want to find out more about the services we can offer you, please feel free to get in touch.